Job Discussion Forums

[MrMojoRisin]

I'm a British citizen, just graduated with a degree in English Lang and Lit, did my CELTA & had my first TEFL experience working for Embassy CES summer schools in the UK. Now I want to find my first proper tefl job in Western Europe. I've scoured the net, been trying to do my homework and have concluded that Belgium, Holland and France offer much less of a tefl market - esp for newcomers - than Spain, Portugal and Italy. So it is in these latter 3 countries that I feel is where my path lies...

So I've scoured the net, I've made lots of speculative applications, dishing out my CV via email to recruitment agencies, schools that advertise, and schools that don't advertise. I've had little response, and any response has been negative. Have I basically been wasting my time? Is the way to get work to actually go out to the place of your choice and fish it out? Hound language schools?

This is easier said than done... surely this is a risky method, and to say the least expensive. & when should you undertake this "on the ground" approach? Just before the academic yr begins I presume... which for Spain, Portugal, Italy is October, correct??

HOW do you get a job

[dagi]

Just PM'd you but reading this another thing comes into my mind! There is a 'teaching assitant' programme sponsored by the EU for people who have just graduaded and have little or no experience. You won't earn a big salary but on the contrary you only work 12 hrs a week as a teacher's assistant and won't have the full responsibilities. Depending on the country you can get funds up to 600 Euros a months.
The programme is part of Socrates and your local Uni should have some info about this.

[MrMojoRisin]

Hmm that sounds interesting - whats the programme called exactly??

And you say part of Socrates - don't you have to still be studying a degree to participate in any Socrates schemes??

Nonetheless that sounds a pretty good deal!