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Teaching English in Slovakia (part 4)

Posted by Margarete on Oct 20

Over the moths I’ve received some additional questions about living and teaching in Slovakia. I’m posting some of these questions and my answers below them:

Did you have any experience with the language before arriving in Slovakia? From my understanding, apart from Bratislava, English is not a well-known language, so of course it is probably very difficult to get around without knowing at least the basics. Did you take any classes to learn Slovak or did you have any difficulties getting around without knowing much of the language?

I didn’t have any experience with the Slovak language when I moved there, other than a handful of words I learned on my own ahead of time. If you eventually find a teaching job in Bratislava, then yes, it is possible to take Slovak language classes and I totally recommend them. I took some myself and they were very helpful. They are mostly offered by the university for foreign students who come from different parts of the world. If you end up in a smaller town where you won’t be able to take a class, then your other option is to self study or get your own personal tutor :) There are pros and cons to being in Bratislava versus being in a small country town. You’ll have to decide what you would like to do.

Teaching Without a TEFL Certificate

Posted by Margarete on Jun 02

Here’s another question about teaching that I’ve often been asked: What can you do if you don’t have a certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), or any experience but want to teach in Slovakia? Does someone like that have a chance in finding a job?

Of course, everything depends on how much time you have to prepare. A TESL certificate can take from a few weeks to a year to obtain, depending on the program (I completed 12 units in linguistics, at my university to get my certificate and it took me a year). Several universities across the US have an American Language Institute (ALI) which trains ESL teachers in a few weeks.

Note: You don’t need to be a native speaker of English to teach ESL but of course, you do need to have a good foundation of the English language.

Teaching English in Slovakia (part 3)

Posted by Margarete on Apr 07

In the previous two blogs about teaching English in Slovakia, I talked about the following:

  • what kind of certification is needed to teach
  • how does one go about finding a job
  • is it possible to secure a position if you are still in your home country and haven’t left for Slovakia yet
  • what is a “typical” salary in Bratislava and other parts of the county, and how does this compare with the cost of living
  • what is the difference in salaries between public and private schools

In this last blog, I’d like to talk about:

  • work visas and long-term stay visas: how to get them and how long is the process
  • how does Slovakia’s membership into the Schengen Zone effect people who come to Slovakia with tourist visas hoping to find work while there.

Teaching English in Slovakia (part 2)

Posted by Margarete on Mar 29

In my first blog about teaching English in Slovakia, I talked about:

  • TEFL certification
  • looking for a job in Slovakia

In this blog I’d like to talk about the following:

  • what is a “typical” teaching salary in Bratislava and other parts of the county, and how does this compare with the cost of living
  • what is the difference in salaries between public and private schools

Teaching English in Slovakia

Posted by Margarete on Mar 18

Because people are often curious about what is necessary for teaching in “Eastern Europe”, I thought I’d share my knowledge and own experience with teaching in Slovakia.

As I started to organize my thoughts, I realized that there are many components that should to be mentioned:

  • what kind of certification is needed to teach
  • how does one go about finding a job
  • is it possible to secure a position if you are still in your home country and haven’t left for Slovakia yet
  • what is a “typical” salary in Bratislava and other parts of the county, and how does this compare with the cost of living
  • what is the difference in salaries between public and private schools
  • work visas and long-term stay visas: how to get them and how long is the process
  • how does Slovakia’s membership into the Schengen Zone effect people who come to Slovakia with tourist visas hoping to find work while there.