Job Discussion Forums

[spiral78]

Ah, that's forgotten. Well, occasionally.

[Sashadroogie]

That's right. Our magnanimous Soviet hearts are large enough to forgive a little deviation from the true path - but only after you were safely guided back on course, eh? All in the past behind us.

Now, to do the same for our poor lost Dutch Canadian. Come to Russia!

[Qaaolchoura]

In Turkey, which is considered "Southern Europe" by many sources, it is possible to save $500 a month, though if you're trying to make sure you save exactly that much, you'll probably be scrimping on food. I've been able to save almost much, most months, but I teach 30 hours a week, I don't drink or smoke, and haven't been paying for anything except food (admittedly often at restaurants) and I haven't had time to travel.

So if you need to save $500 a month, you get a job that pays at least 2500 lira/month in a less expensive city (not central Istanbul, Ankara, or the Turkish Riviera), are willing to work long hours, and don't have any vices other than eating out at low-end restaurants (I have a tendency to splurge on expensive food now and then), you could save that much.

The problem is finding a job that pays that much takes some time (especially if you plan to work legally, which would be a good idea), and you'll have a very hard time finding jobs that pay that much from abroad (most ads either have laughable pay rates or require either an MA or home-country teaching certification). I can't comment on CELTA courses in Turkey, other than that they mostly seem to be around the business district of Istanbul or Turkish Riviera, both places you don't want to be if saving is your goal.

Also, in Turkey, your European Union citizenship means nothing, meaning you have to get yourself a residency permit and then either work illegally (the popular but foolhardy choice) or get a work permit (the smart choice, but the one that limits your choice of employers and makes your search much harder).

Regards,
~Q

[Teacher in Rome]

I know where you're coming from, Spiral. I think the problem is also having a reliably high source of income month in and month out that will guarantee a regular loans repayment. I don't think the specialist business English market in NL is that big, which is why I also suggested Germany. Even then ...

To the OP:

Don't get me wrong: I love Italy. I have a good life here (although a bit financially precarious - not helped by the Italian financial system itself with its on-off tax laws, for example) but it's not a place I would consider moving to for a career move. Unless you can come in at higher than entry-level.

South Europe has a huge amount to offer - but probably the delights are better sampled on holiday than through working.

Why?

Systems are chaotic. Clients are schizo, changing their minds daily. You've got the very real problems of corruption and organised crime.

Public services are being cut back. (Not so much fun when you need health services, or the police to come to your aid. Good luck with that one, in particular.)

The economy hangs by a thread. Uncertainty means fewer companies paying for language training, for example. That uncertainty percolates through the system and pretty soon, nobody can afford the business ELT that you could offer - they'll all make do with Google translate. (Hint: the only growth in ELT in Italy is Cambridge exams or lesson "repetition".)

The political class play fast and loose with the electorate, who by and large, vote in those with the nicest ironed shirts. Or who can't be bothered to vote at all. Result: a political class that exists only to feather its own nest, or is so hopelessly unelectable that it carps from the sidelines. My personal fear is that we'll start seeing the rise of some very nasty idealogues along the lines of the Greek Golden Dawn. That might sound far-fetched until you realise that everything in south europe is a conspiracy theory. And that we're only 50 years from the last fascist government.

Pretty much any interesting job is overshadowed by the need to work very long hours just to make ends meet. It's hard to kick back with a glass of prosecco in the piazza when you know you've got to get up at some awful time in the morning to go and teach, or to present yourself for a late evening class.

Nevertheless, the dolce vita could be yours - if you don't have loans to pay back and if you fulfill any of the conditions below:

- you have an alternative source of income
- you've married an alternative source of income
- you've inherited an alternative source of income
(a pattern is emerging!)
- your rent is paid for and you have few other outgoings
- you split your time between somewhere well-paid and Italy / southern Europe

Sadly, none of the above involve getting a job as an ELT teacher.

[sparks]

[hollysuel]

I lived in Finland for 11 years and was able to send $500 a month home quite infrequently. Living in Scandinavia is quite expensive and definitely not a place one can make a lot of money.

Other areas of Europe is probably possible depending on how frugal you are. Rule of thumb in this industry--if you need to send money home, go to S. Korea or the Middle East...

[scot47]

You are more likely to be $500 in the red at the end of each month. Desperate times !