Job Discussion Forums

ericman7676 · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Posts: 2

These are my prospective plans with the little knowledge of the field of teaching and TEFL. I would like advice from anyone who has done something similar or simply has more knowledge of this than I do.

I am graduating with a BS in journalism and a minor in Business in 2 months an I would like to travel/live in europe for a year or two after graduation. The three top places I would like to live/teach are Paris, Barcelona, or Berlin. I took 4 years of spanish but that was 4 years ago so it is extremely rusty, and I am willing to learn/relearn the local language of the place I move to. From what I have read TEFL international has a lot of credit in the field and you can take it in many cities throughout the world. I was planning on saving up 5,000 USD (I have an American passport), and signing up for the TEFL course in one of those 3 places. 2000 for the course + a month of rent while taking the course, 600 for a one way flight and about 2000 for food and cushion while I look for a job afterwards. I heard that in western europe you cant really got a visa so schools hire you "under the table" and pay in cash.

Anyway my question is has anyone done this in my situation and how likely is it that it will work. I dont want to fly over there and go broke and not be able to find a job because of the visa situation. Is 2000 enough to live in one of these 3 cities for a month while looking for a job? Am I going to make enough money to live in a semi-comfortable manner once finding a job.

I have worked in London as a bartender working pay-check-to-pay-check and being completely broke the entire time. Although I do not want to be in that situation I just threw that in so you know what I mean by semi-comfortable. I can live off very little but I dont want to be so broke that im super stressed about 10 Euros on a daily basis.

any advice or help will be greatly appreciated.

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

There's a mix of opinions about working in Western Europe as an American but the majority say it's not advisable or very likely. All the Americans I've met who work in Spain have some kind of visa that makes them legal.

In Spain you can live pretty well for part of the year but then struggle for the other part.

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

The problem is the new Schengen zone laws that went into effect Jan 2009 (and are still -even more - being applied now). They mandate that non-EU member citizens can only be in the Schengen zone, which includes all the locations you mention - google for an entire list of countries - for 90 days. After this, you have to LEAVE for 90 days. A simple border run no longer suffices.

Chances of getting caught while teaching are slim, but if you are inadvertently involved in any problem involving police, and at any airport or even train station where international trains come in, you are liable to be caught having overstayed your 90 days. Penalties are up to a 10 year ban from entering the zone.

Basically, 'under the table' used to be common, but it's not any longer. The risks are too high. Simply not recommended.

Consider the Czech Rep or Poland, where you can still get work visas. But be aware that the economy's tight all over - both in Western and in Central Europe.

ericman7676 · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Posts: 2

Thanks for the advice guys. Sounds like under the table is a bad plan. I read that you can get visas in Germany easier than the rest as a freelance teacher. Is the berlitz school a good place to start?

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

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

It's a hassle to get a visa in Germany, but do-able. Berlitz is a chain and uses its own (many consider it very outdated) method. This means you don't need other training or experience to work at Berlitz - they're going to train you anyway. Pay at most Berlitz locations is on the low end of the scale, but they are steady in general. Experience gained teaching at Berlitz won't enhance your resume/CV, though - other schools don't use the same (ancient) methods and you would need more training to be taken seriously by other schools.

The key would be if Berlitz will give you a full schedule. My guess is that it's unlikely - the economy is really tight in this region (I'm located just over the border with Germany, and the uni where I work has partner unis in Germany, so I talk with colleagues there often).