Job Discussion Forums

AugieMarch · Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 1 Location: Connecticut, USA

Ok, so this is my first post. I have been reading through these forums and researching ESL for a couple of months now and I've come up with something of a plan for myself--I just need some experienced advice on its feasability. Constructive, honest criticism would be much appreciated. First off, my situation:

-24, male, currently in U.S.

-B.A. in English and 1 year of experience substitute teaching (American school children grades 6-12, everything from teaching lessons to being a glorified babysitter)

-Planning to spend at least 5 years in ESL (a career if it sticks). I would like to work in the CR as well as Hungary and at some point Japan.

-No debts or dependents to whom I will need to send money.

My plan:

-Get CELTA certified at AkcentIH in Prague sometime around August-October 2006 and teach in Prague (or in nearby, Prague accesible locale) or move on and teach in Budapest.

-I am planning to set out with $4,000 dollars American which will cover transport there (Is a cheap flight (around $400) to Paris or Berlin accompanied by train to Prague feasible? I looked into it and it's cheaper than flying into Prague) as well as the course costs and boarding as well as one months survival money.

BASED ON THIS INFORMATION:

Will I be able to do this? What costs am I leaving out? Will this be enough money? Should I pay extra for the Express Czech one week language course or is there a cheaper way to learn enough Czech for initial survival? What stuff am I unaware of that will be of issue immediately? WILL THIS WORK? I appreciate your advice in advance. (sorry for the length!)

icebear · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 40 Location: Alaska

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

The plan sounds feasible overall. You could check also flight to Frankfort + train to Prague (my own usual route). However, the German train system is not super-cheap (I pay usually around 100 Euro for the ticket, I think) and sometimes it is actually less expensive to fly Frankfort/Prague. The overnight train is direct and cheaper than the day train via Dresden.

Contracts in the CR are usually Sept - June, so if you can go in the early end of your arrival range, you will probably find it a bit easier to get work quickly. It's useful that you might also be interested in locations outside the city.

You should be aware that you'll need to pay two or possibly three months rent in advance (one month for security deposit + first month + possibly agents fee) and that schools pay monthly, at the END of each month worked. $4000 US should probably be enough, but you should nurse that money carefully until you have secured a job and accomodations!

Best luck!

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

I started my TEFL career/life in Prague and loved both the city (and the rest of the country, too) and the job.

One comment about the money situation: just in case you don't like it or some sort of emergency at home comes up, make sure you've got enough to cover a ticket back home.

Can US passport holders still get work visas there? I am a US citizen, and when I was there seven years ago they had just changed the laws--like, after I had arrived but before I had gone through all of the paperwork, which was a hassle even in the CR's pre-EU days.

d

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Work visa for non-EU citizens is still a hassle, still do-able with patience.

OzBurn · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 199

Why in the world would you want to go to Hungary? Are you of Hungarian extraction? The pay is terrible, and the weather is worse.

Chris Westergaard · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 215 Location: Prague

Put the money down and get a Zivnostensky as quick as possible. This is a trades license that you can obtain. It is a real hassle and will most likely cost you about a half a grand, but if you want to make it in Prague, it starts with this

johnchina · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 816

Having had considerable experience in Prague, I'd reiterate an earlier comment re accommodation. This is usually the single most problematic thing to sort out, but the school should be able to help you. Schools are usually very willing and able to help you with all the documents you require. Take your birth certificate and uni qualification. You'll almost certainly need to get certified photocopies and translations of them (not difficult). As has been said, a knowledge of Czech is certainly not essential, but anyone working in a foreign country would be well-advised to learn a little upon arrival. Czech grammar is horrific, but vocab and pronunciation are easier.

praguevision · Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 1 Location: Prague

I don't want to veer too much from this thread but I did just want to point out that Mr Chris Westergaard appears to be advertising his TEFL school openly, with the URL link in his signature.

Mr Westergaard, I'm sure that your reasons for making various posts in the last month are purely for the help and assistance of potential students of all schools but I do think that perhaps the link directly to your website provides your school with a very unfair advantage (and perhaps evokes a potential issue of morality too?).

Chris Westergaard · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 215 Location: Prague

Dear Prague Vision,

I didnt mean to offend you. I really did not see it as doing anything immoral. Actually, I am sure a lot of employees or owners of schools use this forum. I thought I was being direct with having a link. I took it off, but I really did not see anything wrong with it.

Bethverde · Joined: 05 Jun 2006 Posts: 7

I think you'll be fine. It sounds like you have it planned pretty well--you have more start-up money than I did when I came 3 years ago. Smile

I'd skip the train though and try to take a bus www.eurolines.com, I think can help, or do a search for eurolines; or a cheap flight. The Czech Republic's own budget airline www.smartwings.cz (or .com, can't remember) can be pretty cheap. Train from Berlin is do-able, at about 50 bucks, but the train from Paris probably won't be economical.

As far as learning Czech, you really should try to get the basics. A lot of people come here, learn no language skills, and then complain that the service is awful, the people are unfriendly. Protect yourself from this. I found the best, most economical way to learn Czech is to get a language-exchange partner. You can advertise on a bulletin board at some local cafes, like Radost FX, the Globe, Shakespeare and Sons, Bohemia Bagel or look through the language links on the www.expats.cz site and find some Czech person who would like to practice English in exchange for teaching you Czech once or twice a week. I had two of these language exchanges my first year here and I have to say it really helped. I became good friends with my tutors, too.

One very very important thing to note as well is that schools here have 30 days to pay you. This means that, if you work all of September, some schools will pay you for that work on Sept. 30. Some will pay you Oct. 5, some will pay you Oct. 15, and some (like my school) pays Oct. 30. So when you're here budget not to have a salary for two months. It's possible, you just need to be aware. Smile

As for accomodation, start trying to look for a place to live as soon as you arrive, and try to do it via word of mouth (like the bulletin boards or expats.cz) and not through an agency. You'll save yourself some steep agency fees there. BUT, be sure that the place you rent from can legally rent it to you because, as I think someone else mentioned, you need to have a declaration from the land lord to get your visa.

Best of luck!
Beth