Job Discussion Forums

the47ronin · Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 3

Hi, I've heard that it is hard to get a job in Western Europe without experiance. I haven't taken the TESOL course yet but am considering it. I have no teaching experiance and am a highschool grad. Should I bother doing the course if I only want to teach in Western Europe? Thanks

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

What do you mean by only in Western Europe?

Are the standards lower there?
Employers are desperate?
No Competition?

You have no experience and no post-grad education. What will you offer the students, just bless them with your native English prescence?
What do you think teaching EFL is? Not much obviously.

the47ronin · Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 3

I just really want to teach in that region if possible. If not no big deal, I wont take the course and thats that.

gerard · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 581 Location: Internet Cafe

Teach what??? Assuming you have an EU ID you would need some more education. I hope so anyway. Now I am going to open a beer and sit back and watch the regulars rip you to shreds. Cool

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I agree with Gordon. Even if you're not looking into teaching as a career (as many people don't--it's common to just do it for a couple of years and then move on), there are a few basic requirements--a university degree and/or a TEFL certificate. And it's not just Western Europe that has such requirements. Even if you do manage to find a school that doesn't require these things, how will you be qualified to teach? In my humble opinion, teachers owe it to their students to know what they are doing in the classroom. Going into a classroom underqualified and underprepared is unfair to the students (and to other teachers, as it hurts the reputation of the field). If you really do want to teach, even only short-term, please do get some training.

d

the47ronin · Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 3

Well I just thought I could teach English there. In the guide (Global TESOL) it stated that you can teach in these regions without a degree.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I don't know what your guide book says or what Global TESOL is, but be careful of promises that TEFL courses make. Many lead you to believe that their course will automatically land you a job of your dreams effortlessly. That ain't reality.

rogan · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 416 Location: at home, in France

From your original post, I guess that you are N.American.

If so you should take the advice given in your Global TESOL guide and shove it somewhere uncomfortable.

Then go through all the threads on these boards and also look in the Job Information Journal and find out just why it is virtually impossible for qualified and experienced N.Americans to teach legally in Western Europe.

Then ask yourself how an unqualified and inexperiencedN.American can even dream about working here.

chinagirl · Joined: 27 May 2003 Posts: 235 Location: United States

47ronin,

Just to reiterate nicely what the others have said, you lack the qualifications to be a teacher with only a high school degree. Do you have an EU passport? If you do, the take the course and see what your chances are...but the jobs available for those without a college degree are not going to be very good.

European jobs are highly sought after by those with qualifications, so competition is likely to be keen.

Good luck to you.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Europe is not for slackers and sycophants. I am not saying you are one of those, though. However, you can arrive at some pretty good assessment of the situation by judging the English levels of average European travellers or workers, not to mention their other foreiign language skills.
Now tell me: do you still think they got that far by studying under under-qualified teachers?
Europe is not China, mate, and if you really want to work there you must have a relevant education and experience. Teachers of languages routinely have to be bilingual or even multilingual. And, knowing a language is not enough - they must study literature and history in that language.
There are no "oral English" classes at public schools as far as I know - and I lived in France for ten years, with a French woman who was a teacher of a foreign language.

Will. · Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 783 Location: London Uk

Troll

khmerhit · Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2003 5:41 pm Post subject: yes

Troll--- I concur, Will. Keenly spotted.

That is almost undoubtedly the psycho plonker what calls itself Cobra/Elsie/Schwarz/Linda/Rhonda Place and other names that it used before I joined. "Rhonda Place," what a ridiculous name. If you notice, it has a distinctive prose style with many common features, but why waste time on trash like that? Just watch out for it.