Job Discussion Forums

[MdSmith]

Hi all

I'm from the UK but have been working outside of Europe for a few years now (not efl). I'm thinking about possibly teaching English in the CR at some point in the near future (pref a city outside of the capital, and somewhere near forests/mountains for hiking etc). However, I don't seem to see many job ads as there used to be (I previously did EFL in Slovakia in 2005). I usually just see one or two ads e.g. Spevacek in Prague and Watts English for kids, neither of which appeal too much...(I would prefer to teach adults). Any help would be appreciated, am I looking at the wrong websites or are there simply less efl jobs than there used to be? Or should I just go there and do a search/make calls etc.. Are there already many efl teachers on the ground in cities outside of Prague (and I don't just mean Brno; Ceske Budejovice, Pardubice, Liberec etc..)?

Cheers in advance.

[spiral78]

Mostly, wrong time of year. As you probably know, most contracts are Sept/Oct through June, so you're kind of on the tail end of the working year just now. And, yeah, there may be generally less demand now than a few years back.

And it's true that most jobs excepting those requiring specialist quals or for very remote schools are only found from in-country these days.

I would think that at the end of August/early September, if you come over, you should find something, though.

[Sigma]

I work in a small city in Moravia, so I might be able to help you.

I am sure there are less job offers around because of the current economic problems. However, it wouldn't hurt to check the actual websites of the schools to see if they have any job listings. Plus, if you can manage, it is always best to come here for a week or two and try to set up some interviews.

My wife is non-EU (and a non-native speaker), but she found a few schools (in Brno and Olomouc) willing to offer her a job. Since you are from the EU, you will definitely have an advantage because there will be much less hassle for the schools if they want to hire you. I am sure you would be able to find something.

I would also take a look at cities such as Opava, Frydek-Mistek, Jihlava, Olomouc, Prerov, Hradec Kralove etc.

[MdSmith]

Many thanks for the prompt responses!! Thanks that helps a lot and makes sense re the time of year etc.. Thanks also for the suggestions for the smaller towns like Hradec Kralove etc., I have always wanted to go there! I spent a few months as an exchange student in Valmez in the late 90s, happy days..

[Sigma]

Well, I do not think there would be many jobs but you could also try Vala�sk� Meziř�č� (as you lived there).

A few more to take a look at, but again not the biggest of places (20-30,000)... Vsetin, Breclav, Sumperk, Vyskov and Hodonin.

For example, here is a job advert (I don't know how old it is nor do I know the school) for the Breclav area - http://www.orangeacademy.cz/volna-mista.php?misto=2

A school in Hodnin - http://www.tucekenglish.cz/

I am sure there are many more places in Bohemia as well.

[MdSmith]

Thanks again, I see what you mean about checking websites of the schools themselves. I'm surprised they don't advertise in English too, are they aiming as well for Czech locals who are English teachers? I was wondering also do jobs come up for teaching English in universities in CR?

Cheers.

[spiral78]

Most state university jobs are held by well-qualified locals. There are occasional openings for native English speakers, but in all cases I'm aware of these, require related post-grad qualifications. Pay at the state universities is much less than you'd make teaching businesspeople, and openings at the few better-paid institutions are VERY rare, and extremely competitive. People who get these very few gigs generally have high-level quals, local language skills, local reps, and local contacts.

Basically, you MIGHT luck into something along these lines, someday, but it's not a likely target.

[MdSmith]

Ok thanks for that. I was also wondering if the CR has changed much since I was last there (about 14 yrs ago)? I remember being quite popular as there were no other foreigners in town, I guess people are more used to foreigners these days?

[spiral78]

I've been around since 1998 and while I'm currently working in Prague, we have a place in a small town, where I've spent a lot of time over the past ten years.

It is difficult to generalize, but...

Native English speakers are far less rare and special than they used to be.

It's easy to socialize in the bigger cities; expat community usually forming initial social circle, and then expanding to include more locals. In 'my' smaller town, it took some time, but I also find Czechs genuine - once they are friendly, they really mean it.

It helps quite a lot to speak at least a bit of the local language.

In some places, there has been a small wave of Czech women returning from abroad to raise their children (with native English speaking fathers) here, having discovered that many of those 'cool' English teachers are really only qualified to flip burgers in their home countries - bit of a bad taste in some circles, obviously.

I'll add that, as many Czechs have now had time and opportunity to travel to Anglophone countries themselves, much of the novelty has worn off.

[MdSmith]

Ok thanks, that makes sense. I found them to be genuine too, another thing that attracts me to the place. I had Czech lessons when i was there and it did help a lot. It seems that English teachers are earning an average salary for the CR so I guess the job can't be too 'unprestigious'? But I know what you mean about job prospects back home etc.

May I also ask what would be the average cost of buying a half-decent flat (say 2 bedroom) in a city in the CR (not Prague or Brno)?

Cheers.

[spiral78]

Hmmm. No, I don't think that teaching language is considered a prestige position by many Czechs these days.

Also, keep in mind that many young Czech women are really seeking some sort of stability; English language teachers as a group (obviously there are many exceptions) are pretty well known not to stick around long or to be able to provide a flat, a car, and raise a family. Big baby boom going on just now, by the way; seems as though everyone wants two or three;-)

There used to be a presumption (more or less widely held) that most everyone from the West was better off than people here; that's been pretty thoroughly debunked.

I'm obviously not saying that you'll be lonely and isolated, but today's Czech women are not ripe fruit just falling into the laps of English teachers, either.

[spiral78]

Oh, the flat. Forgot.
You might get something for equivalent 20,000 GBP (higher price obviously better).
(not in Prague, obviously).

The real estate market's a bit depressed just now; not the worst time to buy.

[MdSmith]

Ok thanks again for your honest responses. I guess my desire to be an English teacher is not to feel settled but to have an air of freedom. It might also be nice to have a family so a bit of a contradiction for me I guess. I have actually thought about doing tefl in CR and then after a few years experience doing a year or two in Saudi. I might be able to afford my own flat then too.

FWIW I live and work in a country at the moment outside of europe where I am a bit of a novelty and get some attention but it annoys me as I sense that some are after me because of novelty value and a presumption I am well off, can't have it both ways I guess! Surely not all women in CR are all totally image-conscious? Sorry, it's late and i'm probably talking bollox now..! Thanks again for your help.

[emmett grogan]

I wouldn't say there was a shortage of work in small town CR but it wont be well paid. To back up what Spiral said, there are a large number of former au pairs returning from The UK or States with their husbands from these countries obviously in tow. These guys had usually never shown any interest in teaching but on arriving in The CR with no language what are they gonna do? 'Teach' English of course, school owners are aware of this so offer low pay as they know that these type of native speakers are desperate for the work. Thusthe laws of supply and demand decrees that the pay of good, dedicated teachers goes down. Its the same in Prague too.