What Opportunities Are there To Teach English in Morocco?
The market to teach English in Morocco is a growing one that makes it a little easier to find teaching jobs abroad. With business and tourism sectors growing rapidly and the country opening out to international ties, the demand for English speaking skills is on the rise and is soon seen as one of the best countries to teach English.
The government policy has also seen a shift, with greater emphasis being given to the education sector. As the demand for quality education increases, there is a proportional increase in English teachers’ demand for English in Morocco.
There are both private and public schools in Morocco. The public-school positions are almost exclusively reserved for Moroccan nationals. Opportunities for ex-pat teachers are mostly confined to the private sector. You can apply to private language schools, private international schools or private universities.
There are private language schools in almost all the major cities of Morocco. But you will find more schools and more opportunities in cities like Casablanca, Marrakesh, Rabat and Tangier.
These are wonderful cities to live in. However, it would be best to be very careful when applying for a job at private institutes. First, not all schools are professionally run.
Private schools often have their own set of rules and regulations. If you sign up without adequate research, you might find several grey areas in your employment contract.
Second, there are government regulations regarding the qualifications for teachers in private schools. Do not be too delighted if a school offers you a job, even if you lack the necessary qualifications and expertise for the job.
It probably means that they expect you to work without a work visa or residence permit. This is strictly not advisable.
Morocco has quite a large international school community. Most of them are in Casablanca, Marrakesh, Rabat and Tangiers. There are a few schools in cities like Fez and Ifrane. Curriculums followed include British, American, French, Saudi and Spanish.
Some of the school also follow the Moroccan curriculum in addition to the international one.
A considerable proportion of the teaching staff in Morocco’s private universities is ex-pats. Most positions require at least a Master’s degree and work experience. You could also look for opportunities in the language schools affiliated with private universities.
A Bachelor’s degree and a TEFL certification may get you at least an interview call. Working in private universities can be a great experience. The workload is light enough for you to have enough time to explore the country.
Yet another option for teaching English in Morocco is to look for private tuitions. The market for private classes is growing rapidly.
It is not just young students who are seeking to beef up their English-speaking skills. In the rapidly growing economy, young professionals need to brush up their English skills to get a vital professional edge.
They add to the demand for English teachers. The hours are flexible. However, it might not be financially possible to survive solely from private tuitions. Most ex-pat English teachers take up private tutoring to supplement their salaries from school.
There are plenty of opportunities to teach English in Morocco. With a bit of research, networking and the right qualifications, your dream of living and working in this vibrant country will come true.
Educating Abroad Quick Tip: Narrow your job search to Casablanca, Marrakesh, Rabat and Tangiers. Most of the schools are located in these cities. They are also great cities to live in.
When And How To Apply For Teaching Jobs In Morocco
Applications can be sent around the year for language schools. There are always vacancies for teaching posts in these institutes.
At times, they struggle to fill in vacant posts days before the sessions begin. The regular private schools and international schools follow a more structured approach.
Their academic term is from September-June. It would be prudent to start the application process as early as April or March.
To Teach English in Morocco requires some amount of leg work. Vacancies are rarely advertised on the internet or in newspapers. This would mean that you would have to do some research and use your networking skills.
The first step would be to make a list of the schools you would like to apply to. This is necessary because, as we mentioned earlier, not all schools have a productive and rewarding working environment.
Once you have a shortlist of the ‘good’ schools, it is best to make cold calls/emails enquiring if they have vacancies for English teachers.
If they do respond positively, send in your resume. But that is not the end of the matter. Moroccan schools expect to follow up calls regularly. So be prepared to spend some time on the application process.
Educating Abroad Quick Tip: English schools in the country hire English speaking teachers for all subjects. You could check whether there are any opportunities to teach other subjects.
If you have the financial resources consider looking out for a new service, we will be launching soon to contact all the schools on your behalf. You can find it in the Teacher Marketplace.
It might also worth considering to come to Morocco on a tourist visa before starting your job hunt to teach English in Morocco. Most schools do expect to interview in person before making the final decision on your appointment.
The tourist visa is valid for a period of 90 days. Once you land a job teaching English in Morocco, the school will help you with the paperwork required for obtaining a work visa or residence permit.
Qualifications Needed To Teach English In Morocco
The government has strict standards for hiring teachers who will teach English in Morocco. It would help if you had a Bachelor’s degree in addition to a TEFL or CELTA certification. Most schools also prefer to hire native English speakers.
However, this is not mandatory. If you are fluent in the language, you can still apply for teaching English in Morocco.
Private universities normally require a Master’s degree. However, there are openings in university language schools for candidates with a BA +TEFL certification. If you are looking for private tutoring opportunities, qualifications do not really matter.
