Job Discussion Forums

7H · Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 6 Location: CANADA

Hey everyone!

Just got some contacts for a school that runs throughout Western and Eastern Europe...has anyone ever worked for them? Any info?

Thanks

H

bluffer · Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 3:55 am Post subject:

Inlingua is a big worldwide chain. So one branch may be good and another bad.

Over here in Thailand they are sort of middle of the road, average employers with run of the mill contracts. nothing special but nothing too bad either.

What country and city and branch might you be working in?

7H · Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 6 Location: CANADA

A good family friend works for them in Germany (through a university?) and she said she might be able to help us get in with the company. She said there are schools throughout Europe, and since she's been teaching for a long time, the German branch must be reasonably good. She does a lot of free-lance teaching to business executives as well.

Anyone worked for them in Europe?

Thanks!

gmjones · Joined: 25 Oct 2004 Posts: 72 Location: UK

Hi, I worked for an underpaid, underequipped one in Dresden in Germany (fabulous city) where I could get loads of extra freelance work (the way to go in Germany). Good starting point or helping me settle in to a fabulous place. Then worked for 1 year in Ecuador for a family run inlingua, family being all complete rip off artists... then 6 minths in Kiel for a lovely Peruvian boss in an excellently run and fabulously equipped school. ALL inlinguas are different, but some are ace: best to choose a city, apply direct, and if you are offered anything ask to contact some teachers before you go to ask their opinions,

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

I work for one in Italy and it's not bad.

PROS - highest paying school in town, minimal lesson prep, lots of young teachers

CONS - feeling guilty about ripping students off, working LONG hours (one teacher leaves the house at 6.45 am and gets home at 8.30 pm three days a week)

If I were you, I would ask to contact FORMER teachers from the school and get their opinions.

Heresy · Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2005 11:32 pm Post subject:

Apologies if this is an overasked question, but I havn't yet been able to find an answer...

To teach in europe, are you required to have any knowledge of the target country's native language?

I would love to teach in Germany and Poland but my German is (very)basic and my Polish is non existant.

Thanks.

gmjones · Joined: 25 Oct 2004 Posts: 72 Location: UK

Hi,

My first teaching job was in Germany. Whereas I had studied German at uni and spoke it well, I had a lot of friends with no German whatsoever. Initially they found it hard, but eventually they picked up the basics and could manage fine by themselves. There are Volkshochschule colleges in Germany where you can take cheap classes in German as foreign language, if it ties in with your timetable. Frankly the pay there is good so you could even afford a few private classes. Germans speak excellent English anyway, but I personally feel you lose out loads if you have to rely on making yourself understood.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 3:16 pm Post subject:

It's a franchise operation, so it varies GREATLY from place to place. I'm living in Quito, Ecuador, and haven't heard really great things about the local one, but they do have a lot of work going, and are a school that's well known for giving inexperienced teachers a chance. (Not always treating them too well, though.)

Their system is easy to use, doesn't require a lot of prep, and is boring.

Regards,
Justin