TEFL course Prague

What is the allure of delving into the unfamiliar? For many travelers, old and young alike, the answer is clear the moment they capture the sight of Prague castle at night, casting its lights over the dark surface of the Vltava River. The bustling capital of the Czech Republic has a population of approximately 1.2 million. The growing ex-patriot community thrives in the heart of the city and the energy of youth culture pulsates throughout Prague’s winding cobblestone alleys. Americans, Brits, Australians and visitors of all nationalities mingle and brush elbows with many interesting characters in Prague’s numerous pubs, clubs and cafes. The living expenses in Prague are about 1/3 of that in the USA, UK and Western Europe, so needless to say, Prague’s famous Pilsner Urquell is imbibed freely. Visitors can devour traditional Smazeny sýr (deep fried cheese) while congregating around street stalls, or enjoy slightly pricier delicacies at ethnic food restuarants featuring, Thai, Mexican, Indian and Japanese food.

I took a TEFL course through TEFL Worldwide Prague in April 2005. I met great people on the course and continue to meet graduates on a regular basis, so that now I have a large social group of friends. I have had some amazing experiences exploring the city and surrounding areas with them and with our Czech students. We often have dinner parties in our apartments and laugh as we practise new slang phrases together in both languages. My Czech friends have taken me to their home towns for traditional folk festivals, and to fun events in Prague such as wine tasting! I am grateful to them for showing me things I wouldn’t have discovered on my own.

Every day after teaching we still find time to meet at a pub, go to an art gallery, the movies or go out to dinner. Recently I hosted a large breakfast party at my house which lasted all day...and then turned into a dinner party! In the Czech Republic teacher/student relations are more relaxed and it is common to meet after class in a local pub to discuss things in a more casual setting. My friends and I supplement our incomes by teaching private lessons and I love doing this because of the creativity it allows. As a literature major, I love to read and talk about books with my private students and I look forward to having coffee in their homes.

I often forget that I am teaching when I am with my private students because I enjoy their company so much and the atmosphere is relaxed. I also enjoy the freedom to reschedule lessons if I decide to take a long weekend trip to Germany or Slovakia. Many Czechs own cottages outside of the city and an invite there usually entails hiking and skiing and lots of good food! I can’t wait for the weather to warm up again so that my options of fun and interesting things to do in Prague are limitless.

For those who choose to stay and work in Prague, it is possible to live a comfortable lifestyle. How much spending money is needed? This all depends on personal habits such as eating out, drinking, clubbing, shopping and frequenting art galleries, cathedrals and historical sites.The majority of Foreigners who live in Prague support themselves by teaching English, due to the high demand for teachers. Due to the large influx of English speaking expatriots in Prague, prospective teachers stand a much better chance of securing employment with a TEFL Certificate. It is possible to gain employment in Prague within a few weeks after successful completion of a TEFL course. With over 120 language schools in Prague, there are many opportunities to choose from. The number of teachers leaving the city after a year or two continually opens up more positions for new TEFLers. In addition, companies and individuals often approach language schools for English courses, so as the schools acquire new business they need to find more teachers to take on those courses.

A full-time teaching schedule in Prague consists of 20 – 25 hours/week of teaching. Working full-time a teacher can expect to make between 16,000kc to 18,000kc/month. Many teachers supplement their income by taking on private students, but still find time to relax and enjoy themselves. After paying rent and transportation expenses, the remaining funds are enough to have fun with. Affordable housing can be found through sharing a flat with other foreigners, or locals. Prague’s popular neighborhoods Vinohrady and žižkov are only a few metro stops from the city center. These areas boast eccentric bars, restaurants, gothic cathedrals and unique sights such as the Prague TV tower, looming above the baroque apartment buildings and quiet parks. Other neighborhoods such as Andel and Hradcanska provide breathtaking views of the castle and city below.

Prague is the ideal place for doing a TEFL course and teaching English!

Meredith Jaeger
TEFL Worldwide Prague