Job Discussion Forums

[januthin]

What documents are necessary for an American to acquire a job teaching in Europe? Timeframes?[/i]

[naturegirl321]

Usually, a passport from an EU country, if you want to teach legally.

[Aramas]

The Australian government has signed agreements with most EU countries allowing Australians under 30 to work there, and Euros under 30 to work here. Perhaps the US has something similar - it seems unlikely though, letting all those dirty foreigners with their silly accents work alongside decent hard-working Americans

[spiral78]

Europe's a big place, and individual countries have different policies. For specific current info on the destinations you are most interested in, try the Embassy websites.
However, the general answer is that European countries give preference to citizens of other European countries, and in English teaching that means that Brits, Irish, Scottish, and Welsch nationals get the biggest percentage of jobs. This is because hiring someone from another European Union country is no more difficult paperwork-wise than hiring someone from your own country. People from outside the EU face tough to (in some cases) impossible odds to gain legal working status.
You might also find it enlightening to scroll down on this forum to the specific forums for the countries of your choice. You'll find info there regarding non Europeans and working options.

[Roger]

The guy asked about QUALIFICATIONS, and a PASSPORT certainly is NOT one.

To apply for a teaching job you will need a solid foundation in teaching, and merely being a native speaker is NOT a qualification!

You will, for example, have to be versed in GRAMMAR, possibly LITERATURE and will find yourself doing regular and planned lessons, not impromptu discussions as is the case in some Far Eastern countries.

European English teachers often have a grounding in THREE languages, and if you don't speak at least one language other than English, I doubt they will consider your application!

[ls650]

[anthyp]

You don't need any special documents to teach in Europe. Where do you want to work, specifically? In Spain you can get plenty of jobs as an American - it's illegal, yes, but the Spanish government doesn't care. And you don't have to be quite as qualified as some people are saying - your passport and education certificates (BA (or MA) and TEFL) are the only documents you really need to bring to find work.

[januthin]

Thanks for your replies. Anthyp, I hope you're right. Most people are saying that Americans can find work, and since I've taught and tutored a good bit, I think I'll be one that does.

Any ideas about housing? Specifically, are there month to month accomodations (pisos, not pensiones)? And if not, is there a part of town or neighborhood that I can bet on finding work in? I want to be as close to work as possible. I'm all for public transit, just not riding it, you see.

[januthin]

Can an American obtain an EU passport, or is that reserved for citizens?

[grahamb]

Being a US citizen does not in itself entitle you to a passport from an EU member state.
Common sense is clearly not part of the US school curriculum!

[anthyp]

[scot47]

Well if you want to do something illegal, why not take up a career as a bank robber ?

Why go for the peanuts you can get as an illegal EFL teacher ?

Or try a bit of drug-dealing, or prostitution or pimping ?

[johnslat]

Dear grahamb,

[Snoopy]

Is there any money to be gained from teaching in Europe?

[januthin]

Wow! This forum is really active! Thanks again for all the replies, you're all so helpful!
So if I were interested in applying for an EU passport, is there a website I can go to to get started?
J.