Job Discussion Forums

[Abu Faisal]

Hi all.

Just curious if anyone can help me out with an idea here.

I'm trying to plan out about a 3-4 year trip through Europe... by car... darting in and out of the schengen zone to avoid overstaying a visa. Spending 3 months here, 3 months there, and so on...

By the time I start this trip I am hoping to have enough money saved to cover basic expenses throughout most of it. But I was hoping that I could do a little EFL teaching along the way to supplement my income... either short (1 to 3 month) stints with private schools, or, since I know most schools won't want to hire someone for such a short period of time, maybe a bit of tutoring.

Is there a resource out there that matches up students with tutors? Something that works throughout Europe, everywhere from the UK to Turkey, would be ideal. But any such resource that is specific to a smaller region would still be helpful.

I am thinking that I might just go and visit university campuses wherever I end up... post an ad somewhere... or check newspaper classifieds or something like this... but internet would be better because then I could set up tutoring appointments in the next country I was planning to visit before getting there.

Any info/ideas/suggestions would be much appreciated

[spiral78]

Short-term work is very thin on the ground in this region, with the exception of summer schools.

No, you would not be likely to be able to support yourself to any serious degree in this way.

Private language schools would not (cannot) get you a work permit for such short stints - you ca obviously work illegally, but this isn't really recommended - you may well not be paid.

Universities, while they have lots of students (obviously) don't often generate tonnes of private students unless you have a field speciality (such as Economics or Medicine or whatever) and you can offer specific tutoring in English for this field. Even then, it takes time (and timing) to build a base of students.

You've also got a problem with the Schengen zone. If you google it, you'll find that a border crossing doesn't re-start your 90 days any more. You have to stay entirely out of the zone for 90 days to get 90 back in. Darting in and out doesn't work. So, you are essentially talking about spending six months in Turkey every year.

There is no resouce such as you suggest that I know of. The closest option I could suggest would be the online English newspapers in each country you want to go to. The Prague Post, for example, is full of adverts posted by teachers hoping to generate a few private students

The European region is pretty highly competitive as a teaching job market. There are lots of teachers here on the ground, seeking full-time work. It would be pretty hard to walk in anywhere for three months and actually get anything...

[Teacher in Rome]

As far as I know, there's no resource that matches tutors to students.

In Italy, at least, it would be difficult to get such short-term work unless you're prepared to work at a summer camp. (Not the most pleasant way to spend a hot Italian summer imo, but it would get you a bit of cash.) Alternatively, you could hit it lucky and be somewhere at a time when a school desperately needed someone for a short-term project.

You could also perhaps do some thesis reading / editing if you made yourself known at a university. There's bound to be an optimum time for this, but I don't know what that would be. Online tutoring or translation is also a possibility if you're proficient in another language.

One thing to bear in mind: if you're not a European citizen, it's going to be hard for an Italian company to pay you. You might get some cash in hand work, but it's a big risk for you - and for anyone hiring you.

Check out the non-Schengen countries. I think Albania / Croatia etc come into this category, and they're supposed to be really interesting.

[hollysuel]

Why not start tutoring through live online schools? As long as you have reliable internet access, you should be able to teach from anywhere: virtual classroom, headset, microphone, love for teaching and students... You would probably need to have started teaching before you go and get a reputation, but it would be a good way to teach in Europe when you are there.

[ancient_dweller]

the 90 days in 180 is the rule on being in the schengen zone. But that doesn't mean you are allowed to work during that time.

but then - europe isn't Russia when it comes to visa violations. So, you'd get a slap on the wrist and at worst asked to go home if caught.

In saying that, any money you might get from teaching would be lost by the cost of living in any cities where the demand is great enough for you to find work.

Croatia, Serbia, Moldova, Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia, Belarus, Ukraine - to name but a few - but more than Turkey!

[Der_Bomber]

Most of the 'border regions' just inside and outside the EU have a fair few language schools that are happy to recruit people for three month periods - Turkey, Greecee, Bulgaria, Croatia etc etc, all cash in hand and you work out your own visa.

You may be able to 'negate' the VISA issues (if your a US citizen) by starting off in Germany, registering as a freelancer and using the country as a base, but you WILL have to have health insurance in Germany and pay tax in Germany, so it may be a rather expensive route to travel.