Job Discussion Forums

[DrVanNostrand]

Hello all,

It's coming down to decision time and I need some help from the TEFL experts on the forum.

I've tossed around this idea of teaching abroad for a couple months now, both half-heartedly and with deep conviction. Usually when I get some crazy hair up my behind I lose interest within a day or two. But this desire to do something unique and life-altering has hardly wavered, leaving me with a huge decision to make: to TEFL or not to TEFL.

A few weeks ago, I came to the forum seeking financial and general knowledge of the occupation, most specifically in the Czech Republic.

Now I come seeking perspective.

My biggest fear, aside from radical change, is not being cut out for the TEFL profession. I have the credentials (BA and American teaching license) to land a job in the Czech Republic. I understand what it takes to teach children, how to manage a classroom, and the level of dedication needed to be a successful educator. I'm not just some backpacker with no job experience looking to make an easy buck abroad. So, I'm not overly concerned with the teaching aspect of the job, though I fully anticipate a challenge (couldn't be much harder than working at a Title 1 inner city middle school here in the States, though the concept is probably a little different).

That said - and what I'm getting at - what kind of person does it take to live and teach abroad?

How did some of you guys come to the decision to make the plunge?

Do you find it relatively easy to socialize and make friends assuming you put yourself in conducive social settings (big cities, schools with other TEFLers)?

What kind of people would you not recommend this line of work for?

I get the feeling that the challenge of TEFL'ing is two-fold:

1. Adjusting to teaching
2. Adjusting to life abroad

The teaching side I feel like I can handle. However, it's the life abroad thing that makes me really question whether or not this is a worthwhile option.

So, with all that said - hopefully it wasn't too general - what kind of person does it take to TEFL, and what kind of person would you recommend it to?

Thanks in advance for any and all responses.

-Doc

[sweeney66]

It really helps to be easy-going, calm, patient, tolerant of ambiguity, and not attached to getting your own way. And able to spend time alone. IMHO.

[spiral78]

You're highly unlikely to land a job in a classroom teaching children. Not because you don't have the qualifications, but because they are very rare. You essentially need local contacts, reputation, and language skill to get these jobs - or serious levels of good luck and timing.

You will be far more likely to find yourself teaching businesspeople in their offices. This is the bulk of language teaching through private schools in the CR, as it is in most of Europe. It's conceptually a far cry from any Title 1 classroom in the States, as I know from personal experience.

I hope you're planning to take a basic certification course in Prague, assuming that the CR is your destination. This is really the best way to get started on both areas of your concern!! The local orientation and contacts are invaluable, not to mention real teaching practice in the context in which you'll be working.

Expect to be hanging out with other expats for your first year. Czechs are fairly introverted and the fact that you're a native English speaker doesn't carry much cache these days - there are 100,000 such people living in Prague alone, and have been for years now. When one ultimately does make Czech friends, however, they are very genuine. And expats can be quite interesting and accepting company.

Sweeny's right - tolerance of ambiguity and an ability to enjoy your own company is essential. People who need predictability or who are hung up on 'western' lifestyle accoutrements often aren't happy through such a move.

[Chris Westergaard]

Spiral I have to disagree with you on the teaching children. I would say about 1-2 of our grads per course find jobs teaching kids in preschools.

[spiral78]

Interesting. A change in the market over the past few years?

Still, preschoolers aren't the same animals to grade schoolers. Not at all.

[ITTP]

[spiral78]

I had no intention to imply that I think children are animals!!
I think 'those are different animals' used to compare two unlike things is a somewhat common usage. Maybe the metaphore's outdated?

Sorry. I'm sure your daughter's no animal in any way

Very interesting about the new market niche. I was corresponding with some poster about this phenomenon in Spain. I agree that it sounds very risky, to send uncredentialed teachers into classrooms with preschoolers!!

I have also taught high schoolers in the CR and really enjoyed that - but the pay only worked for me because I had no housing costs. It was quite low, relative to working with businesspeople. That was a few years ago, and I don't know how the pay scale may have changed since. But I expect those jobs are fairly rare.

[ITTP]

My daughter is wild though

Yes, the actual high school teaching jobs tend to be exclusively available outside of Prague and usually come as a package; free housing, meals included, etc.

Neville

ITTP Prague
Jungmannova 32
Prague 1

[spiral78]

Why are we posting at 5.40 am?
Sleepless in Central Europe...

(well, I'm currently in Nederlands, but same time)

[ITTP]

I always wake up this early.
Can manage just 4 or 5 hours of sleep.
Find I am at my best between 4:00-7:00am

Have a good day!

Neville

ITTP Prague
Jungmannova 32
Prague 1