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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 9:29 am Post subject: |
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It is an established scientific fact that Czechs and Poles are incapable of acquiring a foreign language. In this, they fall into the same category as most Anglosaxons.
Last edited by scot47 on Fri Oct 03, 2014 2:04 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 11061 Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 9:38 am Post subject: |
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Yes, that is absolutely true. Joseph Conrad tried his best, but his English syntax, the little that one could follow, always betrayed his Polish roots. Milan Kundera's French is, I am reliably informed, torturous. And as for that Nabokov chap...! No hope for him whatsoever.
Probably didn't learn enough critical thinking skills from their EFL teachers : ) |
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brisket
Joined: 10 Jun 2014 Posts: 16 Location: Land of the Long White Cloud
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Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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See, this is one of the reasons why I want to start my post-CELTA career in Europe. I don't wanna be stuck in the (well-paid) Asian language ghettoes, getting fat and complacent. I want to get good.
They don't make it easy for us non-EU types, though. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 7:23 pm Post subject: |
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See, this is one of the reasons why I want to start my post-CELTA career in Europe. I don't wanna be stuck in the (well-paid) Asian language ghettoes, getting fat and complacent. I want to get good. |
Oh,#@$@%$@%#&%#%#($
They didn't mean it for real.
For god's sake, I know numerous expats living in Prague for over a decade who can't speak Czech at all - because big-city Czechs speak such good English they never really need to learn. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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teacheratlarge wrote:
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Even in the Czech republic, high level speakers were not exactly jumping out of the woodwork when I visited there a few years back |
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA
That would probably be because in the centre of the city, where the tourists go, the service staff mostly aren't Czech They're doing jobs Czechs don't much want, and they come from all over the CEE region.
Czech into an actual professional venue - university, finance, or government, and try again.
HMPH. |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 11061 Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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Now, now, Spiral. That's not reasonable, now, is it? I mean to say, it is the easiest thing to not know that the Vietnamese chap running the little shop you have patronized isn't Czech. You probably made the same mistake yourself when first you visited Prague : ) |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, Sash. Whole lots of those Vietnamese guys are now second-generation Czechs. They speak native Czech |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 11061 Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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Ah, the fraternity of Socialist countries!!! Such joy that is brought to the heart!! |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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Shining example, indeed:-) |
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jef dam
Joined: 27 Apr 2010 Posts: 79
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Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 3:44 am Post subject: |
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Not the most inspiring of threads.
Thinking of moving back to Europe in the next couple of years. With my own experience as a point of reference, what would my job prospects be in, we'll say Spain?
Dip TESOL
6 years experience.
FCE, PET, KET, TOEFL, IELTS experience.
International school for the last 3 years.
iO-Level / iAS-Level experience.
Could I realistically expect to get a job at an international school with my current qualifications and experience?
Cheers. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 7:47 am Post subject: |
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Highly unlikely. It's a very different job market to Asia - openings are fewer and qualifications needed higher.
There are few jobs in international schools for minimally qualified (as you are on this market) EFL teachers. For the rare openings that come up, you'll be competing with holders of related MAs at minimum, and teachers with quals greater than yours who also have local contacts and reputation.
It's rare to walk into an international school gig in a first (or second) year here unless you are certified and qualified to teach a core subject like maths or sciences and have a couple of years experience doing same.
And your experience was presumably in Asia?
The most likely scenario for you is to come over and pay some dues somewhere that you like. Building a local reputation, contacts, and language skills doing entry - level work (which is all you are likely to find) helps to get you positioned to compete for the relatively rare better openings that come up. |
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adaruby
Joined: 21 Apr 2014 Posts: 171 Location: has served on a hiring committee
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 6:38 am Post subject: |
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jef dam wrote: |
Not the most inspiring of threads.
Thinking of moving back to Europe in the next couple of years. With my own experience as a point of reference, what would my job prospects be in, we'll say Spain?
Dip TESOL
6 years experience.
FCE, PET, KET, TOEFL, IELTS experience.
International school for the last 3 years.
iO-Level / iAS-Level experience.
Could I realistically expect to get a job at an international school with my current qualifications and experience?
Cheers. |
Trinity Dip?
If so you hold the highest practical EFL qualification there is. Move away from international schools and look for management positions in language centres throughout Europe, which regularly advertise for people with your qualifications and experience.
And ignore much of the arrogant nonsense on this thread. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 6:44 am Post subject: |
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Move away from international schools and look for management positions in language centres throughout Europe, which regularly advertise for people with your qualifications and experience. |
Yes, there are scads of management positions in Europe going crying for someone with no local contacts or connections You'll see such ads here (once in a blue moon). Never mind the contracting job market and hungry, well-qualified and connected local competition.
Not saying you might not find something, but it's far more likely you will have to start low and work your way up, with experience only in Asia, regardless of your quite decent quals.
spiral
(who has served on hiring committees in Europe for over a decade) |
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adaruby
Joined: 21 Apr 2014 Posts: 171 Location: has served on a hiring committee
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 6:52 am Post subject: |
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spiral78 wrote: |
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Move away from international schools and look for management positions in language centres throughout Europe, which regularly advertise for people with your qualifications and experience. |
Yes, there are scads of management positions in Europe going crying for someone with no local contacts or connections You'll see such ads here (once in a blue moon). Never mind the contracting job market and hungry, well-qualified and connected local competition.
Not saying you might not find something, but it's far more likely you will have to start low and work your way up, with experience only in Asia, regardless of your quite decent quals. |
This one took me about 30 seconds to find:
http://ihworld.com/jobs/detail/ih_minskdirector_of_studies
And there are plenty of others that are regularly advertised on here and elsewhere. How do I know? Because I've been offered them.
It doesn't matter whether he's worked in Asia or not. If he has the DELTA and proven experience with reputable schools he'll stand a chance of getting the job..
Some of us don't need to rely on sweet-talking and kowtowing to find work. |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 11061 Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 8:35 am Post subject: |
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Trinity Dip is not quite the same as Delta. And IH Minsk is not a great payer. Even if the job were to be offered outside of the chain... |
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