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shasha123
Joined: 28 Aug 2017 Posts: 26
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2017 5:55 am Post subject: Where can I apply to in Czech Republic? |
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Hello everyone
I'd be grateful if you could kindly let me know where I can get a list of language schools etc. to apply. I've tried looking online and on the job listing here, but there aren't many.
Thank you so much |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2017 6:26 am Post subject: |
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It's pretty rare to land a job at a language school in the Czech Republic from abroad. There are plenty of teachers around on the streets to interview in person, and most reputable schools don't need to take chances on someone sight-unseen.
Peak hiring time is now, for a couple of weeks. Assuming that you have a BA and a CELTA or equivalent, you'll probably find something if you come over asap.
If you are already here, then it can be a good idea to ask other teachers what good schools are hiring. |
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shasha123
Joined: 28 Aug 2017 Posts: 26
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2017 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you so much for your feedback, Spiral78.
Unfortunately I'm in Asia at the moment, so I'll have to make do with e-mail applications.
I've another question with regards to visa application- should I apply for Zivno now or wait for a job offer first?
Thanks again for your help |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2017 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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Generally teachers enter the country as tourists, and usually you have 90 days to sort your work permit.
So, I suggest waiting til you get an offer - if you do.
You may want to check here for background on any school that offers you a contract sight-unseen; as noted before they tend to be either dodgy or located in unpopular rural areas. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2017 12:39 pm Post subject: |
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I suggest that you travel to the Czech Republic and start knocking on doors. Small towns might be a better bet than Prague of the other cities.
If I were hiring for my school I would want to see who i was getting. |
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shasha123
Joined: 28 Aug 2017 Posts: 26
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Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2017 6:21 am Post subject: |
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Spiral78, scot47: Thank you for the suggestions; much appreciated |
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shasha123
Joined: 28 Aug 2017 Posts: 26
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Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2017 9:03 am Post subject: |
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Hello everyone
I have a few more questions with regards to teaching in Prague:
1) Is 210 CZK for 45 minutes a fair wage? (I have an unrelated degree and the CELTA but no teaching experience)
2) Should I insist on the minimum number of teaching hours per week to be included in the contract? Anything else I should pay attention to with regards to the contract?
3) In terms of accommodation, which area in Prague would you recommend? (something basic and affordable; I don’t mind sharing)
4) How much is the average rate for visa (trade licence) assistance? Are there any organisations that you would recommend?
I’d appreciate any thoughts and advice. Thank you so much in advance |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2017 9:32 am Post subject: |
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Others will weigh in, but I'll give it a shot.
1. 210 is on the low end. If you teach 20 hours weekly, this is only about 4,000 weekly - 16,000 monthly. That's not a feasible living wage (you will indeed need a roommate!). Hopefully you will get more hours than 20 per week on such a wage, but then you are facing significant lesson planning on top of the actual teaching. Don't discount the travel time to your students offices (presuming that you will be teaching business English as most newbies here do). It sounds exhausting. Frankly, this is less money per hour than I started out at back in 1998 in Prague. You may be able to supplement with private lessons, but it takes some time to build a clientele and they are unreliable in the sense that they get sick, get busy, take holidays, etc., etc. and your pay is thus uncertain.
2. Dunno if you can 'insist,' but being able to count on a minimum is certainly a good idea, particularly as you will need to supplement this income. Check that the school will pay for a transit pass if the job requires travel. Check their pay/cancellation policy (usually teachers are paid if a lesson is cancelled with less than 24 hours notice).
3. For 'basic and affordable' you are not looking at anything central, so aim for something nearby to a metro station or major tram stop. Public transport here is great, and end-station neighborhoods are actually pretty ok. Your school should offer some assistance with housing contacts and hopefully the contract. If not, you might try movetoprague.com (there is a fee of 10,000 czk for their services, but they are good). They can also probably help you with the zivno details (trade license).
4. Others will have better info than I on this
Again, it's a good idea to name the school, even if you do it in a PM - those that will hire sight-unseen can be (but are not necessarily) dodgy. Are you in the city at this time? |
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shasha123
Joined: 28 Aug 2017 Posts: 26
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Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2017 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you so much for your input Spiral78
Yeah, it doesn’t seem like a feasible living wage I guess I’ll need to get part-time gigs at other schools, but yes, it sounds exhausting. What would be an appropriate entry-level wage?
Noted- will ask about the travel pass and accommodation. Thanks for the tip on end-station neighbourhoods; I’ll check out movetoprague.
With regards to cancellation policy- their contract states that teachers are paid if students cancel after 5pm on the last working day before the day of the lesson.
I'm not in Prague yet. There was a Skype interview, which included a lesson planning task. Will PM you the details of the school.
Thanks so much again for your help- much appreciated |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2017 11:18 am Post subject: |
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As it could be useful for possible other readers of the thread, I'll point out that the teaching market in the Czech Republic is relatively small, particularly compared to those in Asia. It's not a job market where you are sure to find something at any time of the year, honestly.
The usual contract timing is mid/end September through end July. Thus, most teachers wanting a job here need to be in the country by the first of September and ready to interview in person. There is a small hiring bump usually in January.
A newbie teacher planning to arrive mid/late autumn is (barring some unusual good luck) facing a tough time to cobble together enough work to subsist at least until January and quite possibly until the following September. I do know of some teachers who arrived in mid October and really found nothing substantial enough to support them before the winter holidays.
It's not impossible, but timing is important here and definitely worth taking into consideration. |
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shasha123
Joined: 28 Aug 2017 Posts: 26
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Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 7:24 am Post subject: |
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Thank you so much for the advice Spiral, you've been extremely helpful |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 9:57 am Post subject: |
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You're very welcome and good luck! |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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Some years ago I worked in Eastern Europe in a State School specialising in the teaching of Foreign Languages (English,. French and German). This was not in the Czech Republic but in another country in that Region.
The school had appeared in some Directory and as a result the office regularly got written applications from would-be English teachers in all parts of the Anglosphere.
The School Director routinely gave these to me. I sometimes read them and put them in te trash. Sometimes I put them in the trash without reading them. No one ever got a job that way - and that was in the good times before the recession.
You have to go there and knock on doors, that is how it works in that part of the world. |
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shasha123
Joined: 28 Aug 2017 Posts: 26
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Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2017 5:41 am Post subject: |
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Hi Scot,
Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Will apply personally next time around |
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