Job Discussion Forums

[DeeLyrical]

I'm 60+ and highly motivated to learn and to teach. I have tons of good experience which will serve me well, dual EU citizenship, and once I obtain certification I would like to go to Europe (East or West); however, I've been told this by a representative of a training program: "What I'm concerned with is that most schools hire people up to 55 years old and those who are 45 to 55 must be experienced teachers".

Will my age be an obstacle to employment? Are there places (in Europe) where it would not be a barrier?

[spiral78]

I think what the training centre rep is really getting at is that the job market for newly-certified teachers is primarily at private language schools - and these tend to pay just subsistence wages. The implication is that saving up for retirement or to buy a flat (or car or bike!) is difficult to impossible.
This is generally true throughout the entire European region.

I do not know of any particular age discrimination in any Eurozone country, though some may wonder if a teacher aged 60+ will be up to the travel around whatever city to reach students. Keep in mind that much of the work at the newbie level is teaching businesspeople at their offices, and many teachers at this level spend considerable hours every day commuting from one place to another.

Experienced teachers have chances to get the few 'better' jobs around, such as in universities. The schedules and locations tend to be a bit kinder and gentler:)

[DeeLyrical]

I backpacked 120 miles in Spain last year. If I train in, say, Budapest or Prague, or...., and I interview "in-country" I'm pretty sure I could establish my fitness for a job which requires moving about the city.

[spiral78]

You'll be fine
C'mon over.

[coledavis]

Russia's ok. They have no rules about discrimination that I'm aware of. While that means that they can use any criteria to screen people out, it also means that there isn't anything to stop more enlightened companies from taking you on. I'd research a Siberian city (translate something like 'English language school Xcity' on a translation web site, then put the Cyrillic into Google, then when you find suitable web sites, use Google's 'translate this page' to get an English version of the page and get the contact details. Then use a cheap telephone call method (e.g. Telediscount if you're in the UK), or maybe a Skype deposit account, to phone up people. Have your cv ready as they'll want to see it and have a copy of your CELTA certificate on your computer too. At your age, you need to be going for the CELTA, not a cheaper less-known alternative, to maximise what you've got. (If it helps: I'm 52. Although I did get some part-time experience in London, my first full-time work was at a private language school in Siberia, also while in my 50s. My predecessor was considerably older than me.)