Job Discussion Forums

mr.jones · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9

I'm interested in spending some time teaching in Europe, but want to minimize the financial pain. Quick poll:
1. In what country, area, or city do you work in Europe?
2. How much is a decent 1 BR apartment?
3. What is the salary/wage range for ESL teachers?
4. Are there opportunities in colleges, universities, or technical institutes?
That's all!
Thanks in advance.

chiquitita · Joined: 13 Aug 2003 Posts: 37

1. The Netherlands - North Brabant
2. About �600 / month (though I only know �� for 2 bed apartments here because that's all I've lived in).
3. From �18 - �25 per hour at private language institutes.
4. In uni's etc you'll need an MA and working knowledge of Dutch before they'll even look at you.

If I didn't have a partner with a good job, I doubt I could really survive here. I have no idea about what it's like in the Ranstad but I think it'd be worse due to, among other things, rent!

Mike_2003 · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Posts: 344 Location: Bucharest, Romania

1. Romania - Bucharest
2. About 400 Euro/month
3. Virtually no private schools, those which exist mostly use local staff. Was offered a job at one for about 9 Euro an hour...turned it down. In-company teaching about 17-20 Euro an hour (invoiced). One other private school was paying 10 Euro an hour but with no basic and no guaranteed minimum hours.
4. Not that many opportunities but some hire, I've heard, teachers for conversational practice Probably pay peanuts. Private unis might pay better.

You can earn money here but it takes time to build up a reputation and contacts. Not the place to come if you are a first-timer or looking for a soft landing with immediate income.

Mike

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

Mr. Jones, your prospects are very different depending on where you're from. If you have a citizenship from an EU country, you can work legally in the better-paid 'old' EU member states like Spain, Italy, and France. If you are from North America, Australia, or New Zealand (or other non-EU member country) you are essentially limited to working in the 'new' EU states (such as the Czech Rep, Poland, Hungary) where pay is generally lower.

Generally speaking (after all, Europe's a continent - you may find a few exceptions!!) university work requires a related MA + significant experience. In the new EU states, university teachers make a wage similar to that of shop assistants, as do many professions.

In the 'new'EU states, you can expect to make enough to live on all right, but not to save, pay off debts back home, or travel extensively outside the country you are teaching in.

I agree with Mike - Europe's not the place to go if you need a soft landing.

mr.jones · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9

I'm North American but have an EU passport in hand. I have an MA and 14 years of experience in the field. I want to try something different for a year or two, but don't want to dip into savings if possible.

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

You're good to go for the better-paid countries, then. It still, as Mike pointed out, takes some contacts. The best route to good jobs is to be here on the ground where you can make personal contacts. Knowledge of the local language is also a big plus.
However, it sounds like you would prefer to line up something in advance, to avoid financial outlay at the onset. You've got good qualifications (assuming your MA is in some related field), so I'd suggest you might try contacting International Schools and possibly places like NATO bases. You might have some luck and find an opening.