Remember that it is impossible to get a work visa or residence permit if you do not meet the Government guidelines on hiring teachers. Teaching experience is valued in the job market and gives you an edge over the competition.
Some Quick FAQ's On Teaching English In Morocco
How much do English teachers make in Morocco?
If you teach English in Morocco, you can make $2200 at a Moroccan International school. The pay very well however there are limited places which means a number of English teachers teach in language schools in morocco where you can earn circa $1000 per month
How do I get TEFL certification in Morocco?
You can can get a TEFL certification in morocco by contacting local moroccon TEFL providers which provide TEFL programs suitable to teaching in Morocco. Some TEFL companies do have entry requirments and some others do not. Make sure you research the TEFL certification to ensure it is accepted in the schools in Morocco.
Is it hard to get a job in Morocco?
Yes it is hard to get a job in Morocco if you are looking for a position other than teaching English. It is hard to find a job other than teaching in Morocco as provate companies will want you to speak the local language and or have native Moroccans who can do the job themselves.
Getting A Visa To Teach English In Morocco
Getting a Visa to Teach English in Morocco will require you to go through a rather long-drawn-out process to get the papers and permits needed for you to work in this beautiful country. Here is a list of the steps you need to go through to get the papers to legalize your right to stay and work here.
- Once you have decided on Morocco as the destination for your work abroad experience, apply for a tourist or student visa to come to the country. This is easy if you are a citizen of an English-speaking country (except South Africa). The visas are available on arrival in Morocco and are valid for a period of 90 days.
- Once you sign an employment contract, you can apply for a work permit or residence permit. It is known as the carte de Sejour.
- Once your application is submitted, you will receive a receipt. Please keep it safe till your work visa is issued. The process is long and tedious. Sometimes, it may take nearly a year to get a work visa.
- If your tourist visa expires before your work permit is issued (which is very likely given the bureaucracy involved), you will have to leave Morocco and return on a new tourist visa.
- Applying for a new tourist visa is inconvenient but not really difficult. You have to leave Morocco for 24 hours before you re-enter on a new tourist visa. Most ex-pats take a bus or a cheap flight across the border to Spain and then re-enter Morocco. I am sure you will agree that spending a day in Spain is no great hardship!
- The work visa is valid for a period of one year.
- When your work visa expires after a year, reapply for a 3 or 5-year visa to avoid going through all the paperwork annually. The time period for the extended work visa will depend on your nationality.
Most schools help you with all the paperwork required for the visa. The first preference for any job, as per government rules, has to be a Moroccan national. The school has to prove that there were no other suitable candidates for the job. That is why you must have all the documents that establish your credentials in hand.
Educating Abroad Quick Tip: You need a work visa to not just legally work in the country, but to have a bank account to enable you to transfer money out of the country.
Documentation Required For A Moroccan Work Visa
You will need to produce the below to successfully able to receive a Moroccan work visa:
- Three certified copies of your employment contract
- Three certified copies of your passport
- Three copies (one of them must be a certified copy) of a lease in your name
- If the employer provides accommodation, the latter must provide a certificate to confirm he/she is taking up the housing costs.
- Certificates proving your qualifications
- Two forms of your application for registration. These are available at the prefecture, and you will have to visit there personally to fill up the forms
- 8 passport-size photos
- The visa fees
Only once this has all been completed can you legally start to teach English In Morocco.
Salary & Work Environment teaching English in Moroccan Schools
Do not expect to save for the future when you teach English in Morocco.
The salaries for teaching English in Morocco are just about enough to cover your costs and fulfil your ambition to explore and learn more about the country. Average salaries in language schools range from $800-$1000.
Private schools and international schools offer higher salaries, in the range of $1000-2000. Private university salaries may be as high as $3000, depending on your qualifications and experience.
Private tutoring is not very lucrative. You can earn up to $20 an hour.
Moroccan schools normally offer housing, healthcare and a travel stipend as additional perks. You should negotiate further with the school management if these are not included in your initial offer letter.
Your work environment will depend on the school. There is anecdotal evidence that some schools do not treat teachers professionally. But if you have done your background research diligently, you will probably only apply to the ‘right’ schools.
Schools in Morocco work for eight hours, with almost an hour’s break for lunch. Some schools have an extra half-hour break. There are 20-30 students in each class. Saturdays are holidays or half days. Employees are entitled to 18 days of paid leave as per the labour laws in the country.
It might take you a while to get used to the discipline, or lack of it, in Moroccan schools.
Students may not be punctual. This can be tiresome if you are taking private tuition’s. It is also normal in Moroccan society to interrupt people without much ado. You will have to learn about it.
