Job Discussion Forums

[Mara09]

Hi All,

I know these types of questions get asked here all the time, but again, I too am planning on moving to Prague at the beginning of September with hopes of landing a teaching position. I am a total newbie and am not sure what to expect when I get there. I would like to know more about what my options, if any!

About me, I am a 27 year old female, native speaker, US passport. I am doing my TEFL course online through the TEFL Institute. It is a 120 hour training that includes 20 hours of ESL observing/student teaching, which I will complete in the beginning of August. Unfortunately, I couldn't spring the cost of doing a full time in person course, so I had to settle for online while I work at my current job and save money for the move. I have a master's degree in public affairs and a BA with a legal background. I have done a bunch of tutoring (mostly kids) but no have real teaching experience. Aside from student loans, which I plan to defer, I have very little debt.

How realistic is my dream of teaching in Prague? Are there other countries where my credentials would be more suited? Although, Prague is definitely my first choice, I am also considering Turkey. Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!!

[spiral78]

You've put yourself at a bit of a disadvantage by not taking an onsite course. Prague is something of a teacher training centre mecca, with three or four very active training centres in the city. This means that most newbies on the job market there have a certification from one of these local, on-site programs or something comparable.

You'll need to emphasize the student teaching aspect of your online course - hopefully this included supervision and feedback from an experienced teacher, as this is the real key element on onsite courses. You might try to get some letters of recommendation related to your teaching from students and supervising teachers.

The fact that you have an MA will look nice on your CV/resume, but it won't give you any real edge on the job market. Your legal background may be interesting to an employer who happens to have client students in the field.

Both will, however, help you to present yourself as professional and reliable, and can give you a bit of a leg up over a new uni graduate without much real life experience (they tend to get very involved in Prague's social scene and sometimes their teaching suffers somewhat:))

Teaching children has become a bit more common in Prague, but the biggest percentage of the teaching work is still more focused on teaching businesspeople in their offices. You may find a job teaching just children, but they are more rare.

Do be very sure that you've got enough financial cushion before making the move. Start-up costs are considerable. You can count on paying for your own flights and likely for the costs of getting legal work permits (though an employer should support the process-don't work for anyone who won't do this!). Schools generally pay monthly at the end of the month worked, and you can count on paying a month's rent as security on a flat, and the first month's rent up front, and possible another month's rent as an agent fee. Consider flat-sharing - this helps teachers make ends meet. A school can often hook you up with other teachers seeking flat mates.

I think you've already realized that you need to be in the city to get any serious job offers, though it won't hurt to send your CV/resume around in advance of your arrival. It would be ideal to plan to arrive end August, and hopefully try to land some job by early Sept. Just now, everyone's more focused on holidays - and I think many schools aren't yet sure how may teachers they will need for the 09/10 year, as the economy plays a part

[Mara09]

Thanks for the insight Spiral, your post was very helpful. I knew taking the TEFL course online would put me at a bit of a disadvantage, but hopefully it won't prevent me from being considered as a serious candidate. Knowing that start up costs are considerable, I just couldn't financially manage to take an in person class before abroad before the start of the school year.

Since Prague is such a teaching mecca with an ample amount of newbies, does anyone have any recommendations on other European cities that may be less flooded?

Thanks again!

[ITTP]

[cks]

I currently work for 5 different language schools here in Prague and know that none of my employers would hire anyone with an online TEFL. They are looking for someone with hands on experience in an TEFL setting which is not the same as classroom experience in the States.

Myself and many of my friends are struggling to add more hours to our course load due to the fact that most of the companies have canceled their English lessons as a result of the financial crisis, and we are the senior teachers who usually are given the first offers over the newbies. And I am talking about the larger banks and institutions here in Prague; not just the small companies.

I know that getting a job here was quite challenging for those without a TEFL before the financial crisis; and I would imagine close to impossible nowadays. Most companies are cutting their expenses, less people are paying for lessons, and there are plenty of fresh TEFL graduates to compete with. I think it would be best to try to save more money and take a TEFL course here or somewhere else. A copy of your TEFL certificate is required to get your work visa as well.

The same will hold for other European countries. No one in the Western European countries are going to hire a non EU citizen and they all want a TEFL. Turkey might be a possibility, but you will still have the same obstacles if you want to work in Prague in the future without a TEFL. I say to keep saving and get your TEFL or take a teaching job in Korea, save money, and then take your TEFL.

[ITTP]

[cks]

Well if Mara has enough savings to come here and try to find someone who will hire her with an online TEFL, then she might risk it; but I would never want to encourage anyone to come over here and try to find a job without an onsite TEFL.

I am assuming that she wants to work at a language school that will hire her legally full-time giving her enough money to eat and pay rent. Sure, she can possibly pick up a few lessons here and there at a small shady school, but it still will not be legal or add up to enough to pay the bills. She may be able to re-locate to one of the smaller towns outside of Prague or perhaps another country-but I doubt she will find such luck in Prague unless she has enough money to travel from place to place in search of employment.

Perhaps she should make some phone calls on skype to the language schools and ask first.

[ITTP]

[cks]

"Not everyone though can afford either the time nor financial investment of an Onsite course and for many applicants a purely Online or Combined Online/Onsite course fills the gap nicely."


With the exception of the fresh University grads who were born into a family that can support such funds- who can afford it? How many of us on Dave's had the funds in our back pockets for an onsite TEFL training course and the time? Not many of us on this website. I spent years planning and saving before I could come over here as most of us did. But I knew exactly what I had to do in order to live abroad. I don't understand why the ones who take online courses think they are the only ones who cannot afford to take a one month onsite TEFL.

