Job Discussion Forums

collme · Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 11 Location: California, USA

Hello there!

I'm a U.S. citizen looking into teaching English abroad and receiving my CELTA training in Ireland. I am of Irish decent, however, because I'm 3rd-generation Irish-American I do not apply for citizenship, thus I'm ultimately branded as a non-EU national. I love Ireland and have friends who reside in Dublin, thus I figured, why not receive my training there. As much as I love Ireland, I won't be able to find work there because of the non-EU, needing a work sponsorship ordeal-which I believe is a nightmare there (and the fact that they already speak English there HAHA)....thus I'm thinking that I'd like to eventually teach in Prague-which I believe is a little more lenient when it comes to Americans and work permits. (However, this isn't a definite choice of location)

After all of this rambling, my dilemma is this: I know that it's recommended to do your training where you'd like to teach, however, is it absolutely crucial?....would receiving my training in Ireland be a bad idea or complete waste of time, or would I still be able to wrangle up some work elsewhere despite not living in the same location?

p.s. I've also been told that I won't be able to apply for a student work visa in Ireland during the time of my training-Is this true? It's a frightening thought-how do they expect us to support ourselves?

Thank you in advance for any and all advice

harry the hobbit · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 4:00 am Post subject:

There is precious little TEFL work in Dublin and what there is is apallingly paid and the cost of living very high. Little chance for a wetback.

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

So long as the certification is from an on-site program with actual supervised teaching practice, it'll be acceptable in the Czech Rep. Yes, yanks can still get legal working permits here as well, though it is a hassle and likely to become even more of one.

collme · Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 11 Location: California, USA

Ah... hmm.. Well I'm in the process of applying to International House in Dublin to do my training for the CELTA...thus it should be legitimate. If it becomes too much of a hassle to get into Prague, where do/can most Americans go to teach abroad? Korea?

justme · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 1944 Location: Istanbul

There's no chance of Turkey getting into the EU anytime soon... If you want to be around other Americans, there's always Latin America. Otherwise, anywhere that's not a EU country, or currently at war with America is somewhere Americans can easily find teaching jobs.

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

There's no law saying you must be trained in the country you want to teach. I would aim for a centre that is considered to be of some prestige. They say, the Czech republic is good for newly qualified teachers. I've heard much good about IH Bratislava as well.