Job Discussion Forums

Canuck2112 · Joined: 13 Jun 2003 Posts: 239

I haven't seen much posting on Scandanavia. Are jobs very hard to come by there or do people just not want to teach there?

dyak · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 630

There aren't jobs simply because it's taught so well in schools, hence every scandanavian over the age of 12 speaking fluent English... I think they could actually teach 'us' a thing or two...

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

Of course,Dyak is right.This question comes up periodically.It is certainly not a question of people "not wanting to teach in Scandinavia."If the jobs were there,there would probably be a stampede.The jobs are not there for the reasons Dyak states.
In this field,just because you would like to teach in a certain place does not mean that is a possibility.Personally I would love to teach in Scandinavia.However,like most other people who have been in this business any length of time,I do not even bother entertaining the notion,becaue the jobs just aren't there.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

They're very difficult to get, and most people there speak English as well.

ejw · Joined: 22 Jun 2004 Posts: 15

There are some ESL jobs in Scandinavia but they usually go to people who are already settled here and looking for work. There is absolutely no place that will sponsor you for a work permit. If you are a citizen of an EU country you can try to get work here but it often is not enough to live on and you have to have special skills. I know those who have gotten work in Sweden teaching Business English. All of the people I know were either married to or living with Swedes. In other words, unless you are already settled here there is no work.

EJW

Gorm · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Posts: 87 Location: SoCal

I wonder if it would be impossible for me. Most of my family reside in Norway. Norway is not an EU country (as my family and I are proud of), so no problems there. I still keep contact with them, and I speak both Norwegian and English as my mother tongue/s.

I'm a US citizen studying for a BMus, and will have it in three years (5-year program). I am a violinist, many years of experience - teaching, orchestral work, competitions, etc.

This may or may not be relevant, but I'm also multi-lingual. I speak and write fluently in English, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Spanish. I can wing it and get by in Danish, Swedish, and Faroese, survival-level only. I speak basic Russian and Korean. I'm studying Japanese from my J-friends and taking a course.

I will be entering a TESOL certificate program in Jan.

P.S. - For the record, it is "Scandinavia" or "Skandinavia" and never is it "Scandanavia". For a further record for most laypeople - Scandinavia is a group of countries which all share one peninsula - the Scandinavian peninsula. That is, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The Fï¿½roe Islands, Iceland, and Finland are Nordic countries, and essentially non-Scandinavian, esp. in way of culture.

Thanks for your time and help guys,

Gorm

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

Gorm · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Posts: 87 Location: SoCal

Sweden is the most populous Scandinavian country - 9 million people. Denmark - 5,4 million. Norway - 4,5 million.

I know a few Swedes and they tend to be more formal ("stiff") and insular (even more than us, Norwegians) than the rest of Scandinavians.

Norwegians have plenty of Swede jokes... Smile

but in the end, we are all very similar people - anyway, this is known that Swedes don't use English as much as the other Scandinavians simply because there's more for the Swedish language than for the others.

Every Norwegian under 60 speaks English - some better than others, but most people can have a basic conversation in it. Children study English in primary school and over 75% of the media is in English.

As a result of this (and recent immigration changes), language erosion is fast becoming a reality in Scandinavia...which is too upsetting to discuss here.

G

poro · Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 274

junkmail · Joined: 19 Dec 2004 Posts: 377

beNZed · Joined: 09 Nov 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Varberg, Sweden

poro · Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 274

beNZed, I posted this on your thread too:

http://katalogen.sunet.se/cat/business/employment/employment_service

poro · Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 274

The employment office is on that page, but here's a quick link to it:

http://www.ams.se/

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

They may issue a temporary work permit and then give you random spelling tests. If you can't spell SCANDINAVIA, they deport you.

poro · Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 274

If they deported people for speaking horrible Swedish, they'd be bereft of population Shocked