Job Discussion Forums

mr tree · Joined: 09 Oct 2007 Posts: 98 Location: Prague, CzR

Hi Neville,

I appreciate Aussie Chick taking the time to add her views, and her advice comes with good intentions, as does your own. And they show two vastly different ends to the scale!! I think I am somewhere in the middle..... No, that's a lie, i'm definitely at the poor end of the scale!! But I love it here and i'm happier than I was in England on half the money...

I work 23hrs a work at Caledonian. So my monthly pay is about 16k after tax. (that's no definitive figure, it has jumped around a little...).
I got lucky and found a crackin' flat for 7500czk all-included, sharing with a local (who speaks great English).
Paying 10k for somewhere to live is crazy, IMHO.

I could do more hours and get more money, but i can't be bothered, to be honest. I'm no party animal but I go out pretty often, drink and smoke pretty heavily, but I have enough money to survive.

It is certainly subsistence. I think I read that basically, you should approach your time in Prague as a Zero, financially - you will not leave with more than you started with, unless you wanna work heavily and have no fun and what's the point of that? The positives in terms of life experience outweigh any financial poverty, again in my humble opinion...

Oh 150czk per meal?! you gotta shop around sweetheart! i went "somewhere" classy t'other day and paid 120czk, but it was worth it! our school do decent meals for 80-100, and 100 seems pretty standard if you know where to go. i.e. not around Vaclavske Namesti, Staromestska or Charles Bridge. they rip off tourists, and hell why not? find a local to show you the good places...

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

Thanks, mr tree. I AM a local Very Happy

Sure, I could eat for 50 kc if I wanted to. But a reasonable dinner out, not in the tourist areas, well, I question what you're getting for 100.

ITTP · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 343 Location: Prague/Worldwide

Don't you live near Tabor Spiral?
(Tabor is quite a way from Prague).

I must vehemently agree with mr tree that there is a plethora of standard restaurants which offer meals for under 100 CZK in Prague 1.
ok, it won't be foix gras but surely chicken steak or gulas isn't considered too prol is it? Smile

But, and as I was hoping, perhaps some other teachers could chip in here?

TEFL LOVE

Neville Smile

ITTP Prague
Jungmannova 32
Prague 1

ITTP · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 343 Location: Prague/Worldwide

... I will invite you Spiral the next time you r in Prague for a meal and a discount restaurant tour.
How 'bout it? Smile

Then you can see for yourself.
I'm serious and will also be good to meet up for a chin wag.
Pls feel free to send me a PM...

Neville Smile

ITTP Prague
Jungmannova 32
Prague 1

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

I lived three years in Prague. We own a place near Tabor. I work full time in Netherlands Shocked

this year - last year, I was in the CR for eight months, about half the time in Prague working on projects.

Doesn't mr tree count? After all, he agrees with you about the 100kc!!

I personally maintain 120 to 150. But between you and the tree, I am currently outvoted. I'm not conceding yet, though!!

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

I've sent the pm. How could I refuse? Very Happy

Many thanks, looking forward to it!

ITTP · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 343 Location: Prague/Worldwide

PM received.
Thanks Smile

Neville

ITTP Prague
Jungmannova 32
Prague 1

Aussie Chick · Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 104 Location: Australia

ITTP · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 343 Location: Prague/Worldwide

Hello Aussie Chick.

Aussie Chick · Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 104 Location: Australia

Ah Neville, why do you say that it�s been �established� that I don�t know what I�m talking about when it comes to knowing the real cost of living in Prague?

How has it been �established�?

Or are you simply trying your usual one-up-man-ship on a lowly little Tefl teacher?

