Job Discussion Forums

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

I think the largest market in Europe by far is for newbies. By definition, this means subsistence pay and probably no benefits to speak of. Not a long-term option for most people.

There are always some niches for those who are qualified/experienced, but it takes local connections/language skills/time to build a local reputation to get most of them. International schools are another route, but openings are relatively rare.

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

The problem seems to be that the Europeans learned English. They don't actually need us any more.

So maybe it's a good thing that some Japanese teachers of English start every single year off with a special demotivational speech to convince Japanese kids that simply by virtue of being Japanese they are genetically programmed to fail all attempts to learn English! (I'm not making this up, I used to work with a teacher who did that!) otherwise they may learn the language too, and then I'd be out of a job!

KingEric · Joined: 17 Oct 2007 Posts: 26

How long before the effect spreads and we're all out of a job?

soapdodger · Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 203

No danger of that. There's a bright future in the UK. Recent press blab quotes that 20% of eleven-year-olds are illiterate ( and probably talk like Ali G too!)

KingEric · Joined: 17 Oct 2007 Posts: 26

I've heard that 400,000 Brits leave every year which kind of counterbalances the 500,000 entering the country. We know where to head in a few years' time!

soapdodger · Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 203

Yeah. Pilots are having trouble finding Poland in the dark as the last person who went to London switched the lights off!

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

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

jwbhomer · Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 876 Location: CANADA