So should I cancel my plans? - English Teachers in Germany - for everybody: - English Teachers in Germany - Message Board - Yuku

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So should I cancel my plans?

Author	Comment
LAtoMunich	So should I cancel my plans?	Lead	[-]
Posts: 1 (Sun, Feb 24, 2008 22:33) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None I've been reading this board for a while, and it seems like the prospects of living in Munich as an English teacher are not too hot. My plan is to graduate with a BA (political science) this spring in Los Angeles and defer law school for a year so I could live in Munich, learn the language, and support myself through teaching for a year. After reading these posts it looks like the teaching positions pay pennies and the rest goes towards taxes. I would be supporting myself while I'm there so money is pretty important right now. I fell in love with Munich when I came there last september, and I really would love to live there. So I need some advice: Should I go? If I do go, is it worth my time and money to get certified and try to find a higher end teaching job, or should I just go for an entry level position at Berlitz or some equivalent? Is there going to be a huge bureaucratic headache for me if I'm trying to teach for only one year? What should I do?
raDAr		#1	[-]
Posts: 84 (Mon, Feb 25, 2008 17:02) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	A few points...... If you don't have an EU passport, the chances of getting a legal work permit are slim, and even if you do get one, it'll take a while. Getting a teaching qualification is slowly becoming more important on the German market. The fact that you only want to stay for one year is also a problem as far as many schools are concerned, so tell them you want to stay longer. What they don't know won't hurt them. Apart from that, go for it. I am firmly of the opinion that if you want something bad enough you'll get it. Don't expect an easy ride though, you won't hit lucky straight away, so come with a bit of money behind you.
soldatka		#2	[-]
Posts: 1 (Fri, Feb 29, 2008 11:43) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I've been working in Munich for 6 months, there is plenty of work about but you have to be proactive as there is also a lot of competition. Getting certified is an advantage, then you can apply to work with Volkshochschule and other organisations which tend to pay better. There are also a lot of private schools, but they expect you to have a bit of background and methodology, which a TEFL course will give you. It sounds like you could capitalise on your political science education, and any business experience you have. Business English is HOT here because of the number of international companies using English as a corporate language of communication. Gotts say, I'm working long hours (I could work less, but am trying to build up some savings), but my standard of living here is higher than in the UK. I would say, go for it. Make sure you bring enough money to get yourself set up, work tends to be thin at first but as you build your reputation it comes in more quickly. I have to turn down stuff all the time because my diary gets so full. Good luck!
dreimann		#3	[-]
Posts: 1 (Mon, Mar 24, 2008 09:57) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hi Soldatka, Which certification program do you recommend? Daniel
john		#4	[-]
Posts: 1062 (Mon, Mar 24, 2008 16:47) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I'd recommend geting the CELTA qualification.
IAmBrassman.maynardferguson...		#5	[-]
Posts: 1 (Thu, Apr 10, 2008 20:00) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	soldatka wrote: ...capitalise on your political science education, and any business experience you have. Business English is HOT here because of the number of international companies using English as a corporate language of communication. ... ...Make sure you bring enough money to get yourself set up, work tends to be thin at first but as you build your reputation it comes in more quickly.... Das stimmt. Agreed. My experience in Bavaria pre-dates the pressure for certifications, but interest in business-sector / business-terminology TEFL was even high back then (early 1990's). Where appropriate, business affiliated students will also seek 'how is this done in the States', and what the current 'States buzzwords' are in the business sector. So... I would further recommend picking up a handful of the NYTimes Business Bestseller books on your way out of country to ensure you are offering current conversational terminology. Be prepared to struggle with proper idiomatic dynamic translation as you help your student 'get the gist of the terms of the moment'. Plan gut, gehen fur ihn, und gutes Gluck!
GoodGradesNow		#6	[-]
Posts: 3 (Wed, May 28, 2008 15:53) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Well I just hope u make the right choice

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