Job Discussion Forums

neverheardofem · Joined: 29 Feb 2012 Posts: 100

Hi,

I was browsing through a local job site and came across a post for teachers at Berlitz Slovakia. It caught my eye as this website doesn't normally advertise TEFL positions! Has anyone ever heard anything about this particular branch? Or had direct contact with them?

Thanks!

sparks · Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 632

I don't know about this branch, but it shouldn't matter too much as they are all pretty much similar from what I know. I recently went to talk to them about some work and was interested in learning about the Berlitz method. The pay they were offering in Poland is simply laughable. I really don't know how you could live on it. Even teaching 8 classes a day. Berlitz is known for horrible pay the world over. Also, they don't negotiate. Doesn't matter if you have a DELTA, MA and 15 year's experience. Still awful wage.

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

Berlitz Czech Rep fits the mold. Lowest pay around, justified by the notion that there's no prep.

They don't actually even want teachers with higher qualifications, because it's all about the Method - the more one knows about second language acquisition, the less likely one is to fit into any 'method' school.

neverheardofem · Joined: 29 Feb 2012 Posts: 100

Thanks for the replies! What would be an acceptable salary for Bratislava?

Kofola · Joined: 20 Feb 2009 Posts: 159 Location: Slovakia

That's a difficult question to answer without knowing more about your qualifications and lifestyle, but here's some economic data (in euros).

Average monthly salary in the Bratislava region last quarter was 1050 gross.

Minimum wage for 2013 is 337,70 (gross). (You'd never be able to live off that and pay rent in Bratislava.)

Studio flat rent is around 400. Shared flats are cheaper.

Teachers with qualifications in language schools prob make around 1000 for a full-time week. Unqualified teachers with no experience prob can make as little as 700.

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

Kofola · Joined: 20 Feb 2009 Posts: 159 Location: Slovakia

Yes that is correct.

A state secondary teacher earns between around 800 gross a month on average. See this article:

http://www.cas.sk/clanok/238250/caplovic-priemerna-mzda-ucitelov-na-slovensku-je-840-eur.html

They have just introduced a 'milionarska dan' (millionaire's tax) which kicks in at 1773 euros gross a month. They reckon it will affect 1 in 20 employees. Slovak salaries are low across the board.

Out of curiosity just googled UK jobs. Could only find celta level summer school ones, but they seem to pay around 500 pounds for a full week's work. This is roughly equivalent to the UK national average (26,000 pounds a year or 2200 a month, 2651 euros).

But then again your average pint of beer in the UK is 4.30 euros and 1.10 euros in Slovakia...and you'd be hard pushed to find a two bed flat anywhere in the UK for 33,000 pounds. It's all relative.