Comments on: Teaching English Overseas, Part 4

By: Gail

Gail — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 22:26:41 +0000

What sites would be the best to look for if one is interested in teaching in Kenya? I don’t have a degree, but am American, and have taught ESOL for 3 years in Atlanta GA.

By: NomadicMatt

NomadicMatt — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:59:39 +0000

This is great information! Thanks!

By: Sherrie

Sherrie — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:40:49 +0000

happy bday!

I would also add if your willing to work freelance and do your own paperwork then working in Germany is easy so long as you have proof of insurance. Getting that contract job is – as Amanda said – really really hard. Few employers are willing to do it. And the freelance jobs expect you at act like a contract worker. The good news is that they are desperate for freelancers so if you can deal with the guilt tossed your way then your hours will not suffer for it.

But you are right, you dont do it for the money, you do it because Europe just rocks. Plus the money really improves after 4 or 5 months. The problem with that is of course, LIVING those first months. But I have been able to pay off one student loan and my credit cards (though the cards I did through accepting paid postings on my blog), while still traveling a lot on the cheap. (and by a lot I mean 7 countries in the past year, including one trip to the Caribbean.) But if it wasn’t for my partner supporting me those first 4 months I would not have been able to stay in Germany. but then I would also say a lot is luck. If your paperwork breezes through and you get with the right school at the right time, you start right away at a good salary.

But I would recomend counting on that only if you have the back up cash in savings should it backfire.

By: Theresa

Theresa — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:29:00 +0000

I taught English in Greece post-graduation through a fellowship program at Athens College (a private, K-12 school). They pick 6-8 Americans every year to teach there, providing housing, daily lunch, Greek lessons, and access to a gym and pool, as well as paying the Fellows. You’re not going to come home rich, but you have more than enough money to live comfortably and travel on weekends/breaks/at year’s end. Additionally, there are tons of tutoring jobs available that pay about 50 euros/hour. Most of the Fellows are straight out of university, but a couple are a few years out. I highly recommend it. Information on the program can be a little hard to come by, but here’s a brief description and some contact info: http://www.athenscollege.org/html/teaching.htm

By: Tanya

Tanya — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:03:00 +0000

A quick note about teaching English in France: the French Embassy in DC recruits Americans under the age of 30 to teach in schools across France. I did this in 2003 and the process is fairly easy and most people get accepted, no experience needed, but the ability to speak some French is desired. I would definitely recommend this program!

By: Monna

Monna — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:12:00 +0000

Matt,
Thanks for mentioning me in your post. For certified teachers, there’s (literally) a whole world of international and American schools out there and a real shortage of qualified teachers at the moment. These gigs tend to be more stable than ESL schools although you always have to do your homework when looking for work overseas.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:47:00 +0000

So true about it being hard for non-EU citizens to get work in the EU – I was lucky to get work in Germany but my boss had to go through an incredible rigmarole to get my visa, including proving there was nobody else in the country to do that job. I disagree though that Germany doesn’t emphasize learning English – there is a massive English teaching industry but most teachers are either locals who’ve studied abroad or are British, and tend to stay for many years, or even forever – so Germany doesn’t pop up on job boards too often. Great place to teach though – all the students are always on time!!!!