Job Discussion Forums

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

Poland and Germany are in the EU. It is very difficult for a US citizen to get a work visa to teach EFL in an EU country as there are sufficient suitably qualified nationals of EU member states who can do the job.

On the other hand Poland is a recent EU entrant and some recent entrants are more lax about applying the laws and checking up on visa status, but you would be working illegally.

Austria, like Germany, has a good standard of English Teaching in public schools and there is little demand for private English Teachers, although demand does exist.

High Plains Drifter · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 127 Location: Way Out There

JamieMarie · Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Posts: 16 Location: St. Louis

To High Plains Drifter.....

I read the post...you sent..and I find it a little sad. I already have a career in ESL here in the U.S and I love it! I am only a few courses away from a MA in TESOL. I have a state K-12 ESOL certification and I am a traveling elementary ESL teacher. I also teach adult ESL at night. This is my career, but I would also like to get some kind of international teaching under my belt. I hope one day to teach ESL on the community college/university level and many of these institutions require some type of international teaching/traveling/living/or learning another language in a different country.

Right now I am looking for someting during the summer (June-July) because I still have to take another course next fall and a final exam. I will use this time to save some money as well. This will give me a little taste of living abroad/working etc. and then I can make the choice to work there for a year or more. I am young and single so I could even spend my summer abroad working or volunteering. I just want the experience.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Hi Jamie,

You seem to be a bigger TESL than anyone I've ever heard of, that's great! Can't say enough about enthusiasm, the country you choose is going to be lucky to have you. Have you considered the JET program?

Put it this way Jamie, where ever you go you are going to do well, am I right? You are young, smart, out-going, you love to meet people and you get along with all kinds of people. You have so much energy that it infects the people around you and everybody gets fired up, is that right?

Follow your heart. If you have some romantic notions about living in Europe and supporting yourself by doing what you truly enjoy, than what's stopping you? I don't know anything about teaching in Europe, but keep looking around, use the contacts you have, SNS has given you some good advice. I would say it is a lot more difficult there than other regions to land a job, again I don't know for sure, never looked.

If you are interested in Japan, perhaps I can help you. In the meantime,
enjoy yourself and enjoy your gifts.

Good luck,
s

JamieMarie · Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Posts: 16 Location: St. Louis

Hello Sweetsee,

Thank you so much for your nice post.

I really do enjoy this field and esp. working with adults. I am trying to get some plan together and not talk myself out of it.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Hi Jamie,

You are welcome. Don't dream your life,
live your dream.

Good luck,
s