TEFL Course and TEFL Jobs in Greece
Why Greece?
Legendary hospitality...ancient civilisations...superb
climate...islands and beaches...wonderful food...there are
as many answers as there are visitors to Greece. But here
are a few practical reasons to choose Greece:
- Ease of access: Athens is just 3.5 hours from London,
and with the availability of cheap flights it's an easy
destination to reach.
- Exotic, but not alien: Greece is different enough to
be interesting, but not so strange that you'll suffer
from homesickness and culture shock.
- EU member: As Greece is a member of the EU, there are
no restrictions on travel, residence or employment.
- Experience not essential: Many teaching positions are
open to any graduate.
Qualifications Required for TEFL Jobs
For positions at entry level, experience is not essential.
The only pre-requisites are that you must be a native speaker
of English and you must have a university degree and a TEFL
certificate. It does not matter what subject your degree
is in, although preference may be given to candidates with
degrees in languages or related subjects.
Working Conditions
The majority of English Language schools in Greece are
small and privately owned. The pupils attend the local state
school in the morning, and so the English schools operate
in the afternoon and evening. Most schools employ only two
or three teachers and have 100-200 pupils. Attendance at
such a school is the norm for children from all kinds of
social backgrounds. They usually begin at the age of 8,
and continue until they are at least 15.
You would not normally expect to teach the youngest children,
unless you happen to speak Greek, but you might teach children
of 10+. Classes last for 1-2 hours, and for the older pupils
there is a strong orientation towards exams such as the
Cambridge FCE and CPE. Most of the children are enthusiastic
learners and classes are usually reasonably small, with
perhaps 10-12 members. Discipline is rarely a problem although,
like young teenagers everywhere, students can sometimes
be boisterous.
You can expect to work with a high standard of materials
and equipment. All students have a course book, containing
material for all your lessons, and you will also have a
teacher’s guide and audio cassettes to accompany each
course book. Most schools use video, and many now use computers
and the Internet.
Hours of work are normally between 3-10pm, Monday to Friday.
Some schools also have classes in the mornings, especially
the larger schools in the big cities, which cater for older
students, and it is possible that you might be required
to work on Saturdays. You would normally teach for about
25 hours per week.
Remuneration
* For the academic year 2006 - 2007, the usual (minimum)
hourly rate of pay is 8.54 euros gross, minus 15.89% for
National Insurance, leaving a net balance of 7.18.
TEFL Certification in Greece
Internationally recognised CTEFL courses are available
in two of Greece’s most beautiful, historic locations.
Courses are offered on the mainland, in the city of Corinth,
and in Chania, on the island of Crete.
Steeped in history and myth, but equally well-known for
its beaches and nightlife, Crete has something to offer
everyone. Whether it’s relaxing on a beach or taking
a boat to explore neighbouring islands; snorkeling in the
Mediterranean Sea or hiking the breathtaking Samaria Gorge;
exploring ancient Minoan ruins or marveling at the coexistence
of Venetian and Turkish architecture; or just simply relaxing
in a cafe and watching the world go by... Crete promises
not to disappoint.
Conveniently situated 50 miles from Athens, Corinth is
the gateway to the Peloponnese, an area rich in natural
beauty and historical sites.
The modern city of Corinth is the regional capital, and
has all the facilities to make your stay enjoyable, including
numerous outdoor cafes, bars and restaurants, several beaches,
and services such as travel agencies, banks and hundreds
of shops. There are excellent transport connections, with
buses to Athens at least every hour, and frequent trains
and buses connecting Corinth to the surrounding towns and
villages.
Greece offers a fascinating cultural blend of east and
west that is sure to satisfy any visitor. Many people come
to Greece on holiday and decide to stay much longer.
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