Job Discussion Forums

[MissDVLA]

Does anyone have any experience in offering private tuition in Europe. I am hoping to start giving one on one classes and I have no idea where to start. I know that some people manage to get by using word of mouth and that seems quite effective, but is there a better way? Also, is there any money in it?

Please help an optimistic newbie in the scary world of ESL

[spiral78]

"Europe's" a big place, and the laws and customs and teaching situations vary from country to country. If you can give a more specific location you'd like to focus on, you'll get more pertinent feedback.

[MissDVLA]

Thanks - good point. I'm hoping to start teaching in Austria in September.

[Roger]

Well Miss whatever, may I answer you in German since German is going to be the language of your workplace?
Du wirst zunaechst einmal gewisse Anforderungen in bezug auf deine BIldung/Ausbildung erfuellen muessen.
Freelancing as a tourist is not tolerated.
Hast du das geschnallt?

[Chasgul]

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority?!!

Please define 'private tuition' : if you are planning to live in Austria long-term then check your status in terms of private business. If you are planning to find pupils through friends/word-of-mouth then things sit a little differently.

[MissDVLA]

I am planning to live in Austria permanently so eventually I would want to look into starting a business, however upon arrival I plan to work through word of mouth and local advertising. I don't know if this is something that people do, or if there is a market for it in Austria - Graz in particular.

[MissDVLA]

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority?!!

Yes, but I can't drive!!

[Roger]

OK, MsDvla,
it is established now that you have no qualifications that would be needed for you to successfully enter the Austrian market. What's more, you don't seem to be aware of legal requirements, nor to care about them. Member states of the E.U. recruit foreign nationals beyond the E.U.'s boundaries only if they cannot recruit them locally; a job that's to be offered to outsiders must be approved as such.
If you want to be self-employed you will need a business licence, simple. Austria is not a developing nation, so pushing English is not one of those niches that you can enter without formal credentials.
I suggest you visit an Austrian consulate or chamber of commerce (or the E.U. chamber of commerce) to find out how to set up shop in Graz. You will find it far more difficult than you seem to think.
The Austrians will rightly want you to pay taxes and to contribute to their social security system.

[MissDVLA]

Sorry if I rattled your cage with my lack of information. I was assuming that this site was in part for people looking for advise.

Anyway, thanks for what you've given me and in future I will try to obtain a little more information before asking for guidance.

[bluffer]

[schminken]

I found this website:

http://www.help.gv.at/Content.Node/149/Seite.1490000.html


It tells you what you have to do to establish a business in Austria. It will be expensive.

I was in Graz just yesterday. I just want to tell you that there are English language schools all over the place and a lot of native speakers living there since it is a university town. There is also a huge language insitute there. Also there are about 40 English speaking asisstants that work in secondary institutions there each year. They also do private tutoring. I would also think about not just teaching English but offering a service to proofread doctoral and master's theses. You can make quite a bit of money doing this.

[MissDVLA]

Thank you so much for that schminken. That is really reassuring. I have managed to get an interview for one language school and they are offering 9 hours of work a week. I think I will probably need a few of these contracts in order to cover my costs. Or as you suggested, move in to the world of proof reading.

In reference to qualifications - I do have a British passport and although I do not have a degree, I have a professional diploma in Business and Share registration (not exactly useful, but I was planning to be a stock broker!), an HND in Business Management and of course CELTA. I do speak average German, but I am also enrolled on an intensive course for when I arrive in Graz.

Do you happen to have the name of the language institute in Graz? Do you think it is worth hitting the pavement when I arrive and canvassing for TA jobs?

Thanks again for your help.

Diana

[schminken]

This is the one I am thinking of. It's a part of the Uni Graz
http://www.kfunigraz.ac.at/iszuwww/


Also, you could make an appointment with the AMS (Arbeitsmarktservice) in Graz. This is the governmental agency that helps people find jobs, even foreigners.

http://www.ams.or.at/neu/

I know one British girl here who wanted to stay an work after doing a one year programme here. It was hard for her but what she finally did was find a lot of part-time work at different language schools. She has 2 hours here and another 2 hours there plus private tutoring and she gets by. Since you an EU citizen, it's not going to be as difficult for you as it is for people who are citizens of non EU countries.

The British people I know who are TAs work 12 hours per week in various secondary schools. They earn about 900 Euros per month which is ok to live off of if you find a cheap place to live. Austria is one of those countries where everything is clean and orderly. Even if you get a 20 square meter room, it probably has fresh paint on the walls, a nice marble WC, fresh flowers on the dressing table, and a view of some stunning Sound of Musicesque mountain.

It's not perfect here. I just think as a Brit, your chances are a bit better. People are always asking me to proof ead 100 page documents or come talk to their kids in English and I never have time. Someone has to do it. If you are willing to do a lot of little jobs, you will probably be ok.

You will love Graz.