Moving abroad

[yeh raiders]

But don't you need to translate in order for the students to understand?

I've discussed this with my girlfriend and brother. I'm adamant I'd be hopeless at teaching English, if I didn't know the host country's language. I don't see how it'd be any other way. Every language teacher I had at school, had a decent grasp of English or were fluent. Even my year 5 Japanese teacher spoke decent English.

[RTW]

Many schools will hire a native English speaker to focus on communicative language teaching. There are very few absolute beginners of English out there these days, and most people will have enough language to follow basic instruction in the classroom.

If you do a CELTA or Cert. TESOL they will teach you how to go into a classroom with little or no English and achieve learning outcomes. I've never taught so much as a day of English, but in a fit of professional enthusiasm I did the CELTA course about 15 years ago. In the first lesson, the teacher came in and, without speaking a word of English, taught us basic Arabic. It was quite cleverly done, and a good model for how to teach non-English speakers.

Thanks for the explanation!

I did some research on the differences between an CELTA and a TESOL cert. and it seems that the CELTA is the preferred option. Now I'll just need to pay the $3K fee to get one!

Ok next step is to decide which country to go to. Right now the list is:

1. Vienna, Austria
2. Frankfurt, Germany
3. Berlin, Germany
4. Luxembourg
5. Helsinki, Finland
6. Amsterdam/Rotterdam, Netherlands
7. Malta
8. Somewhere in the UK

I need some help to cull the list!

Push Berlin and Amsterdam up the list. Luxembourg, strike it. Helsinki too.

Berlin would be number 1 from that list. Nearly moved there a couple of years back, I absolutely love it as a city.

I've heard nothing but good things about Berlin. What did you like about it the most?

I find it very hard to pinpoint what I like about it as a city...I've had this conversation with a few people.

It just has a great feel about it, after the Berlin war coming down I think it had to find itself as a place and as a result the culture or scene is different from other German cities.

There are great and weird clubs I once stumbled across a rave in an empty swimming pool with a dj and strobe lights and every single person was dancing with hoola hoops another club had all the furniture on the ceiling so the ground was just an empty warehouse.

Berlin also has a real grunge underground art scene that is pretty cool and the graffiti is cool to check out.

It is a great sporting city although there football team is not the greatest there ice hockey fans get right behind the town.

Obviously there is a lot of history in the city as well....I visited the place 4 times and never did the same thing twice.

[T_R]

But don't you need to translate in order for the students to understand?

I've discussed this with my girlfriend and brother. I'm adamant I'd be hopeless at teaching English, if I didn't know the host country's language. I don't see how it'd be any other way. Every language teacher I had at school, had a decent grasp of English or were fluent. Even my year 5 Japanese teacher spoke decent English.

Ah, but we can teach you how to do it.

I'm about to open a school in Japan where adult students will come twice per week. On the first session, they will have the subject introduced, explained and drilled by a Japanese-speaking English teacher. On the second session, they will apply it through communicative classes taught by a native English speaker. There is absolutely no need for the native English speaker to be able to communicate in Japanese.

On the where to live discussion, I don't get the need to head straight to a major capital. Rents are higher, jobs are often harder to find and life is expensive. I'd scoot to a regional centre (and this is Europe - the regional centres are more often than not pretty substantial places). You can go check out the cities in an hour or two on a weekend, then live in a far more pleasant, lower cost environment the rest of the time.

I'd certainly be open to regional Germany, but I'd be more tempted to cross the border and live in the Czech Republic. Dirt cheap, great job opportunities in teaching and tourism, awesome food and the best beer outside Belgium. You can be in Germany, Austria or Switzerland in an hour or two - but you'll hardly ever do it, because the Czech Republic is so awesome.

Alternatively, I'd look hard at Italy and France. Better food, great lifestyle and relatively cheap places to live. The work situation may be a bit tough in Italy, though.

God, I wish this was me. Sounds amazing.

[theRads]

I'll happily rename the thread to T_R's journey abroad if you wish!

Good advice on avoiding the major cities. I think my relatives did the same thing when they moved to CHF and then slowly made their way closer to Zurich once they were established.

I was always fascinated by the Czech Republic it seems like a cool country. It wouldn't be a bad option to live there, take advantage of the exchange rate and work in Germany or Austria.

Looks like I'll be researching some regional areas!

