For many years, Prague has been a mecca for TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) training, but how is the industry evolving and what should you know before committing to a TEFL course?
It is undeniable that the financial crisis has had an adverse effect on the entire spectrum of language learning in Europe recently and language schools in the Czech Republic have also been affected by the recession.
In the past, the Czech Republic (and Prague in particular) has earned a reputation as something of a lush grazing ground for certified and non-certified English teachers and, at one point, all the necessary credentials to stand in front of a paid language classroom. students was a passport from an English-speaking country.
Sad to say, the days of huge demand for teachers are over, but Prague remains one of the hubs of Europe where Australians, British, New Zealanders and North Americans rub shoulders with local Czechs, while teaching English and enjoying the local flavor of the city. . deserved international reputation as a city of culture and joviality in general.
Taking an internationally recognized TEFL course will give you the foundation from which you can teach English and travel, and Prague is the city of choice for many who opt for TEFL training with an eye to staying in the city to teach or leaving afterwards. certification in a global travel epic.
The absolute best time to take a TEFL course in Prague is at the start of the new school year (September) or in January, at the start of the new school semester.
This is when language schools open new courses and when there is usually a higher demand for English teachers (although teaching positions are available almost any month of the year in Prague).
It’s important to note that in some countries the school year has a different start date, so if you want to travel to South Korea after your TEFL course, for example, you should plan ahead for a March start date to his new school teaching. year.
The following are answers to 10 of the most frequently asked questions from TEFL students who want to come to study in Prague:
1. Do I need to speak the local language to be able to teach English?
The simple answer is no. TEFL gives you the tools with which you can teach English from absolute beginner to advanced level and this goes for any country where you might interview for an English teaching job.
2. What kind of people take the course?
A wide variety of people from different cultural backgrounds graduate from the TEFL course and TEFL schools encourage and welcome all applications, regardless of gender, age, race or nationality.
The entry conditions are established by international guidelines. These are the applicants:
• must be native English speakers or advanced non-native English speakers (ie, English is their first or native language and/or they speak English proficiently).
• must be 18 years or older
TEFL schools encourage and accept applications from native and non-native English speakers.
3. What is the right TEFL course for me?
It is always recommended that you take a month-long residential on-site course or a combined online/on-site course if you have no prior teaching experience. Both the online/face-to-face blended course and the one-month residential face-to-face course are intense yet rewarding learning experiences, and you will gain the tools you need to later feel confident walking into any classroom in the world and teaching a class. Direct online courses are recommended for people with previous teaching experience and are the course of choice for people who are already in the teaching industry but do not have any official teaching qualification.
4: Is there a dress code?
To a greater extent, it is left up to the individual teacher to decide what they choose to use for classes (in TEFL training classes and paid English teaching classes). Some teachers dress in a blouse/skirt or shirt/trousers, while others prefer a more casual approach and go to class in jeans and a T-shirt. As a general rule of thumb, for every first new meeting you should dress smartly to ensure a good first impression and for women this means blouse and skirt/dressy pants and for men a shirt and dressy pants (with the option of wearing a tie and jacket). Czechs tend to dress relaxed so there is no need to wear a tie to class and most teachers tend to take the smart/casual approach of jeans and blouse/shirt.
5. Do I need to have a title?
While you don’t need a degree to teach English in Prague, you will need a degree for some countries in the Middle East and Asia, most notably Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Taiwan.
6. What does ‘Prague 1’ mean?
Prague is divided into districts 1-22 and Prague 1 is in the center – the place where you want to take your TEFL course. Downtown is the beating, beating, cobblestoned heart of the city, where all the historical sights are and where the city gets its reputation for coffee culture and party nightlife.
7. How much should I take with me?
This is a difficult question to answer because people’s consumption needs vary greatly and Prague has multi-tiered pricing systems. As an example, a glass of beer can cost 25 CZK in one bar, but 250 CZK in another. The simple advice is to avoid eating and drinking where the tourists go and as soon as possible try to find local restaurants and bars. You can get by with as little as 500 CZK per day for your general day-to-day needs, with a few spoilers here and there. However, to be on the safe side, plan to bring over $1,000 (USD) for expenses for each month you plan to be here while you’re not working, and remember that most schools won’t pay your first month’s salary until the second. teaching month.
8. What should I take with me?
You should definitely bring any relevant working documents, such as university degree documents and written references. Also, clothes, books, music and electronics are more expensive in Prague and you have to plan for four very different weather seasons and the weather variations that come with this weather blessing, like of course rain and snow and very cold temperatures/ very hot. in winter/summer. Most of the time, the only thing we can’t bring with us is our loved ones back home, so be sure to bring your notebook so you can keep in touch and quell those pesky embers of homesickness – sign up for a One-time recommended Skype account.
9. Do I need a visa for the TEFL course in Prague?
Citizens of Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and New Zealand do not need to pre-apply for visas and receive a 90-day (free) tourist visa upon arrival and do not need a study visa. Citizens of other countries should check with their local Czech embassy or consulate if they need a pre-arranged visa to travel to the Czech Republic.
10: Is Prague safe?
Compared to many western cities, Prague is very safe and the vast majority of visits go smoothly. However, you should be very aware of petty crime such as pickpocketing and other theft, a real problem in the city but one that can be avoided by using common sense and not displaying your valuables in public.
Prague has an enormous wealth of options to cater for the most varied tastes and taking your TEFL in the Czech capital is a great way to experience the city, whether as a month-long stay before leaving to teach English elsewhere in the world, or do Prague at home and stay for a while, either for a few more months until the tourist visa expires or longer.
By Neville Thomas, ITTP TEFL Prague
Wed Aug 18, 2010
This article was provided by ITTP.
