Job Discussion Forums

[rachmc83]

Hey,

I'm new to all this discussion board stuff but I came across it and was blown away by the amount of helpful info I found on here so I hope some of u can help me further....

So here's a bit of background info...I'm currently in South Korea teaching English. I had no previous experience before coming here but my plan is actually to go and teach in Berlin. (I studied German at university and lived in Cologne for a year).
I figured coming to Korea for one year would allow me to save a good amount of money to pay for a CELTA course then stay and set myself up in Berlin. My contract is due to finish in August and after spending a few months back at home in the UK I am looking at going to Berlin in January/February 2009 time to do the CELTA course then hopefully stay there. I figured that with one years experience and a CELTA qualification I'd be employable??

Do I stand a good chance of finding enough work to pay for accommodation, everyday expenses, utility bills etc and send money home to pay for bills? How much should I be expecting to earn with a years experience and CELTA qualification? Accommodation wise I'm not looking for anything too fancy and I wouldn't mind sharing too much....I also know the rent is quite cheap in some parts of Berlin.

Also...I've found a couple of companies that seem to offer decent contracts. Can anyone tell me anything about Accelingua, Berlitz or Wall Street? What is the best way to go about finding work and where are the best places to look? I've heard it's best to go looking once you're there.

Is it normal to work part time for a few different companies doing freelance or work full time for one company?

And finally, is it possible to make up around a 30 hour week on freelance work? I'm thinking I will need this much work to be earning a decent amount of money to pay for everything.

Sorry if these questions seem a bit silly or obvious, I just want to get a good idea of the situation so I can start planning what to do in the next few months.

Thank you

[matthew_k]

read through the threads and see what you can find. i don't think many people are happy with the pay situation in germany. particularly berlin is difficult. it depends on how bad you want it really, because if you have anything of a similar personality to the most non EU people's who come to the city, you'll be complaining like them very soon. i'm new as well, but i'm doing my graduate studies here, so i have other means of support alongside my english teaching career, so i really can't tell you. maybe the warnings on this forum aren't all that bad, and you should be more flexible to find work in frankfurt, munich, maybe cologne again.

[spiral78]

The OP is from the EU. Many more opps exist than for the non-EU teachers matthew is talking about.

But, true, pay is generally not anything to write home about.

[scot47]

Berlin is an amazing city. I started my EFL 'career' there 40 years ago. I am not sure that I would want to try and fight to live as an EFLer there now.

Slim pickings - especially for non-EU citizens.

[Hod]

Oh yes, Berlin is amazing. I�d bet a teacher�s salary that it�s better now than it was forty years ago mind.

No one�s mentioned yet not only is Berlin accommodation cheap, amongst the cheapest in Germany, but there�s about ten apartments going begging for each tenant. Actually, I made that up, but it�s probably not far wrong.

Berlin really is dirt cheap. The other places I�ve lived in, Frankfurt and Munich, are gonna cost you a lot more.

Someone below mentioned sending money home to pay bills. I don�t know how anyone could think about getting into TEFL in Europe with outstanding debts. The only saviour now is the strong Euro, but those debts and teachers� money are gonna destroy any hope of a good lifestyle in Germany.

And then there�s health insurance....

[rachmc83]

Thanks for your responses. But it seems many people don't have anything really positive to say about teaching in Germany.

As far as the pay situation goes I can't understand why if you worked enough hours, earning around 20 - 30 Euros an hour, whilst paying cheap rent you wouldn't have enough for a decent lifestyle. I have some debt at home in the UK but it's really not anything ridiculous and after doing plenty of research I think it's more than possible the send a little bit home and still be ok. I wouldn't be considering this otherwise.

The impression I get is that most people don't seem to work anywhere near full time hours - I've read on here about people only working around 20 hours or less and complaining that they don't earn enough money. Well that's probably why. I enjoy teaching and I'm more than willing to put in all the hours I can get, not only for the money but because it's what I want to do and I enjoy doing it.

I appreciate all your feedback but it would be nice to see more positive things on here.

Rachel

[matthew_k]

actually, if you look much closer, or pm those who are working in germany, they will tell you they are working at least 35-40 hrs a week, traveling long distances within Berlin or wherever they live, and working on their lessons on top of that. you may earn 20 euro, but you will only see half of it at most. figure that into your future plans. it's doable, right, but for most it seems, not ideal. i haven't begun work, so i don't know myself exactly why they are more negative than positive, but that's just how it is here it seems.