Job Discussion Forums

[johnnyenglishteacher]

Hello,

Has anybody taught in Slovenia? Any info on the following questions would be appreciated.

What are wages like, and do they give a decent standard of living?

How easy is it to find a job there?

Should I get freelance status or would I be employed directly by a school?

Is there a decent private teaching market?

Thank you!

John

[nabakow30]

Hello hello....

a few quick answers- any more queries just pm me....

whether you consider the wages high depends on where you've been previously of course, but I'd say there pretty good. 1000 euro minimum in a country where the national average (and this appears to be a county where 'averages' actually offer some practical guidelines...) is 750 or so. Having just joined the euro prices in many areas have risen slightly, but far less than some of the nostalgiac complainers would have you believe.
Accommodation is the main (and sifnificant) expense, particularly in Ljubljana, but a good quality of life is to be had if you find the work. I can at least say that this is the most comfortable I've been in my relatively short teaching career.

There is a teaching market, but it's no Poland, Korea, Italy, China etc. At my school there are 3 or 4 natives speakers at any one time, and this is one of the bigger places. You might well be employed by a school (ie they'd offer you enough work that working for others would be all but precluded), but you would still be officially freelance, under 'autorska' contract. Taxes can be claimed back. Indeed, they are apparently very efficient in this area and rebates arrive promptly and correctly. Allegedly...

As for private teaching, I haven't really looked into it as I'm busy enough with the school. However, I've already been approached a couple of times in the short while I've been here and that bodes well.

So, in short, I am the Slovene Tourist Board.

Not quite. But provided you're willing to make some effort (as I said, the teaching market is not huge as the state education system is so good and they have a long-standing reputation for language abilty, it being a trampled over country which shares so many borders..) you'll be fine.

More to the point, you're likely to be glad you did.

As I said, pm if you want more info. Take care and good luck.

[johnnyenglishteacher]

Thanks for that. Slovenia sounds like a great place. I can't wait until September!

John

[kathyann]

Hello,

I've read all the posts on Slovenia - thank you for the information. I will be moving to Slovenia at the end of December. And now just some more detailed questions:

Probability of finding work and accommodation in January near Ljubljana? Do you recommend other cities?
Probability of finding work and accommodation in Zagreb in January (if Slovenia does not work out)?

About me: Female, 27 years old, native American with Filipino parents, CELTA certification, no previous teaching experience aside from the hours from the CELTA program.

Thank you in advance for any further information.

Best,

Kathy

[roywebcafe]

Thinking of doing a CELTA there. Any advice. Particulary as it will be in january.