I know that your school is an excellent choice for her and anyone else who wants to get certified onsite, but the online courses would not be helpful for anyone who wants to teach in Prague, and the original poster was interested in Prague. Like Kyla and the others who taught in China and Poland, then perhaps it is plausible. I am not offering any advice for those who want to teach outside of Prague. Mara is interested in living here however, and online courses will not help her out here.

Sorry Neville, you are always so helpful on this site, and no disrespect. However, most of us went through the blood, sweat, and tears (including yourself most likely) to save money to get overseas. We have to place reality for those who want to live here as well and let them know that taking the easy route is not possible. Obviously like you said, the schools are looking for those who can deliver a good demonstration lesson and prove they can teach. Many onsite TEFL graduates still cannot perform up to par; but they most likely are not cut out for teaching in the first place. But many language schools are not even going to bother to give anyone an interview if the resume does not show a TEFL certificate.

So Mara, my advice is to take ITTP or a TEFL somewhere else and head over to Prague. Meanwhile, look up all of the language schools here in Prague and see if any of them will hire you with an online TEFL. There are endless threads in the general job forum about online TEFl that you can read about as well.

Best of luck,

[ITTP]

I definitely see your point cks but I'm writing that if you have previous teaching experience (and lots of online students are actually teachers with years of experience but who never got round to getting qualified), then you will perform well in the interview/demo lesson and get the job.

Also, schools (including ITTP) do offer combined courses where students get to study methodology online and then get to take their observed teaching practice Onsite.

Calling schools up is partially a good idea but the problem with this is that schools tend to hire on the ground. If you have no degree and call up schools in advance then 9 times out of 10 the school will state that a degree is essential but in reality a degree is not essential (I should know - I didn't complete my Oxford degree course).

I agree with you cks that if you have no previous foreign language/teaching experience then you should definitely go for a course which is Onsite but I go one step further and also suggest a Combined course.
Many students actually don't plan for years and choose TEFL in a matter of months, weeks or sometimes even days as a travel and earn option.

My final conclusion on this topic is that yes, Onsite is by far the best option. If you have time or financial commitments and you want the exerience ASAP then a combined course will also do it for you and if you have teaching experience then an Online course is also an option.
It will be fine because you will perform well in the interview/demo lesson.

However, if you are new to teaching and you view an Online course as a quick route to getting into the teaching profession then you will be hugely dissapointed.

From my desk in the English West Country (where it is typically raining btw - am on holiday for the week visiting family).

Neville

ITTP Prague
Narodni 21
Prague 1

[Mara09]

Thanks for the advice. I know it is risky, but I am going to stick with Prague. The online course is surprisingly interactive, not just comprised of reading text and writing lesson plans. We are required to offer feedback on every assignment to the other 25 or so students in the class and I regularly interact with my professor, both through the course website and email. We are also quizzed on the readings twice a week. So despite not learning in an actual classroom, I feel prepared.

I have also been working in an ESL classroom 10 hours a week student teaching and assisting the instructor. By the time I move, I will have logged over 80 hours of in class experience, which is more than is required by most on sight TEFL programs. This combined with my coursework has made me feel adequately prepared. The class is made up of adults, all from different backgrounds. I have learned a lot just by watching the students' reaction to different teaching methods. By the end of the summer, I feel I will be able to deliver a successful demo lesson.

So although I am taking an online course, I am trying my hardest to supplement it with as much classroom experience as possible. I think the in-class work is more beneficial anyway. Thanks again everyone for the advice!

[cks]

There is your answer. If it gives you 80 hours of classroom experience then you should be fine as long as the prospective employer is aware of this.

Best of luck

[spiral78]

if you have previous teaching experience (and lots of online students are actually teachers with years of experience

I agree - if that teaching experience was specifically with languages, and in a good teaching environment.

However, teachers from other fields of study very often do not transfer well into language learning classroom contexts. There is very little relationship between, for example, teaching high school maths and teaching a second language (to anyone, but especially to adult learners).

I've seen quite a few experienced teachers from other fields crash as language teachers. An online course wouldn't help this.
Further, I've known teachers with significant experience teaching language, but in very traditional teaching situations (essentially lecturers) who are also unable to successfully transfer their skills into more modern language teaching situations.

So - I don't agree that experienced teachers don't need an on-site course. I think they most often do.

[cks]

I second that! My brother has been teaching English Literature for 8 years but still can not tell you what present perfect is, uncountable nouns, or any grammar terminology that is involved in the learning process for foreign students. He is in the process of writing a book and can write an excellent thesis-but can he jump in an ESL classroom today and sucessfully answer grammar questions as well as deliver the right methodologies and minimize his teacher talk time as well as his teaching language.

Many potential teachers, even those who teach English grammar in the U.S, feel that their knowledge will carry overseas and it does not. They never seem to realize this. Their excellent writing skills and expertise with the Chicago Manuel or St. Martin's Press has nothing to do with TEFL. The discussion boards on the General Forum involving this topic was great. So many people keep stating; "I have an MA in ...." " I used to teach ...." for years. But in the end, they have never taught in a TEFL environment! I do not understand how to convey the message that if you want to teach overseas, get trained, get trained, get trained!!!!! Past experiences in other fields are not relevent, they can only aid to their success but will not help them learn how to teach English overseas.

I do would not want to hire someone who has a resume chalked up with various MA's and no TEFL experience. The bottom line is that the language schools want to give their students a teacher who knows what he is doing! His MA in literature, business, ect... is not going to make him a better teacher than the person who actually took the time to take the one month course. It is a huge financial burden and sacrifice but it must be done. It is a dis courtesy to our students to give them someone untrained.