Job Discussion Forums

arteokay · Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 8 Location: Vermont, USA

Hi there everyone!

I'm a recent college grad (graduated in 2008) and after spending a year sort of floating around in the States I have decided that I'd like to start my career in TESL. I had a heavy linguistics focus in college and am currently working at a summer school teaching ESL students. I see TESL as a great way to indulge my wanderlust, but I'm also thinking of it as a career. I'm having such a great time teaching these kids here, and would love to make it my full-time profession.

My question is: I finish up this teaching gig at the beginning of August (the 1st is literally my last day of work here). I've been looking at getting my CELTA certification abroad, but haven't been able to find any programs that start before October (was looking at Akcent school in Prague, but their September course is full). I'm hoping to make a start in Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, etc.); is November (when the program ends) too late to start looking for a position? Is it possible to find something in the middle of the school year or would I be better off setting my sights elsewhere? (Where?) And is it possible to start looking before I finish my CELTA course, or would employers want a certificate in hand?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated; thank you!

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Most work contracts in the region are September - June. November is a bad time .... BUT there are always openings in January, as not all teachers return after the holidays, and some companies start new contracts at the first of the year.

If you take a course in the fall, you can count on little/no work until 2nd. week January. This can be ok, so long as you've got the funds to support yourself.

You'll also need to consider that, as a US citizen, you've only got 90 days in Europe to get a work contract and get the visa process underway. If you stay over 90 days, and don't have a contract with a school and get the paperwork started, when your 90 days runs out, technically you have to LEAVE FOR 90 DAYS and then you can return and start the process over.

This means that you should take the latest possible 2009 course, try to get a contract lined up even before you finish the course (yes, the schools will talk to you even before you technically graduate, in most cases), and get the paperwork started asap. Then, just relax and live off your savings Very Happy

until your job really starts midway through January.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

To clarify: it doesn't mean just leave the country, but the entire Schengen zone (essentially all of continental Europe - google Schengen for a list of member countries)

arteokay · Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 8 Location: Vermont, USA

Hi Spiral, thank you so much for your prompt reply. I like the idea of relaxing and getting to know the culture a little before plunging into the CELTA/job searching/teaching madness.

That said, I'm not totally sure on where exactly to set my sights. I'm not really a 'big city' person; I'd like to live in a moderately-sized city (I'm used to cities about the size of Burlington, VT or Portland, ME, for example). I like the idea of the Czech Republic (though would probably steer away from Prague), Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland...I'm open to suggestion, as well. Any advice? Sorry if this question is a little vague, but I'd like to keep my horizons as broad as possible (to keep as many options open as I can - just in case one thing falls through, I like to have other ideas to follow up on!)

Also: Is Akcent school in Prague a good place to start for a CELTA certification? I chose it because it seems like Prague would be a good place to kind of get my feet wet, but I don't want to stay in Prague. Are there other reputable CELTA programs that might be located in more suitable cities?

Thanks so much for your help.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Hi Spiral, thank you so much for your prompt reply. I like the idea of relaxing and getting to know the culture a little before plunging into the CELTA/job searching/teaching madness.

I am not entirely sure you understand about your 90-day time limit - you can't really relax before plunging into the madness - you need to plunge immediately, get the paperwork underway, and then relax over the winter holiday period. If you wait to take a course/find a job, you will most likely run over the legal limit of 90 days inside the Schengen zone. This means you'll have to travel somewhere outside the zone and stay out for 90 days before re-entering to start trying to get a job and paperwork again - putting you into April - an even worse hiring period.

The training centres in Prague all have decent reputations. Cities in the CR that might suit you better than Prague could include Ceske Budejovice and Plzn, also Brno. They're all on major train lines and have a decent-sized teaching scene, but that small-city feel. I prefer them for living in, myself.

arteokay · Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 8 Location: Vermont, USA

Oh, okay. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I understand now about the Schengen zone.

As an American citizen, would you say that it's significantly more difficult for me to get a job? I'm guessing it would be pretty hard to find anything in Prague or in the bigger cities where the market seems to be pretty well saturated, but if I'm purposefully looking in more out-of-the-way places, are my chances pretty good?

