TEFL in Austria
The Global English Teaching Academy (or GET Academy) in Austria provides world-class initial teacher training courses for TEFL.
The TEFL/Trinity CertTESOL program is a 3 - 4 month vocational teaching placement, that sees you teaching in real Austrian schools with real Austrian students.
Based out of Vienna and Upper Austria, you will visit dozens of schools, teach hundreds of children, and accrue over 300 hours of classroom experience. You'll do all this while working towards two recognised teaching qualifications - the globally recognised Trinity CertTESOL, and The GET Academy’s own TEFL-YL certificate.
Check out the Life in Austria section below for more details on living in Austria.
Observe: You'll start out by observing experienced teachers and tutors teach students in Austrian schools. You'll learn firsthand how to manage a classroom, how to motivate students, and how to teach a tried and tested EFL program. When that's complete, you'll put your knowledge into action with real Austrian students of varying ages and abilities.
Experience: You'll go through an intensive week of training on each aspect of TEFL methodology, and brush up on English grammar. You'll also take part in intensive beginner lessons. For example, one module has you learning in an unknown foreign language. You'll take on the role of a learner, and gain a deeper appreciation of what makes your own students tick. Other modules include teaching in a 1-to-1 environment, much like a tutoring role, to help you learn how to analyse and plan lessons specific to an individual student.
Design: You will be also be guided in how to design, create, and use your own materials in lessons. There are plenty of opportunities to observe experienced teachers (and fellow student teachers), and get regular feedback from academic and course staff.
GET Academy's mission is to provide a vocational TEFL education to new teachers from the English-speaking world, based on their academic merit. To do this, the GET Academy has a limited number of scholarships available for candidates wishing to participate in the TEFL (Trinity CertTESOL) Program. Discuss this with your program coordinator after you have initially applied.
You'll be under the guidance of experienced Senior Teachers and Course Tutors for the duration of the program. You'll start by learning the basics of TEFL, before starting to put what you've learned into practice in real Austrian schools.
As you hone your skills and develop your knowledge, you will begin to plan your own lessons, implement them in the classroom, and get feedback on their effectiveness.
At the end of the program, it's time for an assessment of the skills you've learned. External moderators from Trinity College London come to Austria to review participants' coursework and conduct final assessments. This process can be a little nerve-racking after so many weeks of hard work, but you'll have the support of the academic staff. You'll be in a great position to impress the moderators with your TEFL knowledge - and when you successfully complete the assessment, you'll join the ranks of a fully qualified EFL teacher!
The program at GET Academy is designed to provide a learning experience like no other. A typical day at GET Academy involves:
6:30 - 7:30: Commute to the school where your teaching practice takes place.
7:30 - 13:30: Teaching practice with real Austrian students
13:30 - 14:30: Commute back to the training centre
14:30 - 15:30: Down time
15:30 - 17:00: Teacher training input session or private study time (depending on the day)
The GET Academy’s TEFL (Trinity CertTESOL) Program can be very intensive, so there is a lot to do. The good news is that you'll be supported every step of the way.
Everything you need to know about applying for your next adventure.
You must be at least 18 years of age
Have a professional and positive attitude
Hold a current & valid passport
Be a native English speaker
Have a clean criminal background
Be patient, open minded and have a desire to teach
Have an educational background that would allow you entry into university in your home country
April 26 - July 26
August 23 - December 20
We accept applications all year round. There is a short application process and some documents to submit before you arrive in Austria, as well as a pre-course task to help you brush up on your English language knowledge. If you think this is the program is for you, just submit your application. We will book you onto your chosen course date and take care of the rest.
What's Included?
Trinity CertTESOL & TEFL-YL certificates
Shared accommodation during the program
Over 300 hours of teaching practice
130 hours of face-to-face training
15 hours of observed and assessed teaching practice
Travel to & from school and the training centre
Full use of teaching materials & facilities
Welcome lunch & Graduation dinner
What's Not Included?
Flights
Travel Insurance
Work visa if you plan on staying in Austria after graduation
The GET Academy will provide you with the best possible support before, during and after your time in Austria. The dedicated admissions, welfare, and academic departments mean there is always someone to assist with any need that might arise.
