Job Discussion Forums

[Deicide]

I currently find myself in a difficult situation. Let me explain.

I have been accepted to the University of York in order to do my MA in linguistics. I am highly likely to go there since they have an excellent programme in that field and the university has a very good overall reputation. The main issue that remains to be hammered out is whether I shall pay overseas tuition rates or local/EU rates. As it stands now I will likely have to pay overseas rates since it is not a matter of citizenship (I am a citizen of an EU country) but rather one of residency. There are some loopholes in the guidelines and York must follow the rules which guide virtually all institutions of higher education in the UK; one loophole is a temporary (work based leave of absence). In any event I intend to challenge the decision regarding my fee status though I do not expect to be successful. However that is neither here nor there as it is largely irrelevant to the matter at hand.

I have been slaving away in the Pit of Toxic Waste known as Korea for nigh 2 years now, working as a mercenary in a country I hate, at a job I despise, simply to amass enough money to pay for my MA. I have 3 months left. The original plan was such that I would pay for tuition with my savings and that my progenitors would loan me the money for living costs (accommodation, food, etc.) for the duration of the course (one year). The details of this plan/arrangement had not been discussed in any depth. Needless to say they seem to be unsure as to whether or not they will do this now. I do not know their reasons. They are not obligated to do anything; that truth notwithstanding, I truly need to know soon. If they will not loan me the money I will have nothing to live off of whilst studying in England. That is the background information of my tale.

Assuming this is the case I will have to defer the decision for a year and seek out work on the continent and attempt to figure out some other method of payment in due time. As a citizen of Hungary I have access to the greater part of the European labour market. I have total access to all of Eastern Europe, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Portugal, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK, Ireland, Greece and possibly Belgium. Germany, France, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway have excluded Hungary during the period of transitional agreements, which will be altered yet again in 2009 and for EU-10 states that acceded in 2004 (of which Hungary is part), lifted absolutely in 2011.

I have a CELTA certificate, several years teaching experience (in Germany) and 2 years experience babysitting spoilt Korean brats (of course I wouldn�t say that on my CV). That said I have been out of the loop for a while and likely also not all there (I have developed chronic insomnia in Korea and have numerous other health problems). I honestly don�t know how to best approach this. Basically I have no useful skills (EFL is not a skill) and I will most certainly be limited to EFL. I also realise that saving money in Europe is impossible on an EFL salary. Travel, getting set up, etc. will eat into my savings but I want to minimise that if at all possible.

I would willing to work anywhere in Western Europe with a preference for Portugal and also Hungary as well (I would have more rights there), but being so long out of the game in Europe I just don�t know where to start looking. I find Dave�s to be quite limited in terms of jobs I see offered in Europe. Does anyone know of any other sites? Or for that matter the best way of approaching this situation? I would greatly appreciate any help, advice, thoughts or anything else of relevance or pertinence regarding this matter.

Sincerely Yours,

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[sparks]

Check www.gumtree.(country abbreviation). There are lots of interesting jobs on these sites. You usually have to read the language of the country you are looking at though.

[sparks]

Nevermind that gumtree one--it's only for English speaking countries and Poland--thought it was all Europe. www.kijiji.com has other countries. My advice--start searching the web. It's fun to see what's out there and easy to apply online.

[Dedicated]

If you are an EU citizen, then you should pay EU fees. Because you are working in Korea, it shouldn't make a difference IF you can prove you have a residential address in Hungary (ie. use your family home address??)

There are tons of part-time jobs in York, which is a real tourist trap. Even on a full-time course, you should be able to do about 20 hours per week part-time work......this should be enough to live on. You might be able to get free accommodation in return for baby-sitting.

Don't give up! There are ways around this. Good luck.

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[spiral78]

That's not easy, as I think you already know...most jobs even beyond the newbie level require you to be here...local contacts are obviously the most common way to get better-paid jobs. Have you got friends still in Germany?

[Dedicated]

Going back to your previous posting - if you are an EU student on a full-time course in England in 2008-9, you can apply for financial help towards your tuition fees. (up to �3,145 in 2008/9).

I don't know what passport you have, or what nationality you are, but please check out the following website :
<www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation>

I think the wording is if you are ORDINARILY RESIDENT in the EU.

[scot47]

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If that is you in the pic, you are in the wrong business.

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[Plisken]

You've probably been on here long enough to have an opinion on the merits of each person's advice, so if you think ecocks and spiral78 know their stuff (seems like it to me), I guess you can see if there's anything useful in my "As General..." thread. I'm also just trying to get to Europe in general and I've pick as many brains as possible there and elsewhere.

If I was lucky enough to have Hungarian citizenship AND an EU passport (I assume you have one or could easily get one before leaving Korea), I'd be in Budapest so fast I'd leave behind a cloud of dust with my shape a la Speedy Gonzales. I only spent 3 or 4 days there a few years back, but I had few problems getting around (give or take a scamming subway cop.)

That's all probably useless information, but as someone with a worthless 100 hour cert going for a CELTA and counting the minutes until he can escape the cesspool he's in I can empathize with your situation a bit. Seems like you have to be on the ground and have a few interviews set up when you get there...that's my grand scheme, anyway.

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[Plisken]

That's something that would appeal to me if I was looking at Western Europe. Seems a bit broad as far as what type of classes you might be put in, but otherwise I'd love it if all job ads were that specific about schedules, pay, benefits, etc. Most of the ones I've seen for my target areas are vague to the point of being zen-like.

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[roywebcafe]

Hi

I sent you a PM on ths subject. If not familiar clik on the blue message link in top right corner of forum.