Job Discussion Forums

[A Resilient Lion]

Hello,

I have my degree (Bachelor of Education - Primary) with two years working experience in London. I also have an 100 hour online TEFL certificate.

What countries in Europe would I most likely find a ESL teaching position with my qualification and experience?

I'm an Australian citizen.

[spiral78]

[A Resilient Lion]

[spiral78]

Having experience in the UK still doesn't translate to a legal right to work in the UK - or the rest of the EU.

Prague is Central, not Western Europe. You can legally get a work permit there, given that you find someone who will hire you with only an online cert. The problem is that Prague has five or six teacher training centres that are all CELTA or equivalent, and which turn out literally hundreds of new teachers with supervised teaching practice every few months. You will be competing with EU member citizens, and non-EU member citizens who have recognized onsite certification.

It's not impossible, but you are not a shoo-in. Simply having done the job for 18 months doesn't prove that you've done it well - as the cert courses aim to do. If you can get letters of recommendation from qualified supervisors from the UK that will help.

Or aim for one of the relatively few private primary schools in Prague. They have occasional openings and pay decently, but there is competition from teachers with quals equal to and greater than what you cite here. Still, you could certainly get lucky, given the right timing.

Surer thing? Come to Prague over the late summer (August is ideal) and take a CELTA or equivalent. Then go for face-to-face interviews. This equals a pretty fair shot at finding something legal.

[A Resilient Lion]

Thanks for that.

[Kofola]

Central Europe is definitely an easier market for you.

You haven't mentioned what age range you'd be interested in? I think you'd have potential with primary school age children (7-14 in central Europe generally), particularly up to age 10. Young learners are a booming market. I'm frequently asked to take on children but don't seeing as adults are my area of expertise.

If you were interested in this age group I wouldn't do a CELTA, it focuses on adult learners and much of it is irrelevant to this age group.

However, some kind of training experience is essential. You mentioned an online cert - not great but since a B.Ed is a really solid qualification and assuming you can skills transfer it may be enough. It's not my field but I know there are some certs that deal with young learners. You might want to look into that - or if you are still teaching in the UK try to get some supply work in EAL. I know there have been major cutbacks on EAL staff but if you were to pick a London borough like Greenwich or Lewisham, Tower Hamlets etc you might be in with a chance.

If you have QTS then British international schools are another option.

Avoid adults if you can because your BEd is infinitely superior to a CELTA and gives you a major step up.

[A Resilient Lion]

spiral78

Say, you do a CELTA in Prague, which is from what I've read 4 weeks, and they assist you in finding work. Do they assist with work visas also if you are a non-EU citizen?

[MuscatGary]

Are you under 30? There are working holiday visas in several European countries for young Aussies.

[A Resilient Lion]

I'm over 30.