Job Discussion Forums

[wsamp]

Hey guys,

So glad to have found this forum. I've been looking it over the past couple of days and have had a lot of my questions answered.

But, I'm still trying to decide how to g about sending myself to Romania for a teaching position. I'm reading the British Council is a good way, but I've also come across some programs on the internet that offer to send me as well, some for $2000 USD (Central European Teaching Program) and some lower...

I'm 23, American, a college grad, smart, and no nothing of the Romanian language (yet) but would like to travel there and experience the culture and people. I'm aware of the economic conditions (not thriving for most).

Do any of you experienced ones have some advice on this? Should I try? Is it hopeless?

Thanks for the help,
walker

[duke4077]

wsamp, I think I'm in your boat, except I'm thinking of heading out NEXT summer. I'm 26, about to get out of the school loans. Only thing I can add is that the email links for contact info for CETP are not active.... not very reassuring. Their info is the most solid I've come across so far. Have you called them?

Romania seems like the most welcoming but least visited place, which makes this forum a little slow. Anybody with a recent experience would be most welcome!

also, there is a religiously affiliated group that'll do Eastern Europe, teachoversees.org, but the money you have to raise is pretty ridiculous.

[wsamp]

Yes, the non-functioning email address is not a good sign. Now if it were just a long time replying, understandable.

No, I haven't tried to get in touch with them by phone.

I did see the a Christian group supporting folks over there, but the support is minimal, and not something I could afford.

I too am looking into Romania because it seems like it might be more welcoming than other countries. I have qualms with cultural globalization so I don't want to be a part of it. My hope is that in Romania I could try and sink into the culture as much as possible and teach some English to help some students get a leg up in the globalized economy/job market, a trend I don't see ever stopping, and which is not necessarily bad.

[Mike_2003]

Hi guys,

I've been in Romania for about 8 months now so if you have any questions I'll be pleased to answer them to the best of my ability.

There are very few options for teaching in Romania and the wages are not too good by Romanian standards and can be very misleading. A typical Romanian earns only about 200 Euro per month and wage offers of the 300-400 Euro per month mark may seem very tempting. However, it's not quite as simple as that. Most Romanians own their own houses, and frequently own other properties from which they earn rent. They also earn a lot of undeclared money. Parents also support their kids to a greater degree than we are maybe used to.

I recently polled my students (average age: 25-30) and only one of them didn't own his own house outright, as he still had a small loan outstanding.

Anyway, when considering posts here don't forget that your money will have to go a lot further than any of your Romanian friends'. As a rough guide, my basic expenses (rent, electricity, water, gas, phone, block admin fees) come to about 235 Euro per month. I live a little outside the centre of Bucharest, reasonably nice area, one-room studio flat.

For job hunting you might try contacting International House which has recently opened (again?) in Bucharest. I don't know how much they pay and what their conditions are but there's no harm in trying. Most of the smaller Romanian language schools (of which there are few) couldn't afford to pay a native speaker a wage (for the above reasons) and stick to local talent.

Good luck,

Mike

[dtomchek]

hey man:

Given your background, I would try the Peace Corps...I was in Poland from 1998-2000 and I had a blast...kind of a pain to get in as there is a lot of paperwork with physicals, etc but they pay for everything...we went to Transylvania to Count Dracula's castle on Halloween and it was a blast...probably too late for this year (they leave in July but you might be able to expedite your app if you are on the ball)...anyway good luck..

Dave

[Bebsi]

[junkmail]

Oh I don't know; tax collecting/sucking the blood out of someone 'till they're dry - I think there's a relation.

[Bebsi]

...Yes...and like the Vampires of old, the tax-man has an enormous capacity, even today, to strike terror into the hearts of us all

At least, the average vampire could be handled with a dash of garlic, a crucifix and a pointed piece of wood. Last time I waved a crucifix at a tax-collector he grabbed it from me as it was made of silver!!

Does that make the Gulf Arabs a sort of modern Van Helsing?

[dtomchek]

Hello:

Need to clear a couple of things up...I meant that the group of PC members bound for Romania leaves in July...The Halloween party took place in Ocotober of course...

2nd, I cannot tell you which castle it was in...just took the word of the PC members who were serving there...that being said, thank you for that wonderful display of GEEK BRAVADO Now I know all I ever wanted to know about the Count and his history...

That is all...

[Bebsi]

[hennessym]

Can anyone give some info on British Council school in Romania and the wage?

[naturegirl321]

Try contacting Bebsi. He's there and should be able to help you out.

[SITW99]

The British Council in Romania employ those with a degree and a CELTA or equivalent, plus two years post qualification teaching experience. A British educational background is also required, though I think that rule is applied quite 'flexibly'. More importantly, the vast majority of BC teachers are Dip qualified too, making it harder to get a job there without one.

As far as I know, the salary there is �600 a month (�700 with the Dip), plus a housing allowance that covers most people's rents, though rarely bills (�60 to �100 a month in winter). Though �700 a month sounds great in TEFL in central/eastern Europe, the guys I knew at the British Council in Romania weren't able to live off of that, needing exam work/private lessons/own savings to get by...

[naturegirl321]

I knew a woman, a Romanian who worked for them. I meet her in China, she said that in RO they didn't pay very well. Maybe they pay locals less.