Job Discussion Forums

[thainar]

Hey Everyone,

I am thinking about heading to Brussels this September to try my hand at teaching. I have heard the work visa issues are REALLY difficult. Since there is no thread for Belgium here, I was wondering if anyone had information or was already in Belgium doing the same thing and could help me out.

I have a Bachelors degree, I will have a TEFL certificate, and I will hopefully be in person in September over there. The problem is that I am an American and I am worried about finding work. Any one know about how the language schools work over there in terms of visas for non - EU citezens?
Thanks

[spiral78]

This is not a recommended course of action!

Not only are the visa laws nearly impossible to crack, but the pay in Belgium is generally very low for English teaching - not enough to support even a basic lifestyle.

Belgium is one of the countries that limits English teachers to EU citizens, on the assumption that there are sufficient numbers of British citizens to fill whatever positions are out there.

I don't want to imply that there are never any exceptions. I myself teach in the Netherlands (am also a US citizen), where the laws are similar. However, I've got 10+ years of experience, an MA TESL/TEFL, and had local contacts and great luck that landed me a work permit. Also an EU member spouse (very helpful).

It's not 100% impossible that you might find some serendipidous array of circumstances that would somehow get you in - but chances are VERY slim...and even if you did somehow find the needle in the haystack, wages in Belgium are very low.


We have two teachers on staff here at the university where I work who commute about 3 hours round trip from Belgium to work here. They are EU citizens with experience and better-than-newbie qualifications - but they can't make enough money in Belgium to live on.

I suggest you might want to consider more feasible possibilities - for example, some of the 'new' EU member countries are still legally open to North American newbie teachers, though the hassles in terms of work permits are still stiff - at least it's do-able so long as you're persistent.

[roywebcafe]

I will be getting 1800 Euros a month - doesn't seem low. However i have not factored in tax+insurance yet. Accomodation first month is free then will have to find somewhere in Liege with help from the school - hope this is not too expensive. If things get too expensive can just cut and run. The first two months are a trial anyway. I am an EU citizen with 3 1/2 yrs expereince with Batchelors and Tefl so getting the job wasn't difficult at all

[GF]

[daily chai]

Your net salary will also depend on whether you will work freelance (independent), as most English teachers are who aren't teaching at university, or on a fixed contract. Ask. Belgium's taxes are something like the second highest in the world. If you are freelance your tax will work out to approx 30% if you make 21-29k, but you must factor in payments for health insurance and a so-called 'freelance card' (although you don't get a card). This--the cotisation (need accents!)--is a mandatory retirement contribution and will eat up a rather large part of your salary. Most freelance teachers expect to get after tax, insurance and the freelance 'card' just 50% of their gross salary. Nine hundred euros is nothing. On the other hand if you are freelance and your work sponsors your work permit (a big IF) you can accept work at other schools and make more.

I'm also American and like Spiral am married to a citizen of a member state. That is why I can work here. Every American teacher I know here is either married or in domestic partnership with an EU person. Be careful. Read Belgium's work permit rules online and see if this offer really works for you, ask at your local consulate too. I know an American who was deported for teaching. It's unpleasant. If you go out here anyway come with an open-jaw return ticket.

[quebecoisbound]

Hello,

I've got a question. I currently live in Canada. I will be finishing my Bachelors of Education in TESL. I will have the right to a Quebec Public School Teaching permit at the end. I also have a masters degree, but not related to TESL.

Now....

My partner (who is european, and we are married in canada, so having a work permit will be no problem in belgium...we've talked to the embassy) and I are planning on going back to live in Belgium for a while, specifically Brussels. I am wondering if anyone can tell me how that works? Do I have the right to teach in Belgian public schools with my Quebec permit? Are there equivalencies? If not in the public, with my credentials, do you think i'll having trouble finding ESL work?

PS I am fluent in French and English...We also have some basic notions of dutch.

Look forward to hearing from someone.

Thanks