Job Discussion Forums

[TokyoLiz]

Spiral, Poro, thanks for putting a more positive spin on the situation.

My Swedish partner, who is with me now in Japan, wants to move back to Sweden next year. I�m a Canadian. I have a BA in English Lit., Diploma TESL, and I hope to have finished my MA TESOL by the time I leave Japan.

Some things I�ve learned -

http://www.hsv.se/

tells me that foreign-trained teachers can work in public schools. I�d be happy to work with adult learners, too.

Any other advice you could put me on to?

[scot47]

If you are married to a Swedish national (or other EU national) it may be different. However I stand but what I have said here and on other threads. Slim pickings for TEFLers in Scandinavia.

I am sorry if that is not what some people want to hear.

[spiral78]

I agree with scot, as usual, but I think that if Liz is 1. married to a Swede
2. qualified, and 3. (most importantly) there on the ground - there's a good chance that she'll find a decent position -but I think it's likely to take time, unless you happen to luck up on something.

Hmmm...you're not married, tecnically, right? Have you got a legal right to work in the EU? This could actually be a big stumbling block, if not. I don't know how tightly EU hiring laws are applied in Sweden, but this would be something useful to research.

I have moved to three new countries for spouse's job and always managed to find something quite good, but it's just not instant. As poro said, you need to be around and build some local contacts.

For the newbies without family connections dreaming of heading over to Sweden, etc. from North America and finding work - well, they're 99.99% out of luck. Liz's situation is different. It's possible that it can work out in time.

[TokyoLiz]

Thanks for the info.

We're not married, but that can change

I don't mind doing laundry, but not full time. If we can't get me into full time employment, then I'd like to go to school there.

How about doing a teaching qualification there? Must I also speak the national language fluently in order to do this?

Jag pratar inte svenska. Yet.

[spiral78]

I think you've gotta be there to do the research properly, really. You said 'next year,' right? My approach would be to go, not expecting work immediately, and to start finding out what it will take when you get there. It's not a situation, in my eyes, that you can plan much in advance. The job market's too tiny, the exact legal details not known (you should do some Embassy website research on this issue). I think it would be useful to study the language as much as you have time for in advance. So long as you've got enough savings to support yourself through the move and a dry spell, that's about the best I think you can hope for.

[TokyoLiz]

Spiral, cheers again for being level.

[spiral78]

Bin there, dun that...more than once! It works out eventually.

[poro]

[spiral78]

I've gotta whole wardrobe, a CV, letters of recommendation, and a whole whack of photo albums to prove it!!

[poro]

[spiral78]

[spiral78]

You asked, though...

[misteradventure]

University education is often 'free' in sweden. Depends on your nationality if you will be very welcome with your visa or not. Several English language degree programs.

If you are a USA person, you might want to look through:

http://www.iiepassport.org/webapp/controller/PassportSearchResultsMain?city=&organization=&sponsorid=&restrictions=&exclude=&successurl=PassportSearchResultsMain&term=&pagenumber=0&worldarea=&formatid=&academiclevel=&failurl=AdvPassportSearchForm&Search=Search&country=147&language=&fieldofstudy=


for ideas. Some stipends exist.

[jonniboy]

Just reviving this thread. Been to Sweden a few times and feel it could be a good base for a while. Their command of English is a little daunting but for someone determined enough, who's on the ground with five years experience, CELTA and EU passport are there any ways to break into the market? Basically is someone without degree 'scrooge mc ducked' from the word go?

Apologies if this sounds alarmingly newbyish but from past experience I firmly believe that such things are doable for those prepared to persevere.

[john_n_carolina]

i agree....you'll find work, no doubt. with 5 yrs exp, EU passport....

just start walking around downtown Goteborg

but, make sure you're aware of tax laws, immigration laws, rental laws, school contracts, etc before signing at the bottom...