Job Discussion Forums

dpinedo1856 · Joined: 10 Jun 2008 Posts: 4 Location: los angeles

Hi all,

I've decided to head on out to Prague in Aug. for my Tefl cert. and have read through the forum extensively. Sounds like a great place to get trained and get your feet wet.

I did have a couple a questions...

1. When setting up an apartment, is it similar here in the states where you need to do a credit and back ground check? or are the landlords more concerned with having the payments ready to go (1st and lasts, broker fee, etc.).

2. I've been considering upgrading to an iphone in july...i was just concerned if the iphones carry over in prague (i'm sure i'll have to check with my provider) and if being seen with one would make me an easy target for theft.

Other than that, I think I'm good to go. Cool

ITTP · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 343 Location: Prague/Worldwide

Hi dpinedo1856!

In answer to your questions:

1. When setting up an apartment, is it similar here in the states where you need to do a credit and back ground check? or are the landlords more concerned with having the payments ready to go (1st and lasts, broker fee, etc.).

- Landlords just need to see the money. As far as I am aware landlords/landladys never run credit or background checks. To be quite frank, generally speaking everyone from the West is considered here to be honest and wealthy.

2. I've been considering upgrading to an iphone in july...i was just concerned if the iphones carry over in prague (i'm sure i'll have to check with my provider) and if being seen with one would make me an easy target for theft.

- I was in the US a few weeks ago and tried to get an i-phone for myself in BOTH San Fran AND NY and they were completely sold out!
Sad

Apparantly they can be deblocked very easily and then you can insert any sim card into them so bringing one over with you will cause no issues in terms of getting it to work over here on a local mobile provider.
I know they sell for $399 in the US and here you can sell them for twice that and it is becoming common for people coming from the US to bring a couple of i-phones over with them to sell off here.
As long as you don't display your i-phone in Prague when you are out on the streets then you will be ok.

In either case I would def wait until the i-phone 3G comes out on 11th July (beginning from just $199).

Hezky den!/Lovely day!

Neville Smile

ITTP Prague
Jungmannova 32
Prague 1

dpinedo1856 · Joined: 10 Jun 2008 Posts: 4 Location: los angeles

thanks for the insights neville, they really helped.

just an update, i'm aware that the peak hiring season for most contracts is in september, however, i may be finished with my tefl course in the begining of october. is finding a job in the months of october/november doable? it looks like some companies gurantee jobs when the course is over, does that include the later fall months i just mentioned?

just some thoughts...

Aussie Chick · Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 104 Location: Australia

I completed my TEFL course in November 2007 and there was enough work around to get by. Of course, not as plentiful as it would be in September, and maybe the choicest jobs will already have been taken, but you won�t starve either!

I would also advise arranging permanent accommodation as soon as you can when you arrive, as I found that by December the choice of accommodation isn�t as good as it is during the warmer months.