Job Discussion Forums

[Riddock]

Good Morning All,

I would like to start off by saying I would love to teach English in basically any European country but as of right now I have no TESOL cert, or a degree. I have just finished my first year at University doing a Bachelor of Business/Arts (mastering in Economics and Philosophy).
I am new to this but it has been something i have wanted to do for a long time, so i would like to know, is do i have enough qualification's or will i need a TESOL cert? Where would be the best country to teach? How much money will i need to get started?

Any help at all would be great,
Thank You

[spiral78]

Where are you from? If the answer's North America, Australia, or New Zealand, the information is totally different than if you are from the U.K.


If you're not from the U.K., your options for teaching legally in Europe are limited. Legally, you can still get work permits for most of the ten new EU member states and maybe for Germany, but the market is very slow in Germany. In the new EU member states, pay is obviously lower than in the west, but if you're looking for a cultural experience, it's fantastic.

As for qualifications, take Prague as an example of one popular city where North American can legally teach. It's become a hotbed of training centres; there are literally hundreds of newly-qualified teachers hitting the streets every couple of months looking for work. Obviously, not everyone chooses to stay in the city, but many do. Equally obviously, there's no reputable employer in the city who's gonna look even once at a would-be teacher with no degree and no certification.

This is the general story for Europe: there are tons of well-qualified Brits and North Americans competing for jobs. That myth that any native speaker could get a professional level job abroad teaching English has long been outdated.

As for how much money: well, many people get started by taking an on-site training course in the country where they think they'd like to teach. A good training program includes 8+ hours of supervised teaching practice in addition to basic training in methodologies. The advantages of an on-site course include trying out living in that country and making useful contacts there. On line courses don't offer teaching practice and most employers frown on them.

These courses run roughly $1500 USD. If you took this route, you'd be responsible for the costs of the course, supporting yourself during the course. Then, the next step is to find yourself some housing and you are normally required to pay two month's rent before moving in (1 month in advance + 1 as security/damage). If you are lucky and get a job immediately after qualification, you are usually paid at the end of your first month. So, you're looking at a few thousand minimum, plus travel expenses.

Further, if you are considering joining the many thousands of North Americans working illegally in Europe, you should be aware that you will have no health care coverage. You can take out a travel policy, but if it's discovered that you had an accident or became ill while living/working illegally, the company will not likely pay. So, you have to be sure that you've always got enough financial cushion to handle bad luck costs - and always have enough for a plane ticket 'home!'

I know it all sounds pretty negative, but you're considering entering a PROFESSION, for heaven's sake. IF you're just finishing your first year at uni, why not get that degree now and save your teach abroad dream for a bit longer? There are so many doors closed to you without a first degree, certification or not. Even in those central/eastern European countries where you can legally be hired, you'll be competing mostly against people with some kind of degree + certification. It's not impossible, (there are tons of old threads on this board from long-time teachers who have no first degrees) but you're at an even greater disadvantage.

[Riddock]

Thank you very much for that, also i am an Australian citizen, but i do have a british passport if that makes any difference?

I know it would be smarter for me to finish my degree, but the fact of the matter is, I have be at school for 14-15 years straight and i am looking to start my life, not in Australia but abroad.
So i guess the best thing would be for me to get my certification first here in Aust or like you suggested the on-site training...

[spiral78]

Hi, Riddock, so ok, half of previous rant doesn't apply to you. Good on you, since you've got the EU passport.
You should really have a decent chance at ok work with an on-site certification. There will still be the issue of your competing against people with a degree plus cert, but at least you're eligible for legal working papers. If you have pulled-up socks and a fairly professional manner, you''ll be fine.
The financial advice still holds; you'll be facing three months+ without paychecks, but you should be ok on the health insurance issue. Where do you want to go, exactly?

Best!

[Riddock]

The countries I want to teach in a the strongest English speaking European countries such as Finland, Sweden. I know Europe isnt the easiest continent to find this kind of work but I still want to try. To make it easier on myself I am thinking something like Estonia, Germany, Poland or even Spain.

Would it be better to find a place to stay and work before I leave Australia or? I am still very new to looking for work outside my state let alond the country

[spiral78]

One good way is to locate a reputable on-site course in the country you think you want to go for. That way, you're not on your own totally in your first month and the training centres can usually help you with lining up interviews after the course. They often arrange for (not pay for!) your housing during the course and can give you real estate contacts afterwards too. Good training centres can usually arrange for airport pick up and give you some basic info about living in the area as well.

You'll have small luck in Finland or Sweden (that's true for all of us, but without that first degree or teaching experience you've got some big disadvantages). Of the countries you mentioned, Poland is probably the most likely doable for you, but pay will be relatively tight, of course. You could probably find work in Spain, too, but you're still looking at entry-level jobs at least for your first couple of years.

I suggest that if you find you really like the field, you could start considering how to finish your degree later on. To get anything much more than entry-level positions, you're likely to find you're going to need the degree. But get your feet wet first, if you want! Remember that to overcome the disadvantages of no degree and experience, you should try to be especially professional in your manner and work habits. There's a long thread on the general discussion forum about reliability in teachers....make yourself fit on the 'highly reliable' end of the spectrum and employers will care less about your lack of papers.

[poro]

Riddock, I could be ridiculed for saying this, but if I was in your position, I'd be looking for a job in the area where I could save money, gain a qualifiication of some sort, and then apply for a teaching position later.

It might sound an odd proposition, but if you're interested in exploring this route, check out the vacancies in the Norwegian fish processing industry, especially in Arctic locations such as Vard�, because they frequently have labor shortages there. I know people who have done this.

I'm expecting howls and rolling eyes for suggesting this, but when you consider the very high wages, lower tax, and the opportunity to explore the 'nordic mind' and job markets, it's not as dumb as it looks, imho. And it isn't as cold as you'd think, either.

At any rate, that's what I'd be doing.

[poro]

[scot47]

Not what you want to hear but my advice is :-


1. Get a degree

2. Learn at least one foreign language to a level of competence. If you can tackle an 'exotic' language so much the better.

3. Learn about 'deferred gratification'. You cannot get everytrhing that you want now.