Job Discussion Forums

[hughesie]

[bellevie]

My post was not a direct attack on anyone, and I think you just proved my point about the negativity on this forum by outwardly insulting me, which is just completely unnecessary. One person's opinion is not the end all be all, and those with inexperience in the European market should be able to get a wide variety of opinions on the situation here without feeling horrible about themselves in the end. I think the points you're making are true and valid but can be made in a different way.

[hughesie]

[spiral78]

those with inexperience in the European market should be able to get a wide variety of opinions

I think a part of the problem here is - where does fact end and opinion begin?

The Schengen zone and its rules are facts.

The restrictions many Western European countries have in place on non-EU English teachers are facts, though those restrictions sometimes change, and they vary by country.

Fact: in some Western European countries a school can petition for an exception to the EU - only hiring rule. This was what happened in my case. However, (OPINION now, but educated one) no school is going to go through this complicated and expensive process for an American with a BA and a CELTA, when there are tonnes of EU candidates with these qualifications on the job market.

Writing about the facts of the restrictions in place in Europe is realistic.

Obviously, it's not always good news, but it's fair that people know before investing time/money/energy in a move.

[artemisia]

I've been reading this thread with some interest. I know I was glad to leave just as all the pension requirements started being actioned. As I recall it wasn't a law change but rather that the (old) law was about to be enforced and that freelancers would have to backpay into the fund. It sounded like it was going to financially cripple quite alot of teachers there.
I was there on an EU passport so didn't have to worry about the regulations that American teachers I knew there did. I had health insurance but a lot of people didn't. I thought it was ALWAYS a legal requirement to have it but maybe that's now enforced with those who need work visas.
Money wasn't such a big issue during the years I worked there. I usually had enough work- sometimes more than I really wanted, though I remember a lean period of 6 months or so. The problem I found with being a freelancer was that you pretty much had to work like an employee but without the benefits. I still had a lot more freedom though in terms of taking holidays when I wished. I never tried that hard to find work outside of schools as I was really there to be a student and travel and mostly just wanted enough work to live on. I found that companies valued business experience far more than tefl quals and that a knowledge of German was certainly appreciated. The Daimler Chrysler merger was still a big thing at one time and there was plenty of English teaching and some companies were keen on having American English teachers. How much that translated to sponsoring work visas I can't say.

I miss Germany (and regularly speaking German) but decided it wasn't a country I wanted to be in really long term (with the exception maybe of Berlin-my favourite city but I never fancied being a freelance teacher there). Good luck to all of you teachers there.

[jm2505]

I think that working freelance with this school is a safer option - at least you can walk away if they mess you around. I worked for Inlingua Paderborn for a bit and they were awful to work for. Even some my students had a low opinion of them.

[renovatio]

Hey aozora, I was wondering if you would give an update on your status in Frankfurt. I will be coming out there in July to stay with a friend, and any advice would be greatly appreciated.