Job Discussion Forums

Meliska · Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 7 Location: USA, for now

I have recently started looking into teaching english overseas, and I have several questions. First, I am planning on enrolling in a CELTA course, probably with the International House. I already hold a bachelor's degree in a non-education related field (psychology), but I have no teaching experience. Hence the certification. Any comments on the International House CELTA?

My next question is this...the nearest place I can take the CELTA here in the US is in Texas, which is somewhat far from where I live. I want to take the course overseas and then attempt to look for work in the country where I take it--is that a foolish idea? How does that work out with visas, work permits, etc.?

More specifically, I would like to live and work in Europe. I know it is difficult for a non-EU citizen such as myself, but that is still what I want. Ultimately, I'd like to live and work in Italy--am I kidding myself, thinking that I could do that legally? Would it be more likely that I'd find work there if I first built up experience in another country? I have looked into the CELTA courses in Italy, and they seem pretty reasonably priced. What is the likelihood that I would be able to take the course there, receive the certificate, and then find legal work? Then what would I have to do to make sure I had the correct visa? Would I have to travel back to the US? If I have to be in the US to obtain the visa, I'd rather have one before I leave because it isn't cheap to travel back and forth. However, looking at expat and consulate websites has only convinced me that will be impossible, unless I already have employment lined up before I leave the US.

Any and all suggestions and advice are welcome! I am lost.

Gregor · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 842 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

International House is reputable. You'll get a good CELTA course out of them, I would imagine.
Italy is a different matter. You already know the answer to this, I think. You're not going to find legal work there as an English teacher.
Still, if you do your course there and then try to find work, you should be able to find some illegal work without much problem. Americans are in demand in many parts of Europe. It's what I think of as the "Snob Factor" - Brits are more popular in Mexico because that place is just LOUSY with Americans and Canadians. The reverse is true about Europe. Europe is even more so because of the legal EU passport requirement, exacerbated by the majority of Americans, who don't want to work illegally (makes them think of Mexican fruit pickers, maybe??). You could probably find illegal work there pretty easily, if you just insist on going to Europe.
If you want legal working situations, Asia has a lot to offer...

bluffer · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 8:58 am Post subject:

The CELTA is a standardised course.

So in theory one course in Turkey is the same in Timbuktoo. But then its down to the trainers. As I didnt do a CELTA at that office I cant help you there.

The CELTA is probably the correct course to go for if you want to work in Europe. The other points I cant help you with.

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

You'll have extremely slim chances of finding legal work in Italy. You could try the new EU member countries.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Did someone mention Turkey?
http://www.geocities.com/iti_ist/

info here about CELTA in Istanbul

ShaneM · Joined: 03 Feb 2005 Posts: 20 Location: Boulder, CO USA

I've been looking at angles to get a job in Italy as well. Good luck, its quite difficult. Furthermore I'm trying to get Italian citizenship, which is about d@mn near impossible...

Meliska · Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 7 Location: USA, for now

First, thanks for the replies, everyone.

Okay, so I see my suspicions are correct. For legal work, Italy is out of the question for me. Sigh. As far as working illegally, I am--to be honest--afraid to do that. It has less to do with prejudices or images of migrant workers here in the US and more to do with the fact that ANY TIME I do something illegal, I tend to get caught. (Note: I am talking about your average illegal actions, speeding, underage drinking, etc. It is not as if I am a big-time criminal, I just get caught doing the stuff that almost everyone else does but gets away with. I do not feel comfortable, therefore, doing something that could possibly get me deported because with my luck, it WILL.) So no Italy for me.

Gregor, you mentioned Asia, and it is a good suggestion but not for me. I am just not that interested in going to Asia...I understand that there is great diversity in climate, culture, people, etc, but personally, Asia holds little appeal for me at this point. I recently visited a friend who teaches EFL in Japan, and his experiences coupled with my culture shock and inability to speak the language or even read the alphabet have turned me off to Asia for the moment. I'd like to get my feet wet elsewhere.

dmb mentioned Turkey and spiral noted the newer EU countries, which I am going to now investigate more thoroughly. Additionally, by looking at the forums on this site, I have also started to consider Costa Rica and South America in general. I am going to keep looking, and as always, any advice and comments are welcome.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

If you have any specific questions about Turkey feel free to pm me.

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

Dolma · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 8:13 pm Post subject:

Do you speak Italian? This might make finding (illegal) work easier - casual translation jobs, private lessons, etc. I lived in Venice 10 years ago pre-EU and found it impossible to find legal work - I can't imagine what it's like now. Granted, I have a degree in a somewhat related field depending on how you look at it(German) Smile

but no TEFL certificate, so if you get a TEFL/CELTA you may have better luck than I did. I had an extremely exploitative private job teaching a local hostel owner's 4-year-old 4 hours a day, 7 days a week, in 2-hour split shifts, in exchange for a bed in the hostel. If I didn't have my heart set on staying in Venice there is no way I would have put up with it. Other solid work was impossible to line up, though being persistent I did find enough private lessons, translations and odd jobs here and there to keep me in mortadella and panini. The main lesson I learned from my experience was to be flexible in where I want to live, you may have your heart set on Florence or Venice but there may be more work in Bologna or Torino-you can always go to the dream cities on the weekends since train tickets in Italy are wonderfully cheap(at least they were in '95). In bocca del lupo... Very Happy

Meliska · Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 7 Location: USA, for now

I do speak Italian (not fluently, mind you), and I could see that being an advantage when obtaining illegal positions. However, call me a chicken if you will, but I do not want to work illegally. Aside from my aforementioned inability to not get caught, I am also worried that people will more easily take advantage of me (like with your job teaching the hostel owner's son), and I will not have any rights or avenues for complaints. Or maybe I am just a chicken. Either way, strong as my desire to live and work in Italy is, it isn't yet enough to overcome these objections to illegal work, especially since I am new to the field. I think that for now, I am going to pursue legal work after my certification, and consider Italy in the future when I have more experience and confidence. Thanks for your post, Dolma!