Teaching - the downsides

The first thing you should know about teaching ESL in Prague is that the number of teachers available far exceeds the number of teachers needed. Having said that, it's not difficult to find a job because so many teachers leave.

The problem with the ESL industry is that many 'teachers' are in fact young travellers who use teaching as a means of earning some cash before moving on to their next port of call. It's a bit like bar work in Britain - considered a casual, often informal, form of employment with low pay and a high staff turnover. Fine if you are a student looking for a bit extra spending money, not so good if you are a professional with rent and bills to pay.

Despite your qualifications, experience and earnest remonstrations of sincerity and commitment, most language schools will still treat you, at least in your first year, as they do everyone else. This means, in effect, that they will expect you to turn up late, or not turn up at all, leave half way through the year without giving notice, and fail to understand even the basics of English grammar. This is a job where you have to prove yourself by what you do, not by the bits of paper attached to your c.v.

So your first year to be more or less difficult depending on how wisely you choose your school. First year teachers are given the lowest pay, the least accessible students and unreliable and unsociable hours.

You will be exhausted from the hours you work, though you will only be paid for the small fraction of your working day when you are actually teaching. Holidays, instead of being a thing to look forward to, will be another concern because you probably won't get paid for them.

Half of the people you meet will tell you that they are a teacher, though you may doubt that they can spell their own name or define the word 'noun'. Quite often, despite visiting many students, you won't speak to another soul all day as you travel from job to job, alone.

Don't worry, there are many upsides to the job, and it will get better. Just be prepared.