Right now my on-paper credentials are a B.A. in English with a focus in lingusitics and ESL studies, three years' experience as an ESL writing tutor, workstudy in the School of International Studies at college (assisting with grammar/writing worksops and the like), and this summer's work at a prep school teaching/coaching/advising/'dorm parent'-ing students in the new ESL department. Would that with a CELTA be enough to land a decent job in Eastern Europe? Or would I be better off starting out somewhere like Korea and gaining some experience and certification and then returning to Europe at a later date when my resume is stronger?

Thanks so much for all the help. I really appreciate it.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Your quals are ok (above average for the region) and Korea experience wouldn't help that much - the approach/method/student motivation is well known to be very different from that of European students.

Yes, it's significantly more difficult for you to get a job, because it's a hassle for the employer. HOWEVER, there are still quite a few employers willing to go through the hassle.

The market (being impacted by the current global economic crisis) is more or less smaller than in the past (you can read other current threads in the CR forum for differing opinions on the degree to which the economy has in fact suffered).

Your chances are pretty good. Just watch your timing, and make sure you get the practicalities right. You'll be ok.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Prague - like other big cities is always popular. Easier to find a place in some sleepy provincial town. And outside EU is easier than inside. Ukraine ? Moldova ?

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

I hate to be the one spoiling the fun, but Europe is in economic recession. I live in Lithuania, we are affected really bad. Companies cancel lessons, teachers work half their usual timetable and yet the autumn is to set in unsurely. Summer is basically starving (this week I had 1 (one) lesson, a private one). So, lots of local teachers are available to fill in positions, and hiring a US citizen with all this visa madness and money is not something happening here. This year it's economics versus native speakers.

jonniboy · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:20 pm Post subject:

Latvia's had a big downturn but hasn't been quite as bad as for Kootvela above. This week I've 19 hours though I have 2 groups finishing this week and therefore will start August with just 13 hours. Looking back to last Summer, I had holidays in July and had 15 hours in August. I also started a new group last week with 10 students so there is still some demand and for now it's hard to say how bad things will be in the Autumn.

However as regards economics/native speakers while what Kootvela says is true and that companies are cutting back, there is still demand from students who are planning to move abroad in the near future and want to "adjust" to the accent of a native speaker rather than a local. The place I work for has hired a Canadian to start in September and is advertising for another native speaker. Their thinking is that in a shrinking market, staying ahead of the game by providing native speakers will distinguish them from the competition.

Personally I wouldn't come to the Baltics (or any part of Eastern Europe) at this period of time - safer to stay put and weather the storm!

skinsk05 · Joined: 03 Mar 2005 Posts: 8 Location: Prague, for now

I cut my ESL teeth in Korea (after high school English in the USA) and have found work easily in (Eastern) Europe, though I have EU citizenship. I have to say, though, I miss Korea and am looking to return. The professionalism and respect I've had there (over 6 years, 3 cities/employers), as well as the free time, adventures, pay, vacation (paid) is way better. In Europe it's difficult to maintain a decent standard of living and do anything else. Forget saving (more like work and drain your savings).

If you're interested in learning about a different culture and having an enjoyable experience and traveling in the region, I recommend Korea!

jonniboy · Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 8:46 pm Post subject:

MsDooLittle · Joined: 25 Jan 2009 Posts: 63 Location: somewhere else

How about Slovakia? There is more and more competition in Bratislava and yes, like everywhere else, English budgets have been cut, but if you are good - and your current quals are more than enough to get you jobs - you'll do fine. 'Word of mouth' is the most effective marketing tool. Also has the small town feel - as well as small minds - but really nice people. Kosice is worth a look - bustling provincial town close to Polish border, plenty of work I hear. I trained in Prague and came to SK (8 years ago!) when I grew tired of the tourist scene. Its a really interesting place, 35km from Vienna and not much further from Budapest... but I recommend Kosice for the change of pace.

MsDooLittle · Joined: 25 Jan 2009 Posts: 63 Location: somewhere else

And achieving a decent standard of living is not too difficult - 20 contact hours per week at normal rate should be fine if you don't want to go to the best bars and live close to but outside the centre.