Job Discussion Forums

[JonathanRossWC]

Hi everyone,
Thanks for taking the time to read my concerns. I need some advice from the EFL community about when to do my CELTA and start my job search.
Let me give some details:

I am currently a university student, going for my Bachelors' Degree in Economics and Finance. I will graduate in May 2013.
When I graduate in May 2013, I would like to then teach English either in the Czech Republic, Turkey, or possibly Korea.
Before I start my job hunt, I want to take a CELTA course and get CELTA certified, not only for a competitive advantage but to better prepare myself to be a successful EFL teacher.

This all leads me to this question:
Should I go and take the CELTA this summer (2012), and then start my job search after I graduate, a year later?
Or, should I wait, take the CELTA after I graduate (summer 2013) in Prague or Turkey, and then immediately begin the job hunt while there?

I'm not sure which one would be a wiser choice. I know that a peak hiring season for the Czech Rep. and Turkey is around August/September, and I would take the CELTA in May/June if I were to go in summer 2013. I don't know how long it takes to receive the CELTA certificate once I pass the course, etc...any information would be of great help.

Thank you very much for reading this, and for any advice you can spare to help me get my plans in order here.

Jonathan R.

[Tudor]

I'd do it after you graduate so that what you've learnt is still fresh in your mind for interviews and demo lessons. Your last year at uni will be pretty intense as well so trying to remember or revise what you did on your CELTA course could be the least of your worries

I received my CELTA certificate within about three weeks but it all depends on the centre. What my CELTA tutors did was provide me with a letter to state that I'd done the course and what my predicted result would be. They also produced their own in-house certificates and provided an overview of how I'd performed on the course. I'm sure any one of the above would satisfy potential employers in lieu of the actual certificate.

All the best anyway with whatever you decide.

[spiral78]

For the Czech Rep: assuming the laws don't change, you have 90 days in the Schengen zone (google if you're not sure what this is) to get certified and to get an employer to help you file for legal paperwork. Your best bet timing-wise is to take a course in August (not May or June) and then start applying immediately. Trainees often start applying in the third week of a course.

Because jobs in this region aren't normally found from abroad, doing the course in country generally makes more sense in this case. A training centre is a good bridge into country/culture - they usually arrange for things like airport pickup, housing during the course, and local orientation. Your practice teaching students will be representative of those you'll be working with when you start, and a training centre can offer invaluable info regarding reputable local employers. Your fellow trainees can form your first social networks as well.

[JonathanRossWC]

Thank you so much, Tudor and Spiral. I really appreciate the advice. I guess I will do the CELTA and job hunt in one fell swoop next summer.

Spiral: Thanks for your helpful insight about the Prague job market. Would it be safe for me to assume that August is a good time to job hunt in Turkey as well, if their school year begins in mid-September?

Jonathan

[spiral78]

I've been hanging about the Czech Rep for fourteen plus years, so I can speak for that job market with some certainty, but my direct knowledge doesn't extend to Turkey. However, below, you'll find a very active Turkey forum full of experts - I suggest you might post your question there for direct advice

[JonathanRossWC]

Thanks very much again Spiral for your help and advice.
I will pose that question in the Turkey forum!

Jonathan