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Gaining ESL work in Europe for non-EU citizens

 
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Trumpcard



Joined: 29 Sep 2005
Posts: 50
PostPosted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 8:58 am    Post subject: Gaining ESL work in Europe for non-EU citizens Reply with quote
Ive been in this industry now over 2 years, mostly in japan and now in hagwan hell in korea. And it is hell. I have a European friend in Japan who will be settling in the Czech Republic in a year or so. This friend has constantly put down my chances of working in Europe as next to nothing simply as I am Australian. I am a little jaded about teaching based upon my experiences in Asia but feel Europe might be a whole different ball game (ie a lot nicer).

I have always loved Europe and would really like to teach in the Ukraine, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, France or Czech Rep. Is my friend correct in asserting that my chances are zilch? I have good written references from my time in japan, a CELTA, business experience, a business degree and lots of business English teaching experience. Does anyone know of schools who regularly recruit non-EU citizens?
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furiousmilksheikali



Joined: 31 Jul 2006
Posts: 1660
Location: In a coffee shop, splitting a 30,000 yen tab with Sekiguchi.
PostPosted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 9:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
The Ukraine is not part of the EU so you probably wouldn't have as many problems teaching there. I don't know about this, however.
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Deicide



Joined: 29 Jul 2006
Posts: 1005
Location: Caput Imperii Americani
PostPosted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 9:41 am    Post subject: Re: Gaining ESL work in Europe for non-EU citizens Reply with quote
Trumpcard wrote:
Ive been in this industry now over 2 years, mostly in japan and now in hagwan hell in korea. And it is hell. I have a European friend in Japan who will be settling in the Czech Republic in a year or so. This friend has constantly put down my chances of working in Europe as next to nothing simply as I am Australian. I am a little jaded about teaching based upon my experiences in Asia but feel Europe might be a whole different ball game (ie a lot nicer).

I have always loved Europe and would really like to teach in the Ukraine, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, France or Czech Rep. Is my friend correct in asserting that my chances are zilch? I have good written references from my time in japan, a CELTA, business experience, a business degree and lots of business English teaching experience. Does anyone know of schools who regularly recruit non-EU citizens?


Hmm...there is so much info here on this topic already. The short of it; your chances are minimal within countries that acceded to the EU prior to 2003 (the vast majority of them). Poland and other Eastern European countries are still options (but if you are used to Korean and Japanese salaries be prepared for a shock). Under no circumstances should you go to the Ukraine. A friend of mine taught there and told me it was a sort of frozen hell; forget about it. Look into your ancestry (that is what I am doing, currently working on getting a Hungarian passport; I am American). Apart from that you would need the luck of a bat out of hell or a Spiral78 who married an EUer. He will give you an even more negative prediction of success btw...in the name of Zeus, good luck... Smile
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chiquitita



Joined: 13 Aug 2003
Posts: 37
PostPosted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
How old are you Trumpcard? You're an Aussie so if you're under 30 you can get working holiday visas in quite a few countries in Europe. If you're over 30, well, um, good luck!
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dvasas



Joined: 31 Jan 2006
Posts: 138
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
PostPosted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 1:21 pm    Post subject: Re: Gaining ESL work in Europe for non-EU citizens Reply with quote
Trumpcard wrote:
Ive been in this industry now over 2 years, mostly in japan and now in hagwan hell in korea. And it is hell. I have a European friend in Japan who will be settling in the Czech Republic in a year or so. This friend has constantly put down my chances of working in Europe as next to nothing simply as I am Australian. I am a little jaded about teaching based upon my experiences in Asia but feel Europe might be a whole different ball game (ie a lot nicer).

I have always loved Europe and would really like to teach in the Ukraine, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, France or Czech Rep. Is my friend correct in asserting that my chances are zilch? I have good written references from my time in japan, a CELTA, business experience, a business degree and lots of business English teaching experience. Does anyone know of schools who regularly recruit non-EU citizens?


I was in Hungary earlier this year on a holiday and was offered a position there by a school, just someone I happened to meet. It is possible, just more difficult than Asia - I am from Canada.
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haku



Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 14
PostPosted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 2:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
chiquitita wrote:
How old are you Trumpcard? You're an Aussie so if you're under 30 you can get working holiday visas in quite a few countries in Europe. If you're over 30, well, um, good luck!


chiquitita do you know more about the success/failure rate in using a WH visa to teach EFL? If so, please reveal more..
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canucktechie



Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 343
Location: Moscow
PostPosted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
You will be able to get a job in Russia easily. Whether you want to work there is up to you.

I disagree with the previous poster about Ukraine - it's a very nice country. Unfortunately the job market stinks. Full time positions with good schools are very, very scarce, and the pay is bad.
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spiral78



Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
PostPosted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 5:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The new EU member states are still generally open to North Americans and Aussies. So, your chances in the Czech Rep and Hungary are still open. However, Italy or France would be pretty near to impossible, regardless of your qualifications. Both countries have quite strict laws mandating the hiring of EU citizens only for teaching positions.

The Czech Rep, Ukraine, Hungary, and Russia won't be comparable to Korea in terms of income. But you can expect to make enough to live fairly well in the country and travel a bit. Just not to save or to pay back outside debts.

I don't mention Portugal because I'm not specifically sure of the possibilities of legal work permits for non-EU citizens there, but I'm pretty sure it will fall into the Spain/Italy/France category. Most of the older EU members are legally off-limits to non-EU member citizens.