Job Discussion Forums

[ElissaAmori]

Hi everyone-

In the next week, I'll receive an online TEFL certificate. I'm from the U.S.A. I don't have an EU passport. I don't have a teaching degree, but I do have 1 year teaching experience and 2 years substitute teaching experience. I'm 24 and female.
I'm looking for a job in Czech Republic, with being able to (ideally):
1-Receive one of the following: either airfare or housing paid for
2-Work and live with several other Americans or native-English speakers
3-Work for a single semester (6-month max) time period.

My 3 questions are:

1.) What are my chances of being able to find a school that would fit me (re: the above requests I have)? Should I lower my expectations?

2.) What should I be focused on doing NOW?? (Should I be contacting schools directly, or through agencies...or should I be waiting until the summer... etc.)

3.) If the above seems impossible (or even if it doesn't), what are my alternative options? (I'm equally interested in teaching abroad in Italy or in Poland.)

Whatever advice anyone has to give would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!
I want to teach English abroad so badly but don't really know what to do....
Thank you SO MUCH!!!!!!!

Elissa

[Andare]

I think you've probably missed the boat on the six month contracts. Sometimes schools do need to hire teachers in January but you'd be lucky to find a decent position now. If you wait till the summer, I think you'll find most employers would be reticent to hire someone for any less than a full school year. Also, I wouldn't expect paid flights from the States to anywhere in Europe, and the vast majority of schools expect teachers to pay for their own accommodation. To be honest, I think the only one of your three conditions that you can reasonably expect to be met is the second one, whether in the Czech Republic or any neighbouring country. Sorry to be pessimistic...

If I were you, I'd start looking on websites like www.tefl.com, www.expats.cz, www.englishjobmaze.com and the job listings on this site. You might get lucky, and you might even find a job that'll pay your flight over and let you work for six months. I just wouldn't expect it to happen.