ESL Lesson Plan

Michelle,

Greece is a wonderful place to live if you have money. However, be warned language schools pay between 8 and 12 euros an hour and the cost of living is now virtually the same as (and sometimes more expensive than) Northern Europe. This means trying to survive on 700 to 900 euros per month.

Your rent alone is going to cost at least 250 euros and that's before power, phone and food costs are included.

In addition the academic year lasts eight to nine months only and during summer you'll probably be unemployed.

Craig

Pleas help!

I have decided on pursuing ESL teaching in a foreign country. Not just for the experience but for the love of it. I've dedided due to my lack of experience (two months in Taiwan contract problem) to pursue accreditation. I would like to know what I'm doing at least in theory first.
I'm thinking about a TESOL credential from American TESOL Institute. Please someone advice a future ESL teacher. I'd like to know what I'm doing first and secondly avoid the contract problem I encountered in Taiwan (the teaching experience was wonderful).

Sincerely,

Rick VanTine

HELLO DEAR

THANK FOR THE MAIL. I REALLY LOVE TO TEACH IN ATHENS.HOW CAN I APPLY? , HOW CAN DO IT DEAR .PLEASE LET ME KNOW DEAR .

THANK YOU

BIJAN KHALAFIAN

Michelle,

In all realness, my husband and I have spoken about relocating to Greece. (I wouldn't mind teaching English there; I have worked with Greek students in New York). However, my daughter speaks English and has just started learning Hebrew (she is 2 years and 6 months by the way). We currently reside and work in Israel. I personally think the relocation to Greece or any other non-native English country, might confuse my daughter. What are your opinions about this topic?

Ornella

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Note from Michelle:

Ornella, I'll refer you to the comments of the other posters first and second to www.esl-jobs-forum.com in the area reserved for Greece.

Greece eh,

Well if you ask me most ESL teachers are in it for the experience annnnddd the money.

If you want a vacation go to Hawaii.

Greece is considered a developed country and is not very popular to teach ESL. Many ESL teachers are not looking for a vacation type of experience, but a culturally enriching kind of experience. To only make 7 to 900 Euros a month is not worth it, you could get a much more valuable experinece in China or South Africa.

I personally want to help those who need it most and I want a culture completely non related to Europe or North America, considering I am from Canada. If you are still set on visiting Greece may I suggest a six month contract in South Korea to make some money and then a two month contract in Greece for a vacation.

Yours truely,

The ever-Pragmatic Jason Figueroa

Michelle,

I would like to know who to get a teaching job in Athens. Kindly send me the details.

I have just completed my TEFL course, I am presently in the United Kingdom.

Rosalind

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Note from Michelle:

Rosalind, please go over to www.esl-jobs-forum.com and look under the section dedicated to Greece for the answers to your questions. Thanks for your input!

Michelle,

Comment on current English Language profession

English language is considered to be an international language which is spoken in all
over the World.

I have been teaching English language for 7 years and I found myself extremely nimble, interested.
The more I teach, the more I make my language posh.

I was certain that when English language classes were assigned to me, I found myself interested and challenging in this stunning vocation.

I have become particularly enthusiastic in this profession and now I have developed my career in that direction.

I have said rapturous welcome to do this job as a part of small.

Dynamic team where I have made a significant contribution while boosting up my skills yet further.
I have made scintillating future association in this vocation and I have been ecstatic, frantic to show my innovative skills of English language teaching.
In case students face trouble in English, we give them great exercises.

Upon getting the experience of 8 years, I found myself pretty optimistic about many jobs and because of my comprehensive, relevant experience
I was successful getting many jobs.

I want to get this job so that I can quench my thirst of my knowledge.

I have become English language teacher in order to expand my knowledge everywhere.

When I was ten, I started taking interest in English because fortunately I could not have bad company of friends.

“NEITHER I HAD BAD FRIENDS NOR ANYONE OBSTRUCTED MY LANGUAGE CAREER”

In my future progress English language helped me very much and I always
write try to write marvelous English books sophisticatedly.

I have been comprehensively successful in obtaining jobs such as English blog Author, English language teacher, English lecturer, English Article writer, and English book writer.
I have toiled a lot in this profession.

“PRACTICE MAKES MAN BRAVE”

Imran Mureed

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Note from Michelle:

Thanks Imran/Babu for that interesting manifesto. Since this is an entry about teaching in Athens, what are your opinions on the ESL profession there? Have you worked in Greece as an ESL instructor?

Michelle,

¡Viva la Greece!

At least that's what I say from a tourist's perspective. This past summer we went, relaxed our bones and had an all around dandy time! And as an ESL teacher/administrator living and working in Sweden, I began entertaining thoughts of, well, exactly what Michelle describes:

seaside cafes, and passionate, friendly debates at every small, checkered-cloth covered table...lazy afternoons where every place closes down for a good meal followed by an afternoon nap...History...small boat and ferry excursions...

...not to mention warmth, warmth, warmth (something we lack 11 months out of the year here in Scandinavia)! But as I began discussing the relocation temptation with my husband, we were forced to consider some of the more pragmatic issues of living in Greece, like cost of living and ESL teacher salaries -- neither of which looked too promising after the little bit of research we did (for a quick, surface summary: Teaching in Greece).

My question to those of you who have "been there, done that" is the following: Is Athens feasible for those of us who have passed the just-out-of-college-and-don't-mind-living-dirt-cheap stage of our lives?

Also, in quick reference to Ornella's above posting, I can vouch for Athens being a vibrant and exciting place to visit, but would you say the city offers a favorable environment for ESL professionals who are looking at it from an "Athens with children" perspective?

Wondering,
Smyth

MIchelle,

Greece is the most beautiful place in the world! But for an native English speaker Greek is mighty intimidating. If only that had this for Greek Vocabulary Hip-Hop

Angie

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Note from Michelle:

Angie, did you mean:

. . . for [a] native English speaker Greek is mighty intimidating [?]

For if only "that" had this or "they" had this? I don't understand your suggestion.

How would the vocabulary technique you've suggested teach one Greek grammatical constructions [or English ones for that matter]? Anyone who has taken the time to learn that tongue knows that just knowing Greek vocabulary isn't enough to have a conversation. Any Greek speakers want to help me out on this?

Michelle,

Hmmmm... let me link you guys over to what I just posted on the "could ESL teachers be earning more" thread so I don't have to repeat myself completely....

The short version: I'm currently making a subsistence wage in Russia. I'm uttely poor and loving it here. Granted, I'm off to Korea in August to refresh the bank account a bit (and to help out a friend who owns the school where I'll be employed), but if I could, I would love to take a position in Greece. Who knows - maybe some day I will!

Jane

Michelle,

I taught in Greece for 10 years up to 2000, and then relocated to...Turkey. I have to say that the second option has turned out easily the better, and I regret not having made the move earlier. Turkey wins out on at least three points:

You almost always teach adults rather than children.
You almost always receive appreciable help with your rent.
Your salary will buy you more at least in Turkey, so in effect you have a higher standard of living.

Other advantages I might mention are:
Much better social intergration. Turks simply do not allow you to be alone for long. You will quickly form a dependable and supportive social circle from your students and friends, because everyone is of an age.

This is simply not possible working for Greek 'Frontistiria'.
You may find the love of your life and get married. I did.
All in all, I can say that spending all those years trying to succeed in Greece retarded my career; the move to Turkey allowed me to achieve more in half the time.

Come to Turkey, it just gets better and better.

Clive

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Note from Michelle:

Thanks Clive for that nice plug for Turkey. I'll certainly keep that in mind for future entry.