Tsk, tsk, tsk! Cool

All I asked from you is details how newbies can find local accommodation at the same cheap rates the Czechs do. You couldn�t deliver. Why was that? The same was when I asked about this claim about cheap places to eat. Again, you couldn�t deliver. Why don�t you want to share this information with potential teachers? Or do they have to take your TEFL course in order to receive your precious knowledge? Wink

I am presenting information for the average person who may be interested in teaching English in Prague. I was in exactly those shoes a year ago, and if there had been more unbiased information from previous and present teachers (not a director trying to sell TELF courses) it would have been really appreciated. There is only a limited amount of information around, and personally, I would take the personal experience of a newbie teacher who has nothing to gain from giving advice and information, over the �advice� of a TEFL director who has financial interest to gain from giving such �advice�.

In regards to talking about accommodation challenges here in Prague, I am talking from my own observances. I have seen some teachers find really good accommodation for a reasonable amount of rent, and others get really screwed. Personally, I have been able to find reasonable accommodation, both here in Prague and in Ceske Budejovice. BUT IT WASN�T EASY!!! And newbie teachers need to appreciate this. Not to mention that �comfortable� is a subjective term. I don�t live as �comfortably� as I did in my home country. I live in a very cheap studio flat which is nowhere near the standard of normal accommodation back in Australia.

I would also like to point out that I have nothing to gain from recommending the Language House, neither financial nor anything else. I graduated from the course last November and my personal experience, as well as talking to other teachers who did and those who did not attend that school, is what I lean upon when talking about the school. Anyone is welcome to ask me privately if they have any questions about the Language House. Chris Westergaard will have no way of knowing who I speak to, nor will I have anything to gain from whatever I tell them.

ITTP · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 343 Location: Prague/Worldwide

Hi Aussie Chick.

Once again, your contribution is encouraged on this forum.

Having lived in Prague for over 12 years I also feel that my contribution is also welcomed and that my postings are both informative and accurate.

Have a good day Aussie Chick.

Neville Smile

ITTP Prague
Jungmannova 32
Prague 1

Aussie Chick · Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 104 Location: Australia

mr tree · Joined: 09 Oct 2007 Posts: 98 Location: Prague, CzR

[quote="Aussie Chick"]They consider themselves extremely lucky to be earning 20,000 Krown and many are paying the average of 10,000 krown in rent here in Prague. [/quote]

i'm paying 7500kc, bills included, sharing with one other person in a nice spacious flat that i would not only describe as comfortable, but frankly "heavenly" compared to my old flat in London.

all this as a "newbie".

also, you commented earlier on food prices, when it is very possible to find good meals out for cheaper than you said.

i think these are the reasons for "Big Nev" using the word "established" Rolling Eyes

Aussie Chick · Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 104 Location: Australia

LOL, that�s what you mean by �established�? Do either of you understand the word �average�? I trust that you have some understanding of the English language? Shocked

And no need to worry about me paying over 10,000krown for my accommodation. In Ceske Budejovice I paid 7000k (including utilities), while in Prague I�m sharing a studio flat with my BF, and we pay 8000k a month. Wink

BTW, I understand most flats in London are hovels, unless you�re rich. So I�m not surprised that your Prague flat would be considered �heavenly� compared to your London flat! Laughing

mr tree · Joined: 09 Oct 2007 Posts: 98 Location: Prague, CzR

yes, i do understand the word "average", but thanks for the patronising comment, very conducive to constructive debate.....

[quote="Aussie Chick"]Ah Neville, why do you say that it�s been �established� that I don�t know what I�m talking about when it comes to knowing the real cost of living in Prague?

How has it been �established�?

All I asked from you is details how newbies can find local accommodation at the same cheap rates the Czechs do. You couldn�t deliver. Why was that? The same was when I asked about this claim about cheap places to eat. Again, you couldn�t deliver. [/quote]

as per my post. you cite an "average" of 10k rent, and an impossibility of finding cheap food. to answer both of your questions here - i've done it myself, all off my own back. you have to RESEARCH.

cheap places to eat - don't go to the tourist areas!
cheap accommodation - look around! don't live in Prague 1!

the figures you cite are excessive - if your friends are living like this, they are not being clever. so if they are struggling for money, that is their own problem! it is very possible to live a decent life here, and your post does not reflect that and would likely scare people off.