Job Discussion Forums

ianandsal · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 3 Location: London, UK

Hello.

We are a married couple and are looking to go and do TEFL together, hopefully in Italy. Just wondering how easy/hard it might be for us to find jobs together/near each other.

Has anyone been in a similar situation?

Also, a lot of jobs we have seen in Italy have asked for teachers with 1-2 years' experience. Might it be harder for someone with no teaching experience to find a job in Italy? Would it be better to go to Eastern Europe?

Thanks

Ian and Sal Smile

tedkarma · Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2006 12:27 am Post subject:

My wife and I have taught EFL since 1992 in Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, and Saudi Arabia. Finding jobs at the same school - or in the same town - has not been difficult.

It could be a bit of a problem in very small towns or if you have very specific ideas about the kind of school or topics you wish to teach. But, if you are general in your search - and not toooo picky - you'll have no problems at all.

avolkiteshvara · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 33 Location: Seattle US

ianandsal · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 3 Location: London, UK

Hi Ted.

Thanks for your reply.

Obviously you seem to have taught mostly outside Europe. Do you think it would still be as easy to get jobs together in Europe, where I imagine there is maybe a bit more competition for vacancies?

Thanks

Ian and Sal

ianandsal · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 3 Location: London, UK

Hi Ted.

Thanks for your reply.

Obviously you seem to have taught mostly outside Europe. Do you think it would still be as easy to get jobs together in Europe, where I imagine there is maybe a bit more competition for vacancies?

Thanks

Ian and Sal

tedkarma · Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 10:41 pm Post subject:

Re: Europe - never had any interest in it - too close to my own culture. I find Asia far more interesting. I know nothing of the job scene there.

Re: The treatment of women in the ME. It varies a lot from country to country and I am not an expert on the region. My experience is in a conservative part of Saudi Arabia - and I would say that the treatment of women in general is second class at best (and that is being polite). There are a host of other issues involved - cultural, political, religious, and legal. And there is what happens on the surface - and then what is really happening underneath it all.

If you are goal oriented - and are well self-contained as a couple - then you can survive and perhaps even thrive. If you relationship is easily stressed - don't go.

Sgt Killjoy · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 438

My wife and I have taught in Thailand and Korea among other countries. We haev picked up two kids along the way. Any kids now? That is an issue if your kids are over 4 or 5 years old now.