[theRads]

I find it very hard to pinpoint what I like about it as a city...I've had this conversation with a few people.

It just has a great feel about it, after the Berlin war coming down I think it had to find itself as a place and as a result the culture or scene is different from other German cities.

There are great and weird clubs I once stumbled across a rave in an empty swimming pool with a dj and strobe lights and every single person was dancing with hoola hoops another club had all the furniture on the ceiling so the ground was just an empty warehouse.

Berlin also has a real grunge underground art scene that is pretty cool and the graffiti is cool to check out.

It is a great sporting city although there football team is not the greatest there ice hockey fans get right behind the town.

Obviously there is a lot of history in the city as well....I visited the place 4 times and never did the same thing twice.

My mate tells me the exact same thing! Can't quite pinpoint it but it's the whole buzz of the city that just makes it unique.

The more and more I think about it, the more Berlin is sounding like the preferred destination. And yes, the appeal of attending a hoola hoop party helps!

[theRads]

Btw guys I'm still doing this.

I leave in just under a month

[Raider Bell]

T_R would probably know the least on this subject, so should he provide any input, just brush it

Good to know the R85 of yesteryear is just as piggish as 2015.

Don't ever change!!

[RTW]

Btw guys I'm still doing this.

I leave in just under a month

Where did you decide to set up?

[theRads]

So I've decided to set-up in England but I have a few plans:

Plan A - Work casual jobs whilst looking for a full-time gig in either my industry or something in the EPL.

Plan B - Work casual jobs until November and then go to Austria and work a snow season there, then back to England for full-time work.

Plan C - Freak out, find Campo in Hull and sleep on his couch.

[Raider Bell]

Can it be out to a poll? I vote C.

[bonehead]

D - get a job EDIT and stay with Monas

[theRads]

I don't mind option C

[Seiffert82]

EDIT.

If you end up getting a job with the EPL you'll probably find your way to him eventually.

Have a great time Rads. Sounds like it's starting to come together.

[Cranky Old Man]

Before we were married my OH went to Austria and worked in a ski resort area. Great money surprisingly, heaps of time for skiing, good social life. She stayed there for nearly 6 months before moving on to France and then Ireland for the bulk of the rest of her 12 months stay.
Stay away from Luxembourg, Helsinki, don't miss Berlin, Barcelona and Amsterdam.
London and Paris are great, but vacuum your wallet like you wouldn't believe.

[Archer]

London might be nice to holiday, but If you can avoid living here, I would.

[RTW]

London might be nice to holiday, but If you can avoid living here, I would.

I can't disagree more. London is an absolutely sensational city to live in!

[theRads]

Yeah I'm going to try and stay away from central London - I've heard it's more expensive than Sydney.

I was thinking something like Southampton or Reading. Or maybe a different city like Birmingham or Manchester

[RTW]

If you are working in London and live in a share house it is more then affordable. I lived there for 5 years and averaged a trip away every 6 weeks.

[theRads]

Where were you living? And by a trip away I'm assuming you traveled in EU

[RTW]

Lived in Brixton, which is still zone 2 so only 5 stops to central London on the tube. ( you will never live in zone 1. Zone 3 is a little bit cheaper rent wise).

Yeah all throughout the EU. I could normally get away for a week or two and then 4-5 over summer. Throw in a weekend trip every couple of weeks. I'm a teacher hence the holidays but obviously not on huge money.

[Archer]

Each to their own I guess. I don't like London because of little things in everyday interactions like riding the tube or grocery shopping, but it's probably just part and parcel of a big city (I lived in Brisbane prior to this so hardly 'big'). I love trips to Europe though and yeah, don't even bother looking in zone 1. If your fine with little space then zone 2-3 can be ok, you just have to be prepared to slug through all the **** places you get shown first. If you are by yourself, definitely go for a share house, you just won't get much value otherwise. Living in Hammersmith ATM and I quite like the area. Turning up early and grabbing a beer before any viewings is a good plan if you want to get to know the area, I find the pubs a pretty good indicator.

[theRads]

Wow, I didn't even realise there were zones! Thanks for the headsup

I like the pub test. For the first few weeks I figured I'd stay in a few hostels in the different areas and get a feel for different suburbs.

[theRads]

Hey Johnny Ringo, strange question but why did you leave?

[theRads]

Lads, I'm in London. next order of business is to search for Campo in Hull when the new season starts