Job Discussion Forums

zcpet · Joined: 13 Apr 2013 Posts: 9 Location: USA

This is a bit of a cross post from the General Europe forum, but anyway--

I'm an American student with about 1.5 years left until I graduate with a BA (Liberal Arts). I'm aware that a non-EU passport holder has about zero chance of getting work in Europe by filling out job applications while sitting behind his computer desk.

So my question is, would I have any chance of success if I came over to get my CELTA at a certified school in Germany? And I would assume in the East would be even better?

I speak passable traveler's German and I'm sure I'd be able to get to B level German in a year or so.

Is this is decent idea, or no?

Thanks!

taxman · Joined: 18 Mar 2013 Posts: 19 Location: Germany

As far as I know, there is no way to do your CELTA in Germany. When I did mine (2008) I had to go to Prague.

JN · Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 214

To zcpet: Sounds like a decent idea, though I'm not sure how you define success. You should bring savings with you until you can get some work.

To taxman: http://berlin.school-of-english.de/pages/teachertraining They may do a course in Hamburg, too. Maybe there are courses elsewhere, too.

taxman · Joined: 18 Mar 2013 Posts: 19 Location: Germany

Thanks for the link JN,

I remember researching that school when looking for a CELTA program. The website says that they've been around since 2003, but I don't remember them offering a CELTA back in 2008. (Though I could be wrong.) Anyway, seems like they do now. Hmm...Berlin or Hamburg? Well, Hamburg was recently voted Germany's most attractive city......

http://www.thelocal.de/society/20130420-49249.html

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

zcpet · Joined: 13 Apr 2013 Posts: 9 Location: USA

taxman · Joined: 18 Mar 2013 Posts: 19 Location: Germany

zcpet,

Just so you know this about Germany. Nothing just "opens up."

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

'Job placement' doesn't happen in Europe. They'll (at best) give you a list of schools to contact. There is no 'placement.'
You write up your CV, you send it off, you hope for the best, you go to interviews, you teach demo lessons, you negotiate contract terms....assuming you are lucky enough to land a contract.

It's all real world stuff here. If some course provider is promising you 'job placement' anywhere in Western/Central Europe, run as fast as possible in the other direction. It's a fairy tale.

Xie Lin · Joined: 21 Oct 2011 Posts: 731

zcpet · Joined: 13 Apr 2013 Posts: 9 Location: USA

Thank you very much for this useful information everybody.

Is it better to look at larger cities like Berlin and Frankfurt, smaller cities, somewhere in the east, or simply try everywhere?

JN · Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 214

Judging from what I've heard and what I've experienced, don't come to Berlin. There are too many teachers here. Granted you may eventually find work here to get by, but I've been told that elsewhere in Germany there seem to be more opportunities. It's important to decide where you want to be. As mentioned before, you really have to be on the ground to find work here.