Job Discussion Forums

[rehellinen]

Hi all,

In advance: sorry for the length!

Background info for you: British/EU, undergrad degree, travelled and lived abroad before (Finland & Australia)...born to be an expat, to be honest...

My long-term intention is to move back to Finland. I am quite aware of how well Finns can speak English, so I expect a challenge in finding work in this field. However from reading many posts on here, some jobs must exist...my first question is whether I would have an advantage over other native English speakers by being an EU citizen with a degree, some knowledge of Finland & the Finnish language alongside a relevant teaching qualification (probably CELTA) and experience. Whilst this is not the only reason for wanting to teach, a move to Finland is very important to me in the long-run so I'd rather be told "no, it's impossible" before I get too involved in this possibility.

I currently do not have a CELTA & experience, which brings me to the next question. Surely attempting to start from scratch in a Nordic country would be career suicide, so I'd intend to take a CELTA course in Eastern Europe (cheaper than UK) and either stay there and find work/experience or move somewhere else and find work (just because I like the place and work seems to be more available than the North, I would probably lean towards Spain or Italy). Is the latter option even viable? So, would the validity of a course/institution (say for example, IH) assist me in finding work in another country, as a new teacher, or would it be more beneficial to set up shop down south right away and spend the extra �500 on a course there?

Thanks in advance for your help, really enjoy reading this forum and it's refreshing to see such frank advice about a topic that is so frequently...ahem, embellished around the student/travelling circuit.

[markcmc]

I don't think you have any special advantage. All UK and Irish citizens are members of the EU too, and so can work in Europe. The CELTA is a basic qualification, and not so special - sorry. Speaking a little Finnish is not so special.

BUT, if you are really keen to do this, and if you keep looking, I'm sure you will find work there. Getting a years experience somewhere else is ok, but it shouldn't stop you from applying to jobs in Finland right now. In the long run, if you want to be teaching English in 5 or 6 or more years from now, you should think about the DELTA, or MA in TESOL. The latter being better if you would ever want to work in the universities there.

[DoubleDutch]

I'd suggest you identify some target schools you would like to work at, and ask them what they are looking for. If Finland is anything like Holland (and I would think it is), you would better have at least a BA in English and a PGCE. The MA in TESOL markcmc mentioned above would definitely give you better opportunities.