By Nigel Nix

The short and easy answer is “YES”.

In fact anyone who has graduated from high school and has a good grasp of their own language can make a comfortable living as a freelance trainer in Germany.

However, a little prep work is required in order to avert disaster.

Over the years I’ve seen so many people come full of enthusiasm only to leave in tears a few short months later. I can’t guarantee you success but if you follow the 5 guidelines below then your adjustment will be a lot easier.

1. Learn some basic German.

You don’t have to be a fluent speaker but a few months before your trip you should buy a basic phrase book. “Where is the train station?” “How much is this?” etc.

Make sure it has a phonetic pronunciation guide.

It doesn’t matter if your German is terrible at the start, as long as you make the effort to speak the language then most of the natives will try their best to help you.

DO NOT blurt out “Hey dude, where can a guy get himself a mickey dees and a cold bottle of suds in this town?” Although a lot West Germans had a little English in school most of them have forgotten it. How much high school French or Spanish can you remember!?!

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2. Brush up your grammar.

Native speakers use complex grammar structures without thinking what they are called.

Now you need to learn the names and when they are used. DON’T PANIC!

Essential Grammar In Use ISBN 3-12-533460-8

This book is the bible for English trainers and it’s written simply and clearly.

GET IT NOW! Read it from cover to cover and do all the exercises.

Remember you are not learning the language, just brushing up.

I remember thinking “wow, so that’s what it’s called when I say that.”

Basically your learning the lingo.

A TOEFL certificate would be a big advantage and you can do the course in the evenings or at weekends. It’s worth the relatively small price you pay.

3. Observe the culture.

Search the net, read German authors and watch German movies.

Learn a little about the German culture.

Germans are a lot more reserved than British or Americans and need a little more time to warm up. Don’t mistake this for unfriendliness. Once you gain their trust you won’t find more loyal friends. Eating on the street can be frowned upon but drinking a bottle of beer on your way home from work isn’t really out of place.

4. Have your papers ready.

The people here are highly organized and for us maybe a little too bureaucratic.

Make sure you have all your relevant education papers, tax info. , social security etc.

You also have to register for a work permit but most schools will help you with this process. Although the authorities are more tolerant with non-German speakers they still expect everything to be done exactly right. If you have to organize your work permit by yourself then try to have a bi-lingual speaker with you.

5. Have a “Plan B”.

Even with the greatest preparation things can sometimes go wrong.

Make sure that you have an open return plane ticket, travel insurance and enough emergency money with you in case things don’t go as planned.

It could be that you get here and the culture shock is too great, maybe you have a skiing mishap on your day off or being an English trainer isn’t all you thought it would be.

It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Hopefully I haven’t painted too dark a picture. After all I’m married to a German woman and have happily adjusted to life here. Living and working in Germany can be a fantastic experience and totally change your life in a positive way as long as you do a little planning before your trip.

About the author

Nigel Nix has been teaching Business English in Germany for the last 7 years and now has his own training business. You can visit his website.

By Michelle Simmons

As of today, there are thousands of Americans living in Europe. The majority of them are there for job purposes, and one of the main jobs they hold is teaching English. Teaching English in Europe will always be a source of employment for those wishing to live abroad, since the value placed on native-speaking teachers in Europe is extremely high.

The information below is designed to help you start thinking along the lines of becoming an English teacher in Europe. Consider these facts before you begin your job search, and the process should go much more smoothly for you.

Choosing a country

Your first step after deciding to teach English in Europe should be to decide what country you’d like to teach in. This is a difficult decision and should involve a great deal of research on your part.

The fact is, every country in Europe has different requirements for their teachers, and it’s much easier to find a job in some countries than it is in others. For example:

Germany is in great need of native English teachers, and getting a residency permit for teaching English in Germany is a fairly simple process. You do need TEFL certification and a secured job before you can receive a permit.

France is very popular among TEFL graduates, and job competition is fairly tough. Surprisingly, knowledge of business will get you further in your job search in France than will a solid knowledge of teaching. The French tend to hire English teachers at a business or corporate level, and the more you know about international communication the easier it will be to find a job.

Greece is rather difficult to break into, because visa requirements and red tape can be somewhat complicated. You won’t find many TEFL teachers in Greece because the permits to work are so hard to obtain.

Italy is even harder to break into than Greece, unless you are an EU citizen. Americans are usually not hired for English teaching jobs in Italy, and if they are it must be proven that they can bring something to the job nobody else can. Few companies and schools are willing to hire Americans because the process can be costly and time consuming.

As you can see, the country where you choose to teach should be chosen carefully. Although ideally you should pick a country you love and wish to spend time in, your primary deciding factor should be whether or not you can obtain a job. Unless you have a job lead already, you should be prepared to do hours of research before settling on a course of action.

General Tips

Before you begin the process of finding a job teaching English in Europe, we highly recommend that you graduate from college and get TEFL certification. While these things are not considered requirements in every European country, the majority of countries count them as great advantages, and you’ll have a much easier time getting hired.

Your course of study doesn’t particularly matter; you simply must have graduated from a four-year college with a degree in some subject. As for TEFL certification, it can be earned in a number of ways. Most colleges and community schools offer TEFL programs. You may even be able to become certified through a mail-in schooling program or over the Internet. TEFL certification gives you the skills you will need to cope with teaching English to non-native speakers in a classroom setting. Whether or not it helps you land a job, the information you learn during TEFL certification will be invaluable in your classroom experience.

Our best advice for those wishing to teach English in Europe? Do your homework. Be prepared to analyze and compare various countries before making a decision. Once you’ve chosen a destination, you should have a working knowledge of the native language and a good idea of what life in that country will be like. After all, it will be your home for at least the next year.

Teaching English in Europe is a truly amazing experience, and one that every adventurous person should have. The trick to success is to be as prepared as you can… and then get ready to expect the unexpected.

About the Author

Michelle Simmons is a contributing editor for ESLemployment, the leading job and resource site for the English Teaching Industry. Interested in receiving hundreds of English Teaching jobs listings weekly for free? To learn more visit English Teaching Jobs.