Job Discussion Forums

[JudiSpecht]

Greetings forum members ) I am new to the forum and this is my first post...

In the next year I am planning to move to the EU...I am a newbie EFL teacher and have a TEFL certificate, CELTA and 1.5 years experience in EFL teaching. I also have two university degrees from Australian universities but they are not teaching related. It's not much from a teaching perspective, but I'm just starting out

I am considering Italy, Spain and France as potential destinations. I have an EU passport and will most likely settle in the EU long term (I live in Thailand currently but formerly lived in Australia).

What are your opinions? What are some pros and cons of each of the above countries from your experience? Any comments would be welcome...

Thanks in advance!

[Moore]

Don't know about Italy, but I have taught in France and Spain.

France has the advantage of often offering year-round salaries (at least in my experience in Paris). It is also better paid. On the downside, it's expensive, taxes are high, and the French people are a bit of an acquired taste, especially Parisians.

Spain has flakey chocolate-teapot style 9 month contracts, meaning you have to fend for yourself over summer, although that does suit some people who like to teach elsewhere over summer, or just go on huge India type trips. The weather is much better, life is cheaper, but salaries are lower. Spanish people are great fun, and the nightlife here is (too) good. Arguably, Spanish is a more useful language to learn too, but French is a beautiful language. Spanish students are great to teach, but not very serious about it, which makes for pleasant but sometimes frustrating classes.


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[JudiSpecht]

Thanks Moore, I appreciate your input! I already speak a little Italian, having studied it at high school (MANY years ago) so I feel it would be easier to pick up the language than learning a new one from scratch and I seem to find that more people suggest that you do need to speak Spanish/Italian/French to teach in those countries than do not.

The higher living cost of France is definitely a factor going against it, as I know EFL teachers do not earn a great deal of money. While I do not seek to make megabucks, obviously being a teacher!, I dont want to be unable to enjoy myself either and travel within the EU itself during holidays simply wont be possible if I'm making enough to get by only.

Thanks again! Hopefully more people will throw in their thoughts ) Have a nice day!

[RabbitWho]

Hi! I can't really help you because I haven't worked in the countries yet, I do know it's much harder to get a job in France.

Don't worry about learning a new language, learning as an adult is not like learning in school, especially if you're in the country. You'll be very motivated and have lots of opportunities to practise. Plus you're not trying to learn Chemistry and Maths and whatever else at the same time so you can focus on it.
I learned more Czech in 6 months in the Czech Republic than I learned German in 6 years in school, and German is an easier language!

If you've studied Italian you'll find Spanish is very similar, I've known Spaniards and Italians to just chat away to each other in their own languages and understand most of what was said.

Anyway wherever you go have fun and enjoy it!