Job Discussion Forums

[bluehighway]

Hello board.

I'm an American citizen currently teaching at a university in Canada. What are the easiest European countries to work in without an EU passport?

I have two Masters degrees - in Education and Applied Language Studies - and several years experience teaching writing to college/university students. I don't have a TESL certification, but I have lots of experience teaching ESL.

I would really like to teach ESL in Europe, preferably in a country warmer than Canada. What are my options? Suggestions/recommendations?

Is it possible to procure a job from North America, or will I have to go overseas to find work?

Thanks in advance.

P.

[spiral78]

Unless you land a (rare) international school position, European schools rarely hire from abroad.

Also, if you're looking for southern climes (and assuming you want to work legally) you probably need to limit your search to the 'new' EU countries or places like Croatia. Italy, Spain, Portugal, France...near-impossible for non-EU member citizens to get legal working papers.

I'm going to send you a pm with a bit more info - check your messages.

[naturegirl321]

The newest EU countries are the easiest. For example, Lithunaia and Estonia are much easier than France, Italy, Spain or the UK.

With your experience, aim for international schools or WHV if you can. I'd say you stand a good chance. But usually they hire earlier in the year for an August start. But you might be able to enter in January.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=4556 has links for international schools.

Check the PM I sent you as well.

[parrothead]

It seems you have the qualifications to teach at an International School perhaps. Getting legal work is difficult in the EU for U.S. citizens, but you could also try non-EU countries, like Turkey.

[GF]

[bluehighway]

[spiral78]

Both the laws and the economies of the Central/Eastern European region have been changing rapidly in the past few years. Work and residence visa rules have become tighter, and developing economies mean that cost-of-living has risen considerably.

While private language schools often advertise something like 'very good salary by local standards,' this isn't the entire picture. For example, locals in most cases don't pay rents at the same rate as expats. In Prague (I realize the Czech Rep is not under consideration here, but it serves me as a useful example) a local resident usually fits one or more of the following categories:

1. has a home which has been in the family long-term
2. belongs to a two + income family
3. has a well-paid job which he/she has worked up to by building local contacts, reputation, and language skills, and specific education in country.

All this means that the 'good local salary' of an expat English teacher is quite likely to be no more than double local rental rates - net. The translation in quality of living is that salaries tend to be subsistence level - enough to enjoy where you are, but where a new pair of jeans is a fairly major expense, and you've no hope of buying a car or flat in anything like a reasonable time period.

As for Portugal, I know several Americans who've tried and failed to find anything there - though that's not to say it's 100% impossible. But it's not a major loophole, for sure.

[Writer]

I worked in Turkey in 2005. I flew in January 1st and had six interviews set up in the first four days. Pay was enough to support both my spouse and myself as far as regular monthly expenses. However, I need to point out that we went there with some money. Usually you have to pay six months rent in advance for an unfurnished apartment. There are very few furnished apartments. Forget about used furniture, it's only fit for landfill. For a single person, easiest would be to ask around the school and see who need s a roommate.

[GF]

[bluehighway]

Thanks again, Spiral. Prague is definitely under consideration.

Re: Turkey

How much would one expect to pay for furniture, Writer? Most people (that I've talked to) seem to find work in Turkey quite easily - but I worry about these logistics (rent, pay, etc). I

have some money saved - not a ton - and I have a monthly student loan payment following me wherever I go. I should also mention that I am traveling with a sig O, and we have no interest in shared living quarters.

[Writer]

I think we paid about $2K USD for bed, dresser, desk, chair, table-top 2-burner stove, large fridge, dishes, utensils, kitchenware (all new). My spouse managed to buy the stuff and arrange for delivery (without knowing any Turkish). We sold it to a new teacher for half price when we moved.

However, we were really lucky. My spouse made friends with one of the sales reps at the school who spoke English (this was done while I was interviewing for the job and he was hanging out waiting for me). Although the reps only got one day off a week, he took two of his days off to take my husband in his car to the malls so my husband could buy the stuff that would fit in the car and haul it home. Although the landlord didn't speak English, he also drove my husband to the appliance store (but my husband had to do the bartering himself). The landlord was the father of one of the Turkish teachers at the school. Serendipity - everything just worked out.

[naturegirl321]

I've also heard things about Estonia, Lithuania, Lativa and that pay is ok, but housing and heating are pretty high.

AS for Portugal, I think it's a pretty poor country to begin with, similar to Greece.

This is just what I've heard though, maybe others have more info.

[Manaus]

[sharter]

I've spent much of the last 13 years in and out of Central Europe. Americans do work there.I was in Poland 6 weeks ago. I'm British.

Central Europe is now very expensive. You won't pay less than 600 US for a studio and your bills come on top of that. A coffee will set you back 3 dollars, a beer about 4 or 5, a pair of Levis about 90, a night in a hotel about 60 minimum, a gallon of petrol about 8 dollars, a cinema ticket 12, an average meal in a restaurant about 50 for 2 and so on. You'll be lucky to make 1,400 US a month when you get there.

Real estate on new build is currently 4,000 US per square metre.

[Kootvela]