Job Discussion Forums

[wayne1523]

Hey everyone. Is anybody aware of any website/program/school anywhere in Asia or Europe (ranging from Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, to France, Spain) that is still looking to hire for the upcoming summer that's possibly a 1-3 month English Summer Camp program? This is also without me paying any sort of registration fee or tied with any TESL certification or the like. I have looked SO hard on the internet for the past couple of hours for something like this and I have found no luck so far as I am a bit late for the summer deadlines since I didn't realize I wanted to do this until about a few weeks ago. I'm also just about to freshly graduate from University in Canada in April with no teaching experience and no teaching certification whatsoever. Am I out of luck at this time? I'm just looking to see if I can teach abroad for the summer and have it end right before October which is when the REAL teaching begins for the actual school year, which is what I want to do as well. But I would just like some experience at an English summer camp heading into that. If I can't find a summer job teaching abroad, perhaps I'll resort to doing a working holiday abroad and just get any job.

But if anybody has ANY info or knowledge of legitimate and reliable places still looking to hire for this summer, please let me know. Really appreciate the help. Thanks so much!

-Wayne

[Dedicated]

Hi Wayne!

Have you checked out the tefl.com website which seems to have a good sprinkling of summer camp jobs both in the UK and Europe (Spain in particular)?

I don't know about Canadian passport holders though - you will have to check that out, but remember, NEVER pay any money up front.

Good luck in your search!

[spiral78]

I think that so long as a North American doesn't stay longer than 90 days in the Schengen zone, it's unlikely to be any problem.

Meaning that a short summer camp gig would be sorta legal, though I doubt one is really supposed to work on tourist status and if you got into some inadvertent trouble it could be a problem - though, again, hopefully unlikely.

OP - google Schengen zone for a list of countries and the 90-day rule.

[tttompatz]

The summer camps in Korea run from mid July to end of august.

Look on the Korean Job board for camp positions beginning in late May.

side notes:
IF they pay airfare you can expect about $500 for a 4 week camp.
IF you pay your own way you can expect about $1000 per week for doing a camp.
either way, long days but usually fun.

[wayne1523]

Thanks to those who have replied and helped. Much appreciated! =)

[Glenski]

Whatever you do, make sure the summer job actually operates legally by sponsoring a work visa. Work is work, even for 1 month, and immigration may not take it lightly that you work without a visa.

[Master Shake]

[Kiels]

Hey Wayne,

Aston in China might still be recruiting for their Summer Intensive course. You should google them. Email and ask them whether they are still recruiting. Contact info on their website. Make sure you contact more than just Michael, sometimes he is slow to reply. It's for 2 months or 7 weeks, I can't remember. 30 hours a week M-F. (12000 RMB I think, 5000 end of first month, 7000 end of second) I did it two years ago, loved it. Some people have had negative experiences with Aston but since they are a Franchise, some are better run than others and the ones with the best reputations are those in Jinan and Dalian. I'd recommend you try to get placed in one of these cities. I know Jinan does the summer intensive course (not all Aston schools do) and fairly sure with 7 or 8 Aston schools in Dalian, they probably run the summer course there. You'll be fine with a BA, better with some experience but Aston recruit a lot so worth enquiring. Also possibility of staying on in Sept to work for them for a longer period (another 6-12 months) if you like it. Again, all stuff you can check out.

Another job I recently saw posted right here on Daves ESL China Job Postings was for Heidi English, a 2 month summer contract, 5,500 RMB each month, 1000 RMB completion bonus. They're located in the North of China, on the border of North Korea. You can see North Korea across the river. I don't know much about the school. They are run by an Australian I believe. Was in touch about working for them last summer for a summer post, even though they hadn't advertised last year for summer vacancies only, and they said yes. I noticed their ad the other day and this one is specifically for summer so there's a definite likelihood they'll hire you.

http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/china/index.cgi?read=21118

Hope that helps x

[FunGus]

Be careful there Spiral,

unless you have legal permission, the UK is not happening for North Americans.

Things have changed quite a bit in the past couple of years...I think they've grown wise to the fact that quite a few of us look to sneak in every year as
I've known several North Americans (including myself, good friends with more than one regional director) who've tried this over the past few years and without exception we all either got detained (one of my friends for 24 hours) at the border and sent home, or never even made it that far.

[spiral78]

FunGus:

you're absolutely right.

I think there's less chance of getting caught entering and leaving continental European Schengen zone members, but it's still not legal to work as a tourist (which you are presumed to be unless you have legal work permits).

[nyc2323]

I was just reading this because I am also looking for summer camp positions. I'm from the US. I have gotten an offer from one place in Italy for the month of June, and I have applied other places that don't care if I am American and they said i don't need a work permit to work there (it is definitely paid). but now i'm worried, i don't want to get in major legal trouble!! Where can i find out more info about all this? i'm so confused.

[lou_la]

It's highly unlikely that you'll find anything in Europe that doesn't require some sort of teaching certification, but to be honest, why would you expect anyone to give you a job you have no experience of or qualifications in? It's only four weeks to get a CELTA or something equivalent, which is increasingly necessary even in Asia, and even if you don't need it for a visa, it'll give you some idea of what you're doing. Good for your peace of mind, better for your students.
What about trying something like this www.telflife.com where you do a TEFL cert. and then they find you a short term job? I don't really know about programs like this, but it might be worth investigating.

Good luck!

[spiral78]

I was just reading this because I am also looking for summer camp positions. I'm from the US. I have gotten an offer from one place in Italy for the month of June, and I have applied other places that don't care if I am American and they said i don't need a work permit to work there (it is definitely paid). but now i'm worried, i don't want to get in major legal trouble!! Where can i find out more info about all this? i'm so confused.

The issue is that you can be in the Schengen zone (google for a list of countries) on tourist status for 90 days, then you have to leavel for 90 days. What the school in Italy (and others like it) are getting at is that you can be legally in the country on tourist status without a work or other visa. They expect you to fly under the radar in terms of work - it is not legal to work during your 90 days. They just don't expect that you'll get caught.

[nyc2323]

Thanks, Spiral. I figured the 90 day rule was the key, and i won't be in the area longer so that should be ok, but do you know what the penalities are in italy or spain if I (as a US citizen) were to be caught working? I tried googling and looked at the embassy website and didn't see anything.

[Chancellor]

http://www.kidscamps.com/academics/esl.html

http://www.jobmonkey.com/esljobs/

http://www.mysummercamps.com/camps/Academic_and_Pre-College_Camps/ESL/index.html

http://www.teflinstitute.com/spain_summer_program.php

http://www.corkid.co.uk/summerschoolssample.htm

Google is your friend!