Job Discussion Forums

jsbankston · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 214 Location: Texas

I'm 42, single, with A double major BA in English and history, no teacher certification or TEFL training, but 8 years working as a tutor and 2 as a librarian and substitute teacher at a K-12 private school.

I've gone through the 5 pages and have some observations and questions.

It sounds like you can maybe make enough money to get by on if you're not much into the nightlife and if you share an apartment, but that you don't get enough to save or travel in Western Europe. Rent is cheaper the further out of the city center you get.

It also sounds as if September/October are the chief hiring times.

Is it better to go to Czech. and job-hunt or look for work from home?

It also sounds like you need to bring a few thousand dollars with you.

A lot of people seem to prefer Krakow to Prague.

Do many schools provide airfare and lodging?

Am I missing anything?

Any thoughts?

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

You've got the basic picture.

You'd need the certification course to compete on the Prague market. This is a training centre mecca and the majority of would-be teachers on the streets have BAs and certification, and many have specific language teaching experience. The courses offered in Prague cover the basics - they're all 100+ hours and include supervised teaching practice. This is really needed.

Typical contracts are Sept. thru June. Late August is the optimal time to start, but work can be found year round (excepting July and August, and even then you might land some privates or a summer camp).

No one will pay for airfare. This ain't Asia. They'll provide 'housing assistance' meaning that they will hook you up with a rental agent or offer you a room in a flat shared by other teachers from the school.

Also, it's extremely rare to land anything from overseas. As previously noted, there are plenty of teachers around and any school that needs to take the risk of hiring sight-unseen is probably a school that for some reason can't attract teachers (usually a big red flag). They want to see you standing in the office, CV in hand and business dress on before they will make any commitments.

jsbankston · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 214 Location: Texas

So the Czech Republic might not be the best place for a newbie with no money or TEFL certification, and with some debts, to start out in? Based on your knowledge would you say it would be better to try Poland, Korea, or someplace else?

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

If you have little money and debts to pay, teaching in Europe in general is a bad move. I would suggest Korea. While most people do not actually really like teaching there as much as in Europe, the money is about twice as good.

Cheers,

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

I agree with Chris.

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

Particularly if, as your post implies, you intend to try to work without any kind of basic certification.
A basic 100+ hour cert course does not imply a lifetime commitment to the profession - it's simply an entry-level qualification guaranteeing your employer that you have some clue as to how to teach a language.

Simply being a native speaker with a BA and some experience teaching in other areas does not imply that one is qualified to teach language to paying customers.

jsbankston · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 214 Location: Texas

I'm not averse to getting TEFL certification, but it sounds like in some countries it's pretty much a necessity and in others it isn't. My main concern about getting it right now is I've heard it costs $1000-$2000 and I can't afford that at present.

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

As I've pointed out (ad nauseum, I'm afraid) Prague is a training centre mecca. You wouldn't be able to compete in the Czech Rep without certification.

Poland's essentially the same.

jsbankston · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 214 Location: Texas

Does it especially matter where I take my TEFL course then? Some seem to say take it at home, others say take it overseas at the country you want to go to. The problem with the latter course is I might not stay in one particular country. Would a TEFL course basically hold true for Korea, Poland, Argentina, or are the details very much localized?

Any do TEFL courses actually cost that much?

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

I have an initial cert from a Prague school (1998) and have taught in Luxembourg, Holland, Belgium, Canada, and the Czech Rep. Any basic 100+ hour, on-site course including supervised teaching practice is generally recognized everywhere. Go to the Teacher Training forum for in depth discussion of name brand vs generic certification.

On line and distance courses are often not accepted by better schools because they lack supervised teaching practice.

The basic 30 day courses described above do indeed cost anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 USD. That's not unreasonable, for basic training to enter a profession.

The value of doing a course in the country you are going to start in is that you will make contacts which can be useful and your teaching practice will be with students who will be substantially similar to the ones you're actually going to start working with. You also get a chance to get your feet wet in a country before you have to strike out on your own.

jsbankston · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 214 Location: Texas

But taking the course in that country would seem to presuppose having money for the course and money to live off of while taking it and before landing a job.

Would a TEFL course overseas be any cheaper?

Yes, I've heard nothing good about the online courses. And anyway, there are certain aspects of teaching I know you have to convey in person. I've taken 1st and 2nd year college-level education courses in the US.

Would a wise course perhaps be to go to a country that pays well, like Korea, where I can save a lot of money, take the TEFL course while there, and go wherever I want to from there?

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

I suggest that you go to the Korea forum and find out whether you can start teaching there without certification.
It does not sound like Central Europe is the best place for you to start, quite honestly.

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

I've dealt with about 20 trainees on our TEFL course that have come from Korea. Basically the situation is like this. None of them knew how to teach or is training really given (nor cared about) at the schools they taught for. Basically it seems to me like a complete business. They throw you into a room because your a native speaker and that's what people want. Now you can go there without training and be fine. It is at least some kind of introduction to teaching. However, I urge you at some time to get properly trained if you continue teaching because you are most likely going to pick up some pretty big no no's.

However, I have not heard anything to good about courses in Korea. I have not heard anything bad either, but I would do my research.

jsbankston · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 214 Location: Texas

Well, either way it sounds like I'll need some money to do it right.

joshsweigart · Joined: 27 Feb 2005 Posts: 66

I'm usually in the Poland forum but I check out the Czech forum sometimes.

You have similar posts in the Poland one though.

It seems like you want us to make your decisions...

Yes, you need a decent cert.
Yes, they cost at least a thousand dollars to get.

If you don't have some money saved before coming, you might have some trouble.

It looks like Korea Asia is the best choice for now.