Job Discussion Forums

[superturbo]

You're absolutely right spiral - there is no fast track to a successful job without putting in effort and practice. Luckily those things are essentially free so it depends on our own mindstate and heart.

I think I'll definitely check out how I do on the CELTA. From what else you say it won't be easy to find out how I will actually find the teaching and living in my host country until I'm actually doing it - but many of you have gone through this already and I don't think it's beyond me.

I have been trying to figure out whether this path has transferable skills, so if it doesn't work out I can still use what I learn in something else (another thread on the general forum). However, I'll take things bit -- by -- bit..

Cheers!

[Mike_2007]

I don't think the skills are particularly transferable, but many people start off in a new country teaching English and end up spotting other opportunities once they've picked up the language and made a few contacts.

[superturbo]

I've contacted 4 different schools re: CELTA course - (IH) Prague, Kiev, Wroclaw and Budapest. Only Prague school has failed to reply back yet, the others sent emails.

Judging by their replies it seems the course fees + accomodation look like this:

Kiev - about �1100
Wroclaw - about �990
Budapest - about �1000

That's just a rough estimate there and not including any food and travel I guess. Does anyone know any of these schools and what other costs should I be aware of??

I've read that �2000 is usually a good amount as a startup, but I'm only talking about the CELTA course - how much should I take with me?

[spiral78]

Depends on the time of year for this region. Most contracts (as I think you already know) are Sept/Oct thru June. There's little work around in July and near zero in August and what summer camps gigs are happening normally go to teachers who have worked a contract and are known in the region.

So, count on first paycheck at the END of September or October, depending on when you start work. Most language schools pay monthly, at the end of the month worked.

Housing is your big killer - landlords will typically want one month's rent as security and the first month's rent up front. You may also have to pay an agent's fee of up to a month's rent.

For this region, I'd guess you could likely need the local equivalent of 2,500 euro in addition to your CELTA + daily costs + travel.

[Mike_2007]

Five years ago I arrived in Romania with about 2000 Euro. I was down to 300 Euro by the time I got my first pay cheque about 2.5 months later, and that was back in the day when you could rent a studio apartment for about 150 Euro. I'd say Spiral's 2500 Euro plus CELTA costs is about right.

[superturbo]

Thanks for that. I'm thinking of taking the course in Prague since I've read more about it and also it's not very expensive to fly to Prague from England. My plan at the moment is to take CELTA, return home and then apply for jobs and arrange interviews. Then I'll come back for a week or something and take my interviews and the consider my options. I'd like to work in other countries at a later date but certainly I will only do so with experience.

[spiral78]

Why return home? You might want to explicitly check with your CELTA provider, but in many cases you can set up interviews for the final week of the course and the week immediately after. This way, you could likely line up something to start in September, and fly back to the UK with (if not a contract in hand) a solid promise from an employer.

It's far more difficult to apply and make arrangements from abroad. If you are standing in the office, you are far more likely to get a hearing than if you're sending emails!! Remember that schools get lots and lots of emails from prospective teachers....

[ak_tesl]

Considering that airfare is relatively cheap (or bus it), I would go to Prague to check things out first (before committing to any course). Accommodation in Hostels are cheap and plentiful before the summer conundrum. After you take the CELTA, I would try to land a posting before heading back home.

[ak_tesl]

Pardon my Latin

One good web page to browse is www.expats.cz

Best of luck.

[superturbo]

I have been reading the expats forum for a while now and it's very interesting. It's always good to know the pluses/minuses of some place before you go there.

However, I don't think I'll visit Prague just to look around. If I go it will only be to do my CELTA course and that's it. It's a good tip that maybe after the course has completed I can look around for work and obviously by then I'll know for sure whether teaching fits in with the lifestyle I want.

Thanks for all your help;

[spiral78]

Good luck.

[hickles]

This may not be practical advice, but I love wroclaw, cheap with a lovely small-city atmosphere, cool culture, really nice japanese gardens, nice people and AWESOME beer...yum