Job Discussion Forums

latte_girl85 · Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 15

Can anyone help? I'm planning on moving to Italy in the Spring and am wondering which path to take. Large chains of language schools or small local schools? Are there notable differences in pay, contracts, the way they treat teachers and schedule their classes, etc. or are they pretty much the same? I'm inclined to the big chains because I feel everything will be really well organized but I'm also afraid that these large organizations are too "corporate," leaving little space for teacher creativity. Any suggestions? thanks! Sheila.

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

Look for a guarantee of x hours per month at $y per hour (so that you get paid a living wage even in June and July, when business dies down), paid travel time and reimbursement for gas or bus tickets, and be clear on overtime (is it required or optional? what is the rate of pay?). Ask about what resources are available to teachers in terms of books, AV equipment and professional development. Every school will answer those questions differently, and it won't be based on chain vs. private as much as the philosophy of the owners and managers.

latte_girl85 · Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 15

Thanks for the reply Jetgirly. On various forums I have found comments here and there that that kind of baffle me regarding large chains and, in fact, your closing comment adds to the confusion.. You mention that the owner's philosophy is what counts but if we are talking about a chain I would think that the philosophy is the "chain's" and not the owner's yet from what I gather on the forums, chains in Italy are not really chains... can that be possible? I'm confused!

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

Being part of a chain can simply be for marketing purposes. Some students are more likely to attend a school with a "famous" name. Some chain schools give the teachers lots of flexiblity; some don't. It depends immensely on the owner and the manager (not necessarily the same person)- how strictly you/they stick to the corporate philosophy depends mainly on two things: how much they actually know about EFL and how much they stick their nose into day-to-day business. What happens at British Institutes Verona could be entirely different from what happens at British Institutes Palermo... and exactly the same as what happens at British Institutes Rimini. The only way to find out what's going on is to research online, talk to current teachers (and students, if you're sneaky) and communicate openly during the interview.