Job Discussion Forums

[RedHerring]

I am an American citizen and I was accepted into a TEFL master's program in the Netherlands. I'm still awaiting acceptance/rejection for a different program, but as I am considering this program I wanted to learn more about my options.

The program would require a year/semester of teaching experience in a Dutch high school, which is potential to gain a more permanent employment if it goes well. The head of the department, when I spoke to her, mentioned a certificate which I could get in various places in Europe that would allow me, it sounded like(my memory from Dec is a bit stretched) to teach throughout Europe. I believe work in this area is pretty good in Europe, and pays decently. At least I would hope this could provide a steady career and good pay.

My only concern is, if it is needed, if I could offer anything were I to return to the US(or England) for work. My girlfriend is a European citizen so we would primarily be overseas, but we want to be near my family as well at some point and I want to be able to find good work. I'm not sure how teaching English is very lucrative within English-speaking countries.

Any help/advice anybody could give would be much appreciated.

[nomad soul]

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

You cannot be all things to all people. Since you intend on being based overseas the majority of the time, and you say this is a stable career, then that seems like a good plan.

If you did end up being back in the States, then maybe your best bet would be to see if the teaching qualification that is good for all of Europe would be transferable to the States. I know at least some states have individual subject licences, so providing the program met the requirements of a general teaching licence in a particular state, then you may be able to do a test to get approved to teach another subject- like if your undergrad is in a teachable subject (English, math etc) then you could do a test and get that added as a teachable.

Maybe your best bet is to verify exactly what this certificate for throughout Europe will be, and then contact the education department in your home state, and see what they say. I'm kind of assuming that your undergrad is in something that is taught in high schools, or that you will be able to do enough courses to get that 'teachable' via off-campus learning (if that kind of thing is even required).

[spiral78]