Job Discussion Forums

[mineposa2]

Hi

A question--people have told me that it's possible to work in the CR with a high school diploma and TESOL cert. How likely is this, considering the amount of college-qualified teachers out there? The TESOL cert, by the way, is 120 hours, 60 in-class, with a 6 hour practicum at an actual ESL school.

Sorry if this has been addressed before, the search does not seem to be functioning right now.

Thanks

[naturegirl321]

I'm sure it's likely, though they pay probably won't be that good if you're competing with those with BAs, MAs, DELTAs, and experience. By the way, where's the TEFL cert from?

[spiral78]

Naturegirl, teachers with MAs and DELTAs aren't generally teaching at private language schools in Prague. The pay's not enough to make it worthwhile (generally speaking) for those with higher qualifications.

mineposa2, it's legal for a school to hire someone here without a university degree (as versus many Asian countries that legally require one). Your certification sounds competitive enough.

The next things to consider will be your age and other experience. The best-case scenario is if you're older than normal university age, have some background and experience in business or something else, and you look professional, responsible, and reliable.

Naturegirl's right that you will be competing in the job market with people who mostly have degrees. Whatever you have to offset that will help.

There are school directors out there who would prefer to hire someone without a degree, but with some business experience, who looks more likely to prove reliable and professional, than a new university graduate who may be more likely here to have a good time than to focus on work.

[mineposa2]

The TESOL is from Global TESOL College. It's 60 hours in class (well 60 hours of coursework, about 35 physically in the classroom, the other from homework and prep) and 60 online.


This is actually not a question about me in person, but in general to know about the likelyhood of getting jobs in Poland without the BA/BS. I know it's legal, I was wondering how easy (likely). In otherwords, is there any kind of predictive "gaurantee" if one is a bit older than college, been around the work world, and with the cert?

I also understand that you should show up in person and not even bother trying to get a job from home (the US). Would it be pretty easy to go around the end of august with the cert and looking presentable?

By the way...heard anything about Global TESOL College?

[spiral78]

I know all too much about GLOBAL, having had an interview with the owner a few years ago.

Sorry, bad news, I'm afraid. GLOBAL's course is considered sub-standard for Europe in general, including Poland and the Czech Rep (your last post says Poland, but you're here in the Czech forum - no matter, because the situation's the same both places).

The course is sub standard because there is no teaching practicum included. This is ok in some parts of Asia, but in all of Europe, including Central/Eastern, 99% of newbies have certification that includes teaching practice.

If you have no degree and a sub standard cert, your job search will be difficult.

Yes, you need to be here in person, whether you think you're going to Poland or the Czech Rep. Yes, you need to look professional. But you're also likely to need a reputable certification.

You've got two big strikes...sorry for the bad news, but it's realistic to assume that you would be at the bottom of the job market.

[naturegirl321]

You might have better luck outside of Prague.

[spiral78]

Possibly, but, naturegirl, I think you're aware that Prague's something of a training centre mecca, with 6 + schools turning out literally hundreds of newly-certified teachers every few months, every one of whom has a recognized on-site cert including real teaching practice.

Obviously, not all stay in Prague, though a significant number do, enough to drive wages and benefits down to basically subsistence level.

Enough of them migrate to smaller towns in the CR to make the job market essentially the same outside of Prague.

Small towns in the CR are usually looking for at least the same minimum qualifications, as schools in light of how many newbies with them are around - not just in Prague.

Not to mention the fact that many private schools in smaller towns are branches of Prague schools.

Certs like GLOBAL and Oxford just don't measure up here these days. Things were easier in years past.

[spiral78]

Small towns in the CR are usually looking for at least the same minimum qualifications, as schools in light of how many newbies with them are around - not just in Prague.

Very strange sentence! Sorry. It's due to a new computer program that doesn't drop things where I expect.

I meant what I said in the first clause (Small towns in the CR are usually looking for at least the same minimum qualifications) + 'as schools in Prague. This, in light of how many newbies with these quals are around, not just in the big city.

[naturegirl321]

Right, understood. BUt are they more willing to give you added benefits, like free housing?

[spiral78]

If you're talking REALLY small town, maybe. Ceske Budejovice, Brno, Tabor, Plzen - no

[mineposa2]

actually, this cert from Global does have a teaching practicum. It's not "required" but highly recommended. And it's at an actual ESL school...raise the chances?

Thanks

[spiral78]

A bit, but remember that you'll largely be competing with newbies who have certs from Prague training centres, which are recognized by employers in the country. You'll need plenty of assets to offset the lack - professional, responsible appearance and some references referring to those qualities wouldn't hurt, even if the refs aren't related to teaching.