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Teach English in
Morocco

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Combining a warm Mediterranean climate with a rich history and fascinating culture, Morocco is an amazing choice for those who want to teach English abroad. Despite being just a small trip away from Europe on a ferry, the culture and cuisine of Morocco is totally different to what you might be used to. Eat scrumptious […]

Combining a warm Mediterranean climate with a rich history and fascinating culture, Morocco is an amazing choice for those who want to teach English abroad . Despite being just a small trip away from Europe on a ferry, the culture and cuisine of Morocco is totally different to what you might be used to. Eat scrumptious cous cous, rfissa, pastilla, snails, camel meat, or tagine dishes, and if you like getting inventive in the kitchen, you can buy produce and haggle in a souk (local market) and enjoy measuring out different spices to use cooking at home. Other fun ways to spend your time include going for a ride on a camel in the desert, or you can enjoy exploring Morocco’s centuries of history and its cosmopolitan culture – you’ll never be short of something to do in Morocco!

Being so close to Europe means that many in Morocco want to learn English to get jobs in businesses that trade with those on the continent. As Morocco’s economy grows, more and more people are looking to learn English. At its most northern point, Morocco is a mere eight miles off the coast of Spain, however, it feels a million miles away from the western life. With a blend of Mediterranean, African, and Islamic cultures, Morocco creates its own unique personality. Famous for its inspiring mountain backdrop, bustling markets, and romantic cities, TEFL teachers will never find themselves short of things to do and experience. From the many towns along the coast to the more mountainous terrains in the heart of Morocco and the Sahara desert, it offers a great variety of landscapes to stimulate the traveller .

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Key Facts

  • Popular locations for TEFL jobs : Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Agdal or Hassan
  • Average salary for EFL teachers : In Morocco, English teachers can expect a monthly average between 4,600 and 9,500 Moroccan Dirhams (MAD), roughly $500 to $1,000 USD / £410 to £820 GBP. Public schools offer stable contracts within this range, while private gigs and tutoring can bring in more. International schools might pay top dollar, but competition's tough. Remember, Morocco's cost of living is relatively low, so even starting salaries can go a long way.
  • TEFL qualification requirements: To teach English in Morocco, you'll generally need a TEFL certificate, a bachelor's degree in any field, and native or near-native fluency in English. While the specific requirements can vary depending on the employer and teaching level, these qualifications are widely accepted.
  • Prerequisite university degree:  A BA degree is required for all positions (to get the visa)
  • Term times : The school year starts in September
  • Currency : Dirham
  • Language : Arabic and French
  • Teaching programmes : Private Language Schools, State Schools, Universities, Volunteering, Private Tutoring, Business English, International Schools
  • Age restrictions:  Under 60
  • Previous teaching experience: Often required

While Arabic and French have traditionally been the dominant languages, English is increasingly becoming the language of international communication. With opportunities for Moroccans to work in tourism, higher education, and business, there is a growing demand for TEFL teachers. In fact, English is taught to children in schools form the age of ten. For TEFL teachers in Morocco, there are opportunities to help school children improve their spoken English as well as teaching English at an academic level to young adults in universities. English is actually a requirement for entry into university so it’s not uncommon to see pre-university students looking for private tutors or group lessons. As well as teaching children and young adults, you’ll also find yourself much in demand for teaching business English. Working in the public sector is often the better choice for TEFL teachers – government regulations give some consistency to the roles on offer, whereas if you work for a private company, it’s down to your employers as to how much respect you receive and what your working life is like. In public schools, the teaching style is still very much ‘chalk and talk’, so it can be difficult to get students to take an active role in lessons if they’re used to just sitting and taking notes.

If you teach English in Morocco as a volunteer, prepare to be met with scant facilities and a lack of organisation. Some volunteers report being thrown in the deep end where they aren’t given much in the way of materials for their lessons, and without a translator to help out, communication can be difficult if the students don’t speak any English at all. However, for a veteran teacher this sort of experience will be easy to handle, and for newer TEFL teachers the experience will be a challenge but well worth the effort. Volunteers in Morocco are usually treated extremely well by their host families, particularly in the generous servings of home cooked meals .

Requirements for teaching English in Morocco

Country Avg. monthly salary Degree required Start of term Teaching experience Housing & flights included Suitable for non-native English speakers Age restrictions
Teach in Morocco £400 - £800
($500 - $1,000)
Yes September No No Yes None

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Living Costs

Like most countries in Africa, Morocco has a low cost of living which means that, with some careful budgeting, you can afford a nice quality of life while working here. If you’re planning to live frugally and save money to send home, do your research – Western Union stipulates that transactions are ‘inbound only’ and so sending money home isn’t easy to do. Morocco has a high level of unemployment, and you’ll certainly see signs of poverty wherever in the country you find work. Family values are highly important to locals, so don’t be flustered by personal questions such as if you’re married, how many children you have and where your parents live – this sort of questioning isn’t seen as rude in Morocco. When you make friends in Morocco, you’ll often find several generations living together under one roof. Moroccans are very friendly and so it’s easy to make friends – get chatting to someone in a restaurant and, in a few days’ time, you can easily find yourself invited to dine in their family home. For those who are doing well and who are part of the growing middle class, it’s an honour to have a guest visit and be treated well in their home. However, for those who are still living on the poverty line, daily life can be a struggle in Morocco .

  • Accommodation : £328 - £632 / $455 - $876
  • Utilities : £37 / $52
  • Health insurance : Cost of typical visit to a GP: £18 / $25
  • Monthly transport pass : £16 / $23
  • Basic dinner out for two : £15 / $21
  • Cappuccino in expat area : £1.66 / $2.30
  • A beer in a pub : £2.47 / $3.43
  • 1 litre of milk : £0.59 / $0.82
  • 2 litres of Coca-Cola : £.092 / $1.27

(living costs sourced from Expatistan )

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