From Eurovision To Exploration: Be Inspired To Teach English In One Of The Top Eurovision Countries

Eurovision. Could it be one of the most politically charged and tumultuous song contests in the world? Possibly. Do we still watch it religiously every year? You bet!

The 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest was held on Saturday 11 May 2024 in Malmo, Sweden.

This year the Eurovision Song Contest proved to be even more exciting than usual, with a number of extraordinary and controversial events taking place in the lead up to and on the night itself.

Who won Eurovision 2024?
This year’s Eurovision Song Contest was won by Switzerland, with Croatia and France also featuring in the top countries.

But we’re travellers, of course. While we enjoy a good song just as much as the next person, we like to take travel inspiration from all sorts of places.

Having watched the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, we were inspired to have a look at the home countries of the top-performing countries in relation to teaching and travelling – because that’s what we do!

Let’s start from the top.

Switzerland: Lakes and landscapes

Swiss singer Nemo is the first non-binary person to win Eurovision.

Switzerland is a great place to teach English if you’re looking for somewhere different. The demand for English teachers is not high, but there are opportunities to teach in the hotel industry and private tutoring. TEFL jobs are located in the big cities of Switzerland, especially Zurich, Bern and Geneva. If you are interested in teaching English in the Hotel industry you can look at smaller towns with specialised hotel schools.

A Bachelor’s degree is required to teach English in Switzerland, as well as a minimum of a 120-hour TEFL certificate. The TEFL Academy can help you get certified and start your teaching journey in Switzerland. Because of the competition for teaching jobs in Switzerland, we recommend our Level 5 168-hour Combined TEFL Course to give you the best chance at success.

European citizens and those who already have residency and working privileges will be able to easily find a job in Switzerland. Non-EU citizens should apply for a work visa (“B” work permit). To obtain this work permit you need to be qualified for the job and already have secured your job contract.

Croatia: From Baby Lasagne to black risotto

Croatia’s entrant Baby Lasagne placed second in Eurovision 2024, winning the public televote.

Croatia is a country of more than a thousand islands and plenty of sunshine, making this a holiday destination of choice for many travellers. Croatia has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites all within close distance of one another. Whether it’s history and architecture or sun and summer fun you are looking for, Croatia is where you will find it.

TEFL jobs can be found in private language schools and if you have teaching qualifications, international schools. The majority of these positions will be found in Zagreb. A Bachelor’s degree is needed to teach English in Croatia. Non-EU nationals will need a work visa, while EU citizens are exempt from this requirement.

France: Bon jour, mon amour!

French singer Slimane represented his country in Eurovision 2024 with his song Mon Amour.

No doubt that France is a country of love. But France has a lot to offer English teachers too. The country is well-known for its excellent education system. In recent years English teachers have become in high demand. Consequently there has been an explosion of teaching programs and job opportunities in the country.

If you are a EU citizen then you do not need a visa to teach in France. Non-EU citizens need a visa to teach in France. The visa process for non-EU teachers is quite lengthy and complicated, but it’s not impossible. Alternative paths to a working visa in France include a student visa, a Working Holiday Visa, and a teaching program such as TAPIF.

And in case you’re wondering: where did the UK come in Eurovision 2024?
In the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, the UK placed 18th. UK contestant Olly Alexander sadly received zero points in the audience vote.