Job Discussion Forums

[ededthethaihead]

Hey there global EFL bods. Was wondering if you could offer some advice for my partner.

She is a Slovakian national with a CPE (proffiency) certificate and thus top draw English AND an understanding of how to learn a language to a high level.

She has a Trinity TESOL cert and over 2 years (full time) experience but she has no degree.

She wants to work legally somewhere but Thailand hasn't really provided this for her so this countries loss as two decent EFL teachers up ship and leave...

What I'd like is water tight info on where she (we) can work legally - doesn't really matter what kind of institution - she's currently in language schools.

The stress of visa runs and all the rest of it is taking its toll on her so please get in touch with ideas of nice places we can go and work in the world.

best to y'all,

Edward

[spiral78]

Countries in Europe don't generally demand a four-year degree for instructors. She can probably legally teach in any of the 'new' EU member states (including Slovakia, of course), and possibly in some Western European countries - you'd need to find out where Slovaks have rights to work on a country-by-country basis.

The downside is obviously that she would be competing with native speakers, most of whom have degrees - she won't be a hot property on the market. Further, as you're probably aware, EFL doesn't pay well in Europe, relative to living costs.

That said, the point you make about her having insights into English learning that native speakers don't have is on target. There is a very valid place in the field for non-native speakers who have achieved a high level of language skill. However, to be taken really seriously in the field, she should get a degree...have you considered a stint in Slovakia or somewhere else you can work and she can do some sort of work/study program?

[coffeedrinker]

I don't have a whole lot to offer but would agree with Spiral78 that having learned the language you're teaching as a learner and not as a native speaker is an advantage as well.

I think that a person's teaching skills are irrelevant to their native language or whether they are teaching it, but there are plenty of good non-native teachers who are perhaps overlooked. Some of the colleagues I've learned the most from have been non-native speakers.

There are schools - and I would think to focus on places where there isn't an abundance of native speaking teachers - where they can still sell teachers as foreign if not specifically native speakers and it is a concrete advantage to the students that the teachers don't speak the students language and the students still need to use English to communicate. So given this, I think she might have a greater advantage outside Slavic language speaking countries, where even if she doesn't speak the language, she may understand it.

I'm no expert on work permits, but as far as I understand, the new EU countries still have a few years to go before they can work without restriction in the old EU ones - so teachers who are not citizens would still need a work permit and I think this often does require a degree...so I might think looking outside Europe wouldn't be a bad idea.

[ededthethaihead]

I would think that EU nationals would be grouped together in terms of VISAS etc in most places(?)

Thanks for support but I need places....

Sounding very DELTA about this but... can anyone tell me about the situation in their context, is it possible where you are? Or if you are a teacher in the similar position as my girlfriend where are you working???

cheers for replies so far,

Ed

[Frizzie Lizzie]

Re-read what spiral wrote:
"you'd need to find out where Slovaks have rights to work on a country-by-country basis."

I doubt people on this forum would be able to give you concrete ideas as far as "places" are concerned, because they don't know the restrictions (if any!) imposed by the other European countries on Slovakia in terms of labour markets.
I can definitely say Turkey's a no-go, because if she wants to be legal she needs a TEFL certificate AND a degree.

[Glenski]

Edward,
You used the word "partner" to describe her. If you are a native English speaker and can get a job (in Japan anyway), and if you two are married, she can apply for a dependent visa and work part-time.

[Stephen Jones]

She's a non-native speaker and has no degree.

The short answer is she can probably get a job with no trouble in Slovakia.

She will be able to work in nearly all EU countries, but it is extremely unlikely she will find a job she could live on as a single person.

Can you explain why any country should give a work permit as a language teacher to someone who doesn't have a the formal qualifications to teach (a degree) and is not a native speaker of the language involved?

[mlomker]

[TheLongWayHome]

Come to Mexico. As long as she has a tefl cert she can get an FM3 visa. I have students that would probably think Slovakia is an English speaking country somewhere near South Africa.

[Ariadne]

There are quite a few threads about where/how/if folks without a degree can work. There are also several that focus on the non-native speaker subject. You might want to sort through them to see if you can find some places that work for both. As another poster mentioned, it would be alot easier if you were married.

.

[ededthethaihead]

So that's
Slovakia and in reality alot of the EU I expect.
Mexico and that's it...There must be more than that? more ideas please!

[spiral78]

Ed, your points about non-native speakers and degree holders have been taken. The most direct route to the information you seek is through immigration officials of countries that you guys are interested in. Visa issues for Slovakian nationals are likely to narrow the field to some realistic starting point.

[rusmeister]

[jonniboy]