Shared housing is available throughout the duration of the program. You'll share your living quarters with other program participants, so you'll have a built-in social life.
Vienna offers something for all tastes: Figlmüller’s, which has been around for 110 years, makes an authentic Wiener schnitzel. If you are keen to sample some local sausage fare on the go, try the Bitzinger Würstelstand am Albertinaplatz, just opposite the Opera house. There is also a variety of vegetarian and vegan restaurants like Vegetasia, Tian and Veggiezz. For vegan dessert, check out the Eis Greissler ice cream shop.
The Viennese coffee house culture is highly recommended, and worth exploring – they've got great coffee and cakes. Don’t worry if you can’t order in German, as most places will have an English menu. In Linz, the capital of Upper Austria, they have authentic Austrian cuisine places like Leberkas-Pepi (fast food), Gosser Keller, and JKU Teichwerk, which is also vegetarian friendly. For more contemporary dining, try the Gelbes Krokodil - a popular spot to eat and hang out. You can watch movies next door in German and English in their cinema, Moviemento. In upper Austria, in cities such as Gmunden in the Austrian lake district, there are plenty of delicious options if you want to try out the traditional foods and yummy desserts Austria has to offer. Make sure you check out some of the bakeries in the area. As you wander through the town past the windows you won’t be able to resist stepping inside to try something new. Gmunden is also home to the famous Gmundener Keramik - it makes the perfect gift for family or friends when you return home from your adventure abroad!
Of course, what really stands out in Gmunden is the Traunsee - the lake that looks beautiful as it is surrounded by mountains and sleepy little Austrian towns. One of the prettiest views is from the Schlossort - a small castle that is out on the lake and provides a stunning setting for some of those Instagram posts you will want to take! From the location in Upper Austria, it is an easy train journey to get to so many stunning locations - some touristy like Hallstatt, but some remain a well-kept secret only for the locals!
If you are into museums, Vienna has many to choose from and most are free with a Vienna PASS. Check out the MuseumsQuartier Duo or the Klimt museum. The Praterstern Vienna’s famous ferris wheel - is well worth a visit! As far as attractions go, Upper Austria has a lot to offer! In Linz you can visit the Schlossmuseum Linz, Linzer Höhenrausch and the Alter Dom. For more techie folks, the Ars Electronica Center offers some really cool inventions and also puts on quite a few gigs and festivals throughout the year. In Salzburg there is the famous Salzburg Fortress with truly stunning views overlooking the city. There is also the Altstadt Salzburg (Salzburg Old Town) and Hellbrunn Palace for sightseeing, and for a piece of movie heritage – there is always the Sound of Music tour of Salzburg.
Austria has plenty of shopping options. For grocery shopping, you can either head to your local Billa, Aldi, Lidl, or Spar. There are also plenty of weekly/weekend markets for a leisurely browse, where you can purchase organic products and homemade goodies produced by local shops and farms. Seasonal markets are very popular, and if you are in Austria over the Christmas period, be sure to check out the Weihnachtsmarkt and enjoy the Punsch! When looking to shop for clothing and other types of wares, there is everything from giant shopping centres such as Lugner City in Vienna or Plus City in Linz and other shopping areas in between. Basically, shopping centres are located all over Austria in cities, towns and villages - just bear in mind that shops are normally closed on Sundays.
So, you’ve graduated. You've wowed students and schools all around Austria, and you are now a qualified teacher. As part of the program, you will attend a C.V. writing and career preparation workshop. You can add your letter of recommendation to this, as well as your CertTESOL and TEFL-YL certificate. It will highlight how much experience you have gained teaching (over 300 hours) in Austria’s public education sector.
During the program and after graduation, we constantly update participants and alumni with job listings from affiliate schools worldwide. Our affiliate schools have been vetted for quality and offer a variety of positions in reputable institutions with good pay. The majority of our graduates secure teaching positions well before the end of their time in Austria, and all our alumni have reported finding a job within weeks of graduating.
With all the experience gained while participating in the program, plus two teaching qualifications, our graduates are miles ahead of the rest who have taken part in a normal certificate course.