Job Discussion Forums

[goldhair]

Hello All,

I am an American who would like to teach in Western Europe especially in Germany or Italy. I do hold B.A. in Elementary and Special Education and have been teaching for 7 years which includes 6 months teacing in China. I also hold a TEFL/TESOL certificate from Oxford seminars. What are my chances? Would I have better luck in Eastern Europe? I would appreciate any information.

[spiral78]

You might be eligible for a position in an international school. However, openings in Germany and Italy are rare and usually go to people with local reputations, connections, and language skills.

I'm a US citizen who has been working in Western Europe (in addition to the Czech Republic) for the past ten years. I have been extremely lucky to be able to get legal jobs here. And the fact that I am legal is 99% due to the fact that my spouse is an EU member citizen.

I too have a BA in Elementary Ed + 10 years of experience teaching EFL + an MA TESL/TEFL from a British university.

Sorry to say - your chances are very slim. It's not an impossibilty, but it's important to have realistic expectations.

Oxford doesn't usually include supervised teaching practice on actual students, and therefore isn't considered highly by most European employers, Central and Western included.

Yes, you would be eligible for legal working permits in the 'new' EU member states (though it's a hassle and expensive). But keep in mind that pay is subsistence level only.

You might usefully post in the country-specific forums for the countries that interest you, for more input from other 'oldbies.'

[csfek]

If you are a certified teacher, why don't you look into the DOD schools (Department of Defense)? They have schools on the different military bases for the children of people stationed there. I know there are some in Italy and Germany. Here's the website:
http://www.dodea.edu/home/index.cfm