Teaching English in Hungary
Hungary shares both borders and history with many of the countries of Eastern Europe. A former member of the Soviet Union, the country emerged from the yoke of communism in the late 80's and in 2004 became a fully-fledged member of the European Union. Much of the country is made up of the rolling grasslands of the Carpathian Basin and the famous Danube River cuts the country almost in half and runs through the centre of the stunning capital Budapest. The climate is similar to much of the region: hot humid summers with average temperature of around 30°C fades into extremely cold winters with heavy snowfall and average temperatures of below 0°C.
English is compulsory for all students wishing to attend university in Hungary, so it is slowly becoming the unofficial second language in the country. For this reason are TEFL qualifications are greatly valued, especially in the growing English for business market. Despite the apparent lack of opportunities in Hungary, we have managed to find some excellent jobs in Budapest and the provinces.
A Few Details
By using the free job placement service for Hungary included in the 100-hour TEFL course, you can expect to receive around $205 a month based on a 22 hour week. This pay is not taxed locally. After your orientation you will live rent free with a local family and food will be provided.
What can you expect in Hungary?
- Salary: Up to 40000 HUF, approximately $205 per month based on a 22 hour week. This is a Teaching Assistant role, and for this reason, pay is lower than a very experienced English Teacher would receive. This pay is not taxed locally.
- Accommodation: During your orientation you will stay in shared room in an apartment, costing approximately 6,000 HUF / $32 (USD) per night for 3 nights. For the duration of your time as a teaching assistant you will live in a homestay, hostel or in school accommodation paid for by your school, with a hot lunch provided at the school on working days.
- Arrival: You will be met at the airport and transferred to your accommodation. The next day you will start a 2 day orientation which will include practical teaching tips and teaching practice, before being collected and taken to your accommodation.
- Locations: Schools are located throughout Hungary, including a number of schools in Budapest.
- Contract lengths: 6 months
- Departure dates: February and September, (2007 Full)
Requirements for Hungary
- Native English speaker - Must be a holder of a native English passport eg. UK, Irish, Australian, New Zealand, USA, Canadian. For non EU passport holders: Once accepted by the school they issue a work contract which allows applicants to apply for a type D visa which is valid for 6 months. This process can take one month.
- TEFL qualification (100-hour TEFL course included).
- University degree.
- Some experience with children e.g. working with children or babysitting.
Frequently asked questions about teaching in Hungary
1. What age and level of students will I be teaching?
You will be teaching 10 - 18 year olds at all levels.
2. How many students will there be in each class?
From 10 to 15 students per class.
3. How long are the classes?
45 minutes.
4. Are there any teaching resources?
Yes, but different schools will have different levels of resources available. It is always useful to bring items from home such as photos of your family and home, newspapers, posters, leaflets and information on local places of interest which you can use in your lessons.
5. Will I be teaching alone or team teaching?
You will be teaching alone.
6. What kind of school will I be teaching in?
You will be teaching in government schools.
Frequently asked questions about employment in Hungary
1. How much will I be paid?
up to 40000 HUF, approximately $205 per month based on a 22 hour week. This pay is not taxed.
Your accommodation and lunch on teaching days will be provided, therefore your salary only needs to cover breakfast / dinner and any extras you require. As a guide, a night out might cost 1,000-10,000HUF depending on what you do, a beer costs 400-600HUF, a meal out costs 2,000-4,000HUF, a train ticket to travel around 200k costs around 5,000HUF. In Budapest a monthly season ticket for all means of transport costs around 7,300HUF.
2. Do I receive a bonus or flight re-imbursement?
There is no bonus or flight re-imbursement.
3. How many holiday days will I receive per year?
Holidays will be the same as the school holidays. These are typically 2 weeks at Christmas and 1 week at Easter.
4. What are my working hours?
A maximum of 22 teaching hours per week, Monday to Friday between 8am and 3pm.
5. Can I renew my contract?
Your contract may be extendable; you would need to discuss this with your school.
6. What happens if I need to break my contract?
You need to give 1 month notice if you need to break your contract, to allow a replacement teaching assistant to be found.
100 Hour TEFL course
Our most comprehensive TEFL course not only gives you in-depth theory and practical training, but also specialist courses for every teaching situation. Increasing the number of hours of study will also give you more confidence, make your CV more attractive and maximize your earning potential.
- Internationally Accredited Certificate
- 20 hour Weekend TEFL Course
- 20 hour Specialist Certificate in Grammar
- 40 hour Online Course
- Video & audio tutorials
- Personal 1 to 1 tutor support
- Lifetime Access to Teaching Helpdesk
- 20 hours in 4 Specialist Certificates
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