Job Discussion Forums

[six bolt]

Hello all! First post here at eslcafe. I'm hoping to teach english in Slovenia next year. I have nine months of teaching experience in Czech Republic, a bachelors degree in Econ, and a teflonline cert.

Has anyone ever taught in Slovenia? Any advice? Will my qualifications be enough to land me a job?

Thanks, ANY advice or info is greatly appreciated.

[AGoodStory]

Anyone out there with info??

[spiral78]

I have a friend who was in Slovenia for a couple of years. He says it's a tiny job market and you need to be there, on the ground, to find anything much....

I'd like to be there too - it's beautiful, but I think it's a tough job market.

[AGoodStory]

There is a poster named Johnnyenglishteacher who is working in Slovenia. (Or at least was in Slovenia in February of this year.) Perhaps he will spot this thread and chime in with his take on the country. Or, if not, perhaps you could PM him. I was trying to gather info last winter about the possibility of working in Slovenia, and came up with very little. I was told that being neither American nor a bit--quite a bit--older would be a barrier to employment. This info came from a contact at IH in Ljubljana, where I was considering taking the CELTA course, and I haven't verified it elsewhere, so I don't have absolute confidence in it. I do have several information packets from the very helpful government of Slovenia about living and working in the country, although they can be a little short on specifics. (For example, the residency permit requirements state that applicant needs "one good reason" to live in Slovenia.) The one other interesting thing that I have discovered is that most of the EFL teachers are not native speakers. Several lists and registries of teachers of English have few if any non-Slovenian names on them; the ads looking for private students are usually from non-native teachers. The CELTA course in 2008 had 8 non-native and 1 native speaker trainees. I've been speculating about possible reasons, and wondering if this suggests an advantage or a disadvantage were I to go to Ljubljana to look for work. (Advantage: no native speakers available to hire? Disadvantage: strong preference for Slovenian applicants? Complicated visa/work permit red tape? Or perhaps: just no jobs for anyone!)

I'd love to have some solid information to add to my random and speculative bits and pieces.

[AGoodStory]

[six bolt]

Thanks for the information guys. Really appreciate anything. I emailed a few schools with no luck.

I have read that Berlitz hires native speakers but that they are not a great employer. I plan on flying out in January and trying my luck. My girlfriend lives there so I'm sort of desperate for work.

[scot47]

I think it is one of those scenarios where you have to be physically there and knock on doors. Face to face - the way things should be !

[six bolt]

[johnnyenglishteacher]

Slovenia has a tiny TEFL market as others have already said, but then there isn't exactly a lot of competition from other native speakers.

Ljubljana and the coastal towns have ridiculously high living costs, especially for renting, so you might be better off looking for work in other towns and cities.

Have you thought about going self-employed? From what I've seen that's a fairly untapped market in Slovenia.

[AGoodStory]

Thank you, JET! Do you know anything about work permit/visa regs for the self-employed? Would I be correct in thinking that the self-employment route would work for those from the EU, but not for Americans (and other non-EU passport holders?) Would someone from outside the EU need a school to sponsor them in order to get a visa? Would you be willing to tell us anything about your own situation--how you went about finding a job,etc? (Since you were so successful!) Thanks, again.

[johnnyenglishteacher]

[ioamosalerno]

hey, just wondering if anyone (especially non-EU folks) have had any luck in Slovenia? thanks