Completed your Trinity CertTesol at ELA??? Here are some fabulous TEFL destinations where there are no shortage of jobs (check out tefl.com for an exhaustive list)
Czech Republic
Yes, Prague is still beautiful and still cheap! Go on, name another European capital city that is so affordable, liveable and has so many job opps. That’s right, you probably can’t.
Good for:
* money; you can probably earn the average Czech monthly wage very soon in your career.
* architecture, choose from one of Prague’s painfully cool but beautiful inner city areas or go for communist chic in one of the outer neighbourhoods
Will it be Žižkov or ….
Jižní Město (south city) ???
* Sport, there are teams galore for football and ice hockey fans. Kick off times range from 1800 Friday to 1000 (yes AM) Sunday. Don’t worry, good beer is always available.
* Film, the vast majority of cinemas use Czech subtitles so gorge on the city’s independent cinema scene
* Gigs, most bands feel obliged to add a central European leg to a tour. Tickets are normally very easy to come by.
*public transport, highly efficient and highly subsidized. You’ve really no excuse not to explore the capital and the rest of the country
* Language, the locals know it’s difficult and appreciate any sort of effort you make in murdering it
But hold on:
* Czechs think nothing of having lessons at 0720 before work! Few teachers can afford to turn down these pre-morning
Winter commute- tram style
classes so get your beauty sleep
* You will travel a lot, from company to school to private home. In the winter this can be tiring
* it’s an employers’ market and many schools want self-employed teachers. Plus, as most TEFL managerial
roles are occupied by Czechs you may need to look elsewhere for career progression
* Whisper it to your students but Czech food can be a tad monotonous. And stodgy.
Spain
Boasting a thriving TEFL market, a dizzying selection of beautiful places to live and noticeably more money than Italy (the other major European destination).
¡Olé!
* if you want a relaxed lifestyle with good public services look no further
* the Spanish know how to party, keep up with them if you can
In Spain even your grandparents stay up all hours
* Village or city? Mountains or beaches? Andalusia or Asturias? The range of destinations can be daunting, in a good way
* Contracts, most academies in Spain offer proper 10 month contracts with paid holidays. The work tends to dry up in the summer.
*Tapas, go to the right part of the country and you will effectively eat for free
As tasty as it looks
* Spanish and English share a number of Latin based words. Save time by asking ‘Is it the same in Spanish?’
* Region rules. You may have dined on Galician sea food but you haven’t tasted paella if you haven’t had it in Valencia. Which region is most Spanish? Visit them all to decide!
* Quite simply: the people. Your classroom will never be dull. Your town center will never be quiet.
It’s not all tinto de varano :
* The climate is not all it’s cracked up to be. Madrid and Granada can be cold in winter and stifling in summer. Many rental flats in the south don’t have any heating at all!
White Madrid, a more common sight than you might expect
* Be aware that not all private academies are of the same quality. Do your research before you commit to a school!
* Learn the lingo to 1) make local friends and 2) enhance your promotion chances. Academies tend to want managers who can speak with parents and clients
* Remember the locals’ language skills may not be up to much, especially in more regional towns and smaller cities
* Fix a smile on your face, grab a strong a coffee and be prepared to teach kids!
China
Always an attractive option for the more adventurous TEFLer; teachers who go normally come back with tales of an unforgettable experience.
Get going for:
* the high salaries Westerners, especially those with relevant degrees, are often offered in big cities
* the buzz of International cities like Beijing and Shanghai with the thriving expat scenes
Enjoy the buzz of Beijing
* Shenzhen in the tropical SE, a booming city close to some of China’s best beaches
Dameisha Beach, Shezhen
* the challenge of a different script. Remember you can get by without speaking the language initially and there are lots of handy apps to help!
* the typically warm Chinese welcome
* a truly different society and a different world view
Remember:
* The air quality in some of the bigger cities famously leaves a lot to be desired
* There’s a big difference between teaching in private academies and public schools, make sure you know what you’re letting yourself in for
* Chinese work places tend to have a different mentality to their Western counter parts. Bosses are rarely questioned and saving face can be all important
* to carefully consider the reputation and location of the school/academy. Finding yourself as one of a handful of foreigners in a provincial city working for a poorly run organization….is best avoided
