This week, I had the pleasure of chatting with Jess, a passionate teacher from a suburban town in North Dublin. After teaching for one year in Ireland, Jess decided to pursue her dream of living and working abroad, settling in Germany, where she’s now in her third year teaching at a European School.
With a love for travel and a determination to stay connected to home, Jess found the perfect balance by choosing a teaching opportunity in Europe. From navigating a new curriculum to embracing Germany's unique culture and lifestyle, she shares the challenges, rewards, and unforgettable moments of her journey so far.
Firstly, can you introduce yourself and provide some background about your teaching experience?
My name is Jess and I am from a small suburban town in the north of Dublin. I taught for one year at home in Dublin before moving abroad to Germany. This is my third year teaching here in a European School.
What inspired you to teach in Germany, and how did you come across this opportunity?
I knew I always wanted to work and live abroad at some point in my career. It was important for me to be close to home so I decided to stick to Europe. I created a profile on Tes.com and applied for the job there.
What steps did you take to secure a teaching position in Germany?
After applying for the job on Tes, the school got in touch and I successfully completed the interview! Other schools I saw, require you to go to the school for an in-person interview; however, mine was online.
What was the visa process like for you?
Thankfully, as Ireland is a part of the EU, there is no need to apply for a visa to live and work here. I simply had to register my tenancy upon moving.
Can you describe your first impressions of Germany when you arrived?
It was beautiful! It was summertime when I first moved so it was extremely hot!
What is the typical school day like for a teacher in Germany?
The school day from 8 am-3 pm. We finish early on Fridays (at 1 pm). We get three 30-minute breaks during the day. The children eat lunch together in a canteen. The core subjects each day include English, Maths and German. There is also a range of after-school subjects available. For example, Choir, Orchestra, Cricket and so much more! For typical German state schools, the school is much shorter.
How do the classroom sizes and resources in Germany compare to your experiences elsewhere?
The class sizes are much smaller compared to my teaching experience back home- there can be no more than 24 in a class! I believe this is similar in German state
schools too. We have a wide range of basic resources available within the school as well.
What kind of curriculum do schools in Germany follow, and how does it differ from Ireland?
In my school, we follow the European Schools curriculum. I am a Homeroom Teacher so I teach most of the regular subjects that we would teach back at home; English, Maths, Discovery of the World (SESE Programme), a Social Skills programme (SPHE) and Art. There are specialist teachers for Music, ICT and Sports.
Children also learn German for 1 hour a day. In the older classes, I teach Irish! We also have a European Hours programme; I teach Gaelic football for this! Other courses that are on the European Hours programme include Robotics, Gaelic Football, Gardening and Textiles.
What is the cost of living like in Germany compared to Ireland?
Germany is a very reasonably priced country to live in. The rent is much more affordable than in Ireland! There are also many benefits available to citizens. For example, the government provide the Deutschalnd Ticket. This is a travel ticket that costs €49 a year that allows you to travel all around Germany!
Can you describe your housing situation and the types of accommodations typically available to teachers?
I had to source my own accommodation. However, the staff at the school were ever so helpful in my search for accommodation. There are options for people to find a house-share with flatmates or to find your own apartment.
What can you do for leisure and entertainment day to day in Germany?
On weekends, there are beautiful day trips you can take to lakes, mountains, forests and castles! From the main train station, you can take a train to places like Austria, Switzerland, France and any city in Germany.
There are mountains to go skiing in and the most beautiful Christmas markets to visit during the wintertime. Alternatively, there are lakes and hikes to do in the summer!
How does the salary and benefits package for teachers in Germany compare to other places you’ve worked?
Although the taxes are high in Germany, the pay is sufficient and teaching is a highly regarded profession here! There are bonuses and pay rises, and my school pays for your public transport.
Have you found opportunities to network with other expat teachers or local educators?
Absolutely! We have teachers from Greece, Sweden, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia Spain and Hungary, to name but a few!
What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced while living and teaching in Germany?
The German language! It is very difficult to learn, especially when you’re working full-time. However, the Germans are very helpful and are happy to practice with you and help you!
What have been the most rewarding aspects of your teaching experience in Germany?
I feel like seeing the children make progress in their educational journey from the beginning of a term to the end has been the most rewarding part. We write two report cards a year for the parents, so it is wonderful to be able to notice the differences the children have made at the end of the year!
What advice would you give to someone considering teaching in Germany?
The best advice I would give to anyone considering teaching abroad is to feel the fear and do it anyway! Teaching in Europe is perhaps not the first place people would consider, but it is great to be so close to home! I have the opportunity for both travel and regular visits back home to see family and friends!
Be sure to ask for help. It can be overwhelming to get yourself set up anywhere new, especially in a different language. Be sure to ask native Germans for tips and advice for getting things like your bank and phone set up.
What essential items should teachers bring with them when moving to Germany?
I would be prepared to pack both a good stock of winter and summer clothes. It can snow a lot here in the winter, and summertime can be very hot! In terms of personal items, I always bring my own stash of Irish snacks. Aside from that, they pretty much have everything you need here!
Where can readers find out more information about teaching in Germany that you would recommend?
Unfortunately, there’s not too much information available online about teaching in Germany. However, https://www.iamexpat.de is a fantastic website for people to get more information online about working and living here!
I also have created a new teacher account, @missjteachingadventures on Instagram. Feel free to drop me a follow and/or a message if you would like some more information on working in European Schools!
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