i-to-i TEFL COUNTRY GUIDES: THE CZECH REPUBLIC
The Czech Republic is one of Europe's most cultured countries. Charming villages and quiet squares compete for your attention with grand castles and cold beer, all with a Dvorak symphony playing in the background. This post-communist state has enjoyed increasing prosperity in recent years, and with its accession into the EU in 2004, the country is looking forward to further success in the future.
The Czech Republic can be visited at any time, with warm summers, snowy winters and beautiful colors in spring and autumn. And with such a variety of places to see, you can rest assured that the extensive transport network is excellent.
TEFL in The Czech Republic (Contracts, Salary, Work)
- Demand for Teachers
- Main TEFL Regions
- Busiest TEFL Periods
- Contract Lengths
- Types of Teaching
- Accommodation
- Flight Reimbursement
- Currency
- Salary
- Taxes
- Cost of Living
- Potential to Save Money
- How Much TEFL Training is Recommended?
- Common teaching conditions
Finding Work
Work Visas
Why choose The Czech Republic?
Be Aware
Before you go
A Few Fun Facts
TEFL in The Czech Republic (Contracts, Salary, Work)
Demand for teachers
Very High.However, the country is very popular with teachers, so getting a job isn’t as easy as it used to be.
Main TEFL regions
Prague, Pilsen, Brno.Busiest TEFL periods
The academic year runs from September – June, so try to arrive in mid-August.Contract lengths
2-9 monthsTypes of teaching
- Private Language Schools: General English, Business English, Cambridge FCE, CAE
- In-company: General English , Business English
- State Sector (primary & secondary schools): General English
Accommodation
Some schools will organize your accommodation or help you to find a place.
Rents in Prague are higher than elsewhere in the country, and you’ll get a small, 1 bedroom apartment for about 9,000Kč per month if you shop around. However, you’d be much better off sharing, and could pay as little as 6,000Kč (US$400) per month.
Flight reimbursement
This isn’t common here or in the rest of Europe.Currency
Koruna (Crown) (CZK)
Symbol: Kč
Salary
15-000-20,000Kč (US$1,300) per month is average in Prague, and unlike most countries, the low competition can equal higher wages outside of the capital. If you stay long-term and do plenty of private lessons, you could earn as much as 40,000Kč (US$2,600).
Taxes
Income tax is a flat rate of 15%, but many salaries are quoted AFTER tax so check this when applying for jobs.
Cost of living
The cost of living is rising in Prague, but most things are still affordable. If you stay out of the tourist areas, you can get a cheap restaurant meal for about 70Kč (US$5), and your weekly food expenses shouldn’t be much more than 1400Kč (US$95)
The famous local beer is only US$1 per bottle, so you’ll have enough money for plenty of hangovers!
Potential to save money
This depends partly on your lifestyle and wages, but hinges on your accommodation expenses. If you’re willing to share, you should be able to save enough money to explore in the holidays (most contracts run for the length of the academic year, so you’ll have to use your savings during the summer vacation).
Unless you’re on a very good wage, or live a frugal existence, you’re unlikely to save more than this.
How much TEFL training is recommended?
You should get some sort of TEFL qualification at the very minimum, preferably with classroom experience. i-to-i’s weekend courses give you a good chance of getting a job ahead of the crowds of other TEFL teachers arriving here each week.
Common teaching conditions
Students in the Czech Republic are usually attentive and enthusiastic, even in the private language schools where the adult learners come after a long day’s work. But the hours are tend to be longer than in the state schools.
Finding Work
How do I find work?
The best way to get a job is with i-to-i’s paid teaching placements program, which can arrange work in a Prague language school once you've completed one of our courses. Otherwise, with so many newly-qualified teachers hitting Prague’s streets, it’s almost impossible to secure work before you leave home.
Can I find work while in-country?
This is the most common way to fix up a job. Contact the Academic Information Agency in Prague if you’d like a state school job, or simply ask around at your hostel when you arrive.
What is the usual hiring process?
To get a state school job, you’ll need to apply by the end of April, and interested schools will contact you personally. If you’re arranging a job when you arrive, simply go into the private schools and they’ll set up an interview if you fit the bill.
Work Visas
Is a work visa required to find paid work in The Czech Republic?
If you’re from another EU country, you can live and work in the Republic for as long as you want without a visa; you simply have to register with the Alien and Border Police if you plan to stay for more than a month.
Officially, Non-EU nationals need to get their work visa in advance. However, many come on a tourist visa, then change their status by leaving and re-entering the country once they’ve found work. Their employer will also need to arrange a work permit.
Work Visa requirements:
- Birth certificate
- No criminal record
- Proof of accommodation
- Job offer
Why Choose The Czech Republic?
- An abundance of culture
- Beautiful scenery all year round
- Booming TEFL market
- Beer!
Be Aware…
It’s very difficult to find work between June and September, but you might be able to get a job teaching kids at a countryside summer camp.
Before you go
Read this…
The Good Soldier Svejk and His Fortunes in the World War by Jaroslav Hasek– classic satire about a soldier’s jaunts during the First World War.
Watch this…
Love of a Blonde – Milos Forman’s cheeky romance about how a girl from a small town throws a band member’s life into chaos when she turns up on his doorstep after a one-night stand.
A Few Fun Facts
- Czechs are very well-educated and 80% of people have completed high school, more than almost any other country in the world.
- It’s usual for men to open doors for women, except in restaurants and bars, where it’s considered good manners for women to let the man enter first!
- Czechs are beer lovers, consuming almost 160 liters of beer per person each year – more than any other country in the world.
- Many experts think that Scottish bagpipes originated in the Czech Republic.
