Job Discussion Forums

[ToddandJenn]

Hi everyone,

We are planning to go to Prague next year to take the CELTA and after that look for work in Central/Eastern Europe. We are both Canadians, and understand that it's a little more difficult for North Americans to get work permits in these countries, though not impossible.

Neither of us has a university degree; however, we are both college graduates from a communications program. I understand that a college diploma is clearly not the same as a BA, but in your experience, do you think this would lend us more credibility with employers than people with no post-secondary education and allow us to be competitive for some of the "better" jobs, particularly because our education is in english language communications?

Whether they will be helpful or not, we plan to bring our diplomas and transcripts along. Because I graduated from college before I was married my diploma is in my maiden name. If I bring along my marriage certificate (the document I use here in Canada to prove my name has changed from one to the other), will that be enough to prove I'm the same person or should I look into having my name changed on the diploma? I believe my passport will show both names, one as the original name and one as a "married addendum" or something like that once I renew it.

Thanks in advance for your help. There's a lot of great info on this site!

[danielita]

I can't discuss your qualifications questions, however I can give you a heads up about the marriage certificate. If the marriage certificate that you have is the part that was given to you at your wedding, it is not recognized outside of Canada. You are going to need your long form marriage certificate (8.5X14 document). If you are in Ontario, this will take 6-8 weeks--unless you have an urgent case. If so, you can either fax it to Thunder Bay (14 days before you get it) or go to Toronto an request it in person (3 days). However you do need to prove urgency. Here is a link to the Ministry of Government Services website for Ontario. It will help. http://www.cbs.gov.on.ca/MCBS/ENGLISH/forms.htm

D

[danielita]

About the passport. The "Married Addendum" is added if you are married between passport renewals, you can take your passport in, with the marriage certificate and for a fee, they will add it to a page in your passport. Once you renew it under your married name, there will be no addendum, it will just show the new name.

D

[ToddandJenn]

Thanks, Danielita, that's extremely helpful! I'll be renewing my passport, so I guess it won't show both names. I didn't realize that.

I'm in Manitoba, and the marriage certificate I have is the official one that I applied for from Vital Statistics. In MB you don't get anything at your wedding, they just send away the signed papers and you later apply for the official certificate. I'm guessing that's the same thing as the long form certificate in Ontario.

Thanks again!

[spiral78]

Your diplomas will be looked upon favorably, but the large majority of language teaching positions in the Czech Rep and surrounding countries are entry-level, and that's likely all you will be able to land right away, with little previous teaching experience and without contacts in the country. Also, remember that the majority of job-seekers in the field do have university degrees.

However, the upside is that entry-level positions generally pay enough for you to live fairly well and enjoy the country.

After you have gained direct experience, and have made some contacts, then it's more and more possible to land the 'better' jobs.

As regards your name change, that porcess will be understood by the authorities. Central European women change their names when they get married, too! You won't have any problem communicating why the last names on your dip. and your passport are different.