Never get into a confrontation with a parent or student. This is regarded as an affront. Moroccans prefer a very indirect style of communication.
Educating Abroad Quick Tip: Teaching English in Morocco would also involve cultural adjustments. Moroccan society is traditional. Dress appropriately as per local sensibilities.
Cost Of Living In Morocco As An Expat Teacher
The cost of living in Morocco is surprisingly high, especially in cities like Marrakesh. Your Morocco assignment will be a break-even one. The potential to save is rather slim.
The rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre will be $300 per month. A similarly sized apartment outside the city centre will cost $170.
However, several schools in Morocco do provide housing or cover your house rent. If you do not fall in this category, it might be wiser to look for a house away from the city centre as the price differential is substantial.
Your utility bill will add another $40 to your housing costs. Internet and phone bill will be approximately $30-40.
Morocco is a great place to embark on a culinary adventure. The cuisine is delicious, and eating out is not very expensive.
A three-course meal in a mid-priced restaurant will put you back by around $20. A bottle of beer costs $3. The street food in Morocco is delicious. If you are not up to cooking, you can always indulge in a feast from the streets. Your bill will be around $3!!
Transport is not expensive. However, the public transport system is not very efficient. You may have to rely on taxis extensively. The charge for a one-kilometer ride is an affordable $0.75.
Groceries will account for 35 per cent of your total monthly outflow; transport is 14.6 per cent, and eating out will be 12 per cent.
Educating Abroad Quick Tip: Imported goods are very expensive in Morocco. Try to bring as many home comforts with you as possible.
Living Life In Morocco
When you teach English in Morocco, it will give you enough time to explore this wonderful country. There is much to see and do here. Cities like Marrakesh and Casablanca are exotic, colourful and simply oozing with charm.
It is not really necessary to go on sightseeing tours to enjoy life’s flavour in these cities. Just sit back in a café with a cup of delicious Moroccan coffee at Marrakesh’s legendary plaza and watch life pass by.
The quirks of the bargain hunters in the busy streets, the beguiling sales spiels by the local vendors, the colourful carpets on sale, the musicians competing for your attention and the delicious aroma of the slow-cooked tagine – everyday life in Morocco has an indefinable charm.
Once you have settled in, you can plan to see more of Morocco. Use your weekends and school holidays to visit Morocco’s beautiful mountains. Explore the vast deserts with their towering dunes and lively oasis.
Visit the beautiful cities of Casablanca, Fez and Tangiers. Enjoy the warm hospitality and friendship of the local people.
While life in Morocco can be a never-ending adventure, it is important to be sensitive about the local culture and laws.
- Here are some important tips:
- Alcohol consumption is not allowed in public.
- Homosexual and extra-marital relations are illegal and punishable.
- Morocco is an Islamic country. You must adhere to local rules of behaviour.
- It is better to dress conservatively. This is especially important for women ex-pat teachers
- It is wiser to carry your identification papers and work permit with you always.
- Medical services are not very dependable.
Must-Visit Places If You Decide To Teach Abroad In Morocco
Meknes:
Known as an imperial city, Meknes in its heydays was full of grand buildings and bustling medinas. It was the capital of the Sultan who ruled the area in the 17th century.
Meknes is not as impressive as the other imperial cities in Morocco. But since it hosts fewer visitors, you can have a more relaxed time exploring the palaces and streets.
Dades Valley:
The spectacular scenery at Dades Valley will be one of your lasting memories of Morocco. The valley is set between the High Atlas mountain range and the Jebel Sarho.
Known as the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs, the sight of the looming cliffs of the valley changing colour during the course of the day is simply unforgettable.
Chefchaouen:
If you are looking for a quiet weekend, make your way to Chefchaouen. Located in the Rif Mountains, the little town has several arts and crafts shops worth exploring. The artefacts are beautiful and attest to the creativity and talent of the residents.
The town itself is pretty, with a serene air and houses painted a light blue colour. You can also take long hikes to discover the absolutely stunning countryside around Chefchaouen.
Jebel Toubkal:
You cannot come to Morocco and not visit the Jebel Toubkal. The highest peak in North Africa, the Jebel Toubkal, is situated in the High Atlas Mountains. It towers at an imposing height of 4,167 meters.
The trek to the top is not easy. But the joy of being high up in the clouds with the stunning view of the world beneath you is certainly worth the effort.
Teachers Personal Views Who Teach English In Morocco
Morocco As A Place To Teach English: Our Final Thoughts
Morocco might not be the right destination for those who are looking to save for the future. But teaching English in Morocco has the advantage of allowing you to live in an exotic part of the world.
The experience of living in a different culture enriches you and broadens your horizon. So, go ahead with your job search in Morocco. After all, it is not just money that makes you rich!
