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

By saying 'native teachers don't prepare' I mean this: native teachers, especially with little teaching experience, have difficulty in planning lessons and give too little if any supplementary material. From the observed lessons I know that quite a few native teachers just kept working from the textbook for 2 full hours, not giving a single handout. Sometimes it may be good because the programme is very broad and we alls weat to cover all the main points and any deviation from the textbook is wasted time. BUT the students think this way: no extra handout, no gameboard, no nothing, the teacher did nothing for us EXTRA, he/she just came. What matters for the students is the big file of handouts brought just to show you took your time for them.

I'm not saying that handouts do or do not help for the aim of the lesson, it depends on a concrete situation. It's just an example why students complain the teacher does not prepare.

As for rising rates, I'm thinking about it. I have a few 1:1 who attend once per week. Shall I put up the price for, say, 10lt from January? (1 Euro=3,5lt)

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Yes I do think that teachers need to consider preparation. Ok, full preparation if you're teaching a lot is unrealistic, and also the students would be unhappy if they paid for a book that they didn't in fact use. BUT, a little additional input does make a difference to a session. Maybe think about a little grammar for the board - something students have got lax about or something to stretch them a little - and then expand on it (this doesn't require preparation, just deciding on the grammar input) and hopefully get it to fit in with the book's material. Or get another textbook at the same teaching level and bring a photocopy from it that shares the same topic as the set book. I've been using these two ways of topping up my 'book and board' workover the last term and the students think it works.

And, occasionally, break off from the book. If they're beginners, get them to blindfold you and direct you to places they think they know. Seasonally, talk about different ways of celebrating Thanksgiving/Guy Fawkes Night/ Idi Amin's birthday, using the language that they've recently learned from the book.

The above suggestions don't require lots of written preparation, but maybe a few minutes thought on the bus to work or between lessons if possible. So you can use the book and be less boring. And you may never have to sit at a table cutting up bits of paper!

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

Yorkshire Ian · Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 22

I worked in Vilnius, within the last 3 years, I was paid 1,500 and had a free flat in Antaklanis, its a really good area. I really enjoyed Lithuania and its sad that I was working for a school that eroded so much of your time in petty admin jobs (ILS) In the months that I spent in Vilnius, I actually saw very little of the place because I was in an office most of the time, despite being a teacher.

Vilnius can be expensive and whilst not as expensive as other Central European countries, its not so easy to make ends meet. I would have said 2-2.5k Lt a month after accomodation would just about be enough.

Haft · Joined: 23 Jun 2007 Posts: 23

Hello Kootvela, it's quite nice that there are recent posts concerning Lithuania. A few questions:

1.) What time of the year do teaching contracts normally begin?
2.) When should I come to look for work?
3.) Should I even come in person to look for work rather than arrange something in advance?
4.) I'm American, what can I expect to need to get a work visa?
5.) If I start later this year doing EFL, then I would be looking for my first teaching job ever - is Lithuania the place to start?
6.) When dealing with private lessons, is it common practice to tell the student to go buy a particular textbook?
7.) I will be getting certified before going to look for work, can I expect the "average" salary?
8.) What does "frugal" mean for life in Lithuania? Let's assume all public transportation or a bike, no sin-taxable items like cigarettes, no coffee, no saving except for the slow months, moderate eating and socializing habits, probably minimal reliance on buying non-food items from local shops, NOT living around Vilnius. Is that frugal enough? If that's not enough can you think of a nearby country where it is?
9.) How long would you estimate it takes to start speaking passable Lithuanian for an English speaker?
10.) I like to jog, and I come from a place that never snows. Does anybody in a snow-prone European country do this outside, or must I rely on an indoor track?

Thank you so much.

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

1.) What time of the year do teaching contracts normally begin?

That depends on the institution. State schools start september 1. Universities start September-October something. Language courses have different strating dates, IH starts September 25 something but other language courses start later or earlier, there is no fixed date. Also, unexpected groups happen, esp. in company, so there can be demand to teach unexpectedly. Also, there are autumn, winter, spring terms and sumemr intensive courses, so practically you can start anytime.

2.) When should I come to look for work?

Better look before you come Laughing

A few months in advance at least because if you need visa support, flat, etc. that has to be arranged way in advance.

3.) Should I even come in person to look for work rather than arrange something in advance?

That won't help a lot (look at answer to question 2) unless you have where to stay and want personally to see how everything is. Or you must attend to an interview.

4.) I'm American, what can I expect to need to get a work visa?

That's a good question to your embassy, actually. This is http://vilnius.usembassy.gov/ American embassy in Vilnius. They have electronic visa application form. Consular information email consec (eta sign) state.gov

5.) If I start later this year doing EFL, then I would be looking for my first teaching job ever - is Lithuania the place to start?

I'm a bit biased here but it's a good place if you can sell yourself well. Without cash and with nasty administration every country can be hell. It will take time for you to get accustomed to things here but it's survivable. Laughing

6.) When dealing with private lessons, is it common practice to tell the student to go buy a particular textbook?

I do. If the student doesn't want to, I make copies for that lesson. No big deal.

7.) I will be getting certified before going to look for work, can I expect the "average" salary?

That's what you're most likely going to get Laughing

In teaching it's difficult to strat making money hand over fist unless you take lots of privates and they are groups in companies. In language courses- it depends on their rates but that's negotiable when you start making queries.

8.) What does "frugal" mean for life in Lithuania? Let's assume all public transportation or a bike, no sin-taxable items like cigarettes, no coffee, no saving except for the slow months, moderate eating and socializing habits, probably minimal reliance on buying non-food items from local shops, NOT living around Vilnius. Is that frugal enough? If that's not enough can you think of a nearby country where it is?

The minimum wage will be 800lt starting next year but social security rates will also increase. Prices have tripled. The richer get richer and the poor get poorer. But we don't like living frugally, we live from salary to salary. But your description fits very much to what most Lithuanians are doing.

9.) How long would you estimate it takes to start speaking passable Lithuanian for an English speaker?

Depends on how often your practice, how often you have lessons, are you capable of learning the language with cases and inflections and loads of prepositions. But if I say that for a beginner to start speak somewhat English is necessary to work hard for about 6 months, that should apply as well to your case. If your girlfriend is Lithuanian, that speeds things up. Cool

10.) I like to jog, and I come from a place that never snows. Does anybody in a snow-prone European country do this outside, or must I rely on an indoor track?

There are crazy people running in sweatsuits early in the morning outside, I alsways shiver at the mere sight Laughing

I am anti-sporty, you know. But jogging is not a problem. And it doesn't snow that much to prevent you from jogging, it may be cold and windy weather puts people off. This year the snow hasn't arrived yet.

Haft · Joined: 23 Jun 2007 Posts: 23

Those answers are very helpful. I'll probably have more questions as time wears on. Thanks!

Plisken · Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 27

I've read this and your other posts and you seem very helpful; if you get a chance, I have a topic up in General Europe that I would like to have your opinion on. Thanks.

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

Please specify which topic that is, thanks!

Plisken · Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 27