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BtBedway
Joined: 02 Nov 2010
Posts: 2
Location: USA
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 Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:30 pm Post subject: Am I qualified...? |
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I received my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Penn State University and I now am going to graduate from another Pennsylvania state university School - Clarion University - this coming Spring. It is a graduate program that will allows me to gain my teaching certification. When this is all said and done I am thinking about traveling abroad and maybe doing some teaching. My question is this:
If I wanted to teach in English in Germany what steps would I have to take to make this happen? Would my state certification and my college diploma help me bypass some steps? I have a great understanding of the country and the language. Someone please point me in the right direction?
Brian |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:48 pm Post subject: Re: Am I qualified...? |
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| BtBedway wrote: |
I received my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Penn State University and I now am going to graduate from another Pennsylvania state university School - Clarion University - this coming Spring. It is a graduate program that will allows me to gain my teaching certification. When this is all said and done I am thinking about traveling abroad and maybe doing some teaching. My question is this:
If I wanted to teach in English in Germany what steps would I have to take to make this happen? Would my state certification and my college diploma help me bypass some steps? I have a great understanding of the country and the language. Someone please point me in the right direction?
Brian |
As a US citizen (without actual or derived European citizenship / legal residence) the chances of finding LEGAL employment ANYWHERE in western Europe (including Germany) are slim to none.
If you are dead set on teaching ESL in Germany you had better get a German wife or try to get a job on one of the US military bases (as a DOD civilian).
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rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 2:17 am Post subject: Re: Am I qualified...? |
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| BtBedway wrote: |
I received my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Penn State University and I now am going to graduate from another Pennsylvania state university School - Clarion University - this coming Spring. It is a graduate program that will allows me to gain my teaching certification. When this is all said and done I am thinking about traveling abroad and maybe doing some teaching. My question is this:
If I wanted to teach in English in Germany what steps would I have to take to make this happen? Would my state certification and my college diploma help me bypass some steps? I have a great understanding of the country and the language. Someone please point me in the right direction?
Brian |
If your goal is to spend a year teaching in Germany, and you don't really care about making money or continuing after 1 year, you might want to think about the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program in Germany. It won't pay much (current stipend is 800 euros/mo), but will give you a chance to live and teach in Germany for 1 academic year (and the Fulbright name can look good on a CV). There is also a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program in Austria, if you are thinking about the German-speaking world in general.
http://www.fulbright.de/togermany/grants/ta.html
http://www.fulbright.at/us-teaching-assistantships/program-description.html
Otherwise, as you'll probably find from posts on here, there are not many opportunities for US passport holders in (western) Europe. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 2:42 am Post subject: |
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| Even with a teaching license, if you try to get a job in an international school, you will often/usually be asked to show 2 years of experience in your home country, too. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 4:29 am Post subject: Re: Am I qualified...? |
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| rtm wrote: |
| If your goal is to spend a year teaching in Germany, and you don't really care about making money or continuing after 1 year, you might want to think about the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program in Germany. It won't pay much (current stipend is 800 euros/mo), but will give you a chance to live and teach in Germany for 1 academic year (and the Fulbright name can look good on a CV). There is also a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program in Austria, if you are thinking about the German-speaking world in general |
Hey, that looks good. Fulbright has programmes all over the place!
http://us.fulbrightonline.org/thinking_teaching.html
Eastern and Western Europe, even the coveted EU. Bulgaria, Czech Rep, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg. Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain, etc.
So I guess it IS possible. Sure, competition is high. But look, Fulbright will get you a visa, an ok salary, and I'm sure that putting Fulbright on your CV should open doors. |
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rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 4:54 am Post subject: Re: Am I qualified...? |
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| naturegirl321 wrote: |
Hey, that looks good. Fulbright has programmes all over the place!
http://us.fulbrightonline.org/thinking_teaching.html
Eastern and Western Europe, even the coveted EU. Bulgaria, Czech Rep, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg. Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain, etc.
So I guess it IS possible. Sure, competition is high. But look, Fulbright will get you a visa, an ok salary, and I'm sure that putting Fulbright on your CV should open doors. |
Yep, they do have programs all over - South America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, etc. The problem is that the pay is minimal and the term of employment is usually 1 academic year (9-10 months) with no possibility of renewal in most circumstances. That basically makes it unattractive for those who want to make a career out of ESL/EFL teaching (because of the short term) and those who want to do it to make some quick money (because of the low 'salary'). However, for those who want to have a short-term experience abroad just for the experience of it (or to see if they like teaching or not), it could be a good opportunity. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 7:46 am Post subject: |
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| Actually, it is still possible for non-EU citizens to find work in Germany (it's somewhat of an exception to the 'Western Europe' standard - but it's not simple, and there is no certainty that you would find something. I suggest you go to the country-specific forum below and read through some of the recent threads - I'll try to bump up the most relevant ones. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 9:03 am Post subject: Re: Am I qualified...? |
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| rtm wrote: |
| The problem is that the pay is minimal and the term of employment is usually 1 academic year (9-10 months) with no possibility of renewal in most circumstances. That basically makes it unattractive for those who want to make a career out of ESL/EFL teaching (because of the short term) and those who want to do it to make some quick money (because of the low 'salary'). |
I disagree. You could make a career out of TEFL, especially if your first job is with Fulbright. |
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