ESL Jobs Forum

[pachova]

I am qualified and experienced EFL Teacher but it's so hard to find a job in London and start working, because

1.I'm not a native speaker;
2. I do need a Work Permit to get any Teaching job;

All these make my situation so sad and I'm desperate to find a way out -a school, which is able to employ me and apply for my visa. Is it so difficult to find a job as a non-native speaker in UK?
I am registered in so many web sites for jobs and still no luck at all.

Any advice or support, clues what to do more than that would be very much appreciated.
Thank you a lot;

Val

[jack.walke]

That is a tough issue. Frankly I've never seen a non-native speaker teaching in any of the schools I've seen in London, sorry to discourage you.

I do know of some people from your part of the world who have headed out to Japan and are doing very well. Make great money, and they like blondes...

[nip.chee]

I not havve much luck in Japan as non-native speaker

[Guy Courchesne]

In many countries, it is dificult for a non-native speaking foreigner to gain employment as an EFL teacher. There seems to be a pecking order, where native-speakers (read: American, Canadian, Brit, etc) are given preference, as per how a language school markets their programs. Local teachers who speak English are next, then non-native and non-local teachers are last. It's unfortunate as there are many good teachers of English who speak it as a second language. Often such teachers have a better insight into the language and can function better as teachers in a classroom. I wish you luck in your search.
_________________
Life is a verb, not a noun - Now Bloggin' and Working Hard

[akeed]

Unionjack deleted my original post about London, I don't understand why.

Anyway, how was the summer season over there for teachers and students from the middle east in particular? I heard it was the best summer of uptake from that region in both the US and London since 2002

[unionjack]

Pachova

You really do need to get a work permit before your existing visa expires, otherwise you will have to return to Bulgaria and apply for an entry visa from there, which will not be as easy.

I am rather surprised that you cannot get employment as a teacher, in spite of not being a native speaker, because this is one of the areas where there is a skill shortage, especially in London.

You may know that once you have been resident, in the UK, for 4 years, you then go on 'indefinite leave', which means you don't require a work permit to continue working and you can apply for permanent residence in the UK.
Of course, none of this is of any use to you if you cannot get a job.

I think you need to apply directly to the places of employment, rather than placing advertisements on web sites or anywhere else. Having said that, you should submit your CV to a recruiting agent, who will then forward your CV on to their clients. This will not cost you any money because it is the client who pays the fee.

One such teacher recruiting agency is www.timeplan.com
They have offices all over the country and you simply select the area in which you want to work. All you need to do is register with them by filling in the on-line form and wait for them to come up with the goods.

Best of luck

UJ

[Supergussy]

>>>That is a tough issue. Frankly I've never seen a non-native speaker teaching in any of the schools I've seen in London, sorry to discourage you. <<<

Don't worry about this. I have seen and worked with many non-native teachers of English. It is not a problem. If you have the experience and qualifications schools will hire you. In London you probably have more chance of getting a job in ELT than other cities in the UK but without a work visa I imagine it will be impossible. Contrary to claims by other posters I don't think there is such a shortage of ELT certified natives in London. If there was such a shortage I find it hard to comprehend why the wages are so poor for ESOL/EFL Teachers in relation to the cost of living. I would be extremely surprised if you were able to get a visa for a teaching position. Would translation/interpretation be a possibility? If you would consider it don't wait for the jobs to be advertised. Seek out the companies who would need your skills and pay them a visit.

Angus