How I learnt about TEFL in Prague and what were the next steps
I came across TEFL Prague online and chose TEFL PRO Prague because I was looking for a course with a more individual and practical approach. I began the moving process soon after with the help of the school. That included organising my visa, accommodation and travel.
About life as an expat Prague
Living and working in Prague is a rewarding experience. The culture and lifestyle is great, and the job opportunities are plentiful. If you make the effort to get out there and be the best teacher you can be, then the city has a lot to give back.
Visa and other paperwork needed to start teaching English in Prague
I applied for a business visa based on a Trade License (Živno) to move to Prague. For this I needed to get together a number of documents; including a Police Clearance document from my home country, proof of funds, and proof of accommodation. I went through a company in Prague that helped me with my visa application, so once I gathered all the necessary documents and paid the relevant fees, the process was quite straightforward and it just became a waiting game. Sometimes the visa process can take a while, but I was quite lucky in that everything was approved quicker than I expected.
Costs of living versus how much an English teacher can make
Like any big city, it is more expensive to live close to the center of Prague, while living further out becomes much more afforable. The nice thing about Prague is that it is a relatively small city, so even if you choose to live a bit further away from the center it is still very quick and easy to get around to where you need to be.
Other expenses in Prague are quite affordable, especially compared to the rest of Europe. In terms of what you can earn, it depends on how much you choose to work, but with a bit of planning it is very doable to live comfortably on an English teacher’s salary.
Cultural differences (Czech people, language, challenges, etc.)
The public transport in Prague is some of the best that I’ve encountered. There are trams, buses and metros that run all day every day, to all areas of Prague, with usually only a few minutes wait between them. Once you have a long term ticket (or lítačka), which only costs around 3650 kč for an entire year, you can travel anywhere freely and easily without having to worry about payments or tickets.
Culturally, Prague is fascinating. It definitely carries some European charm not only in the architecture but in the traditions as well. The biggest culture shock for me was the language, as it’s unlike any other language I’ve personally encountered before. Sometimes you’ll find yourself in a situation where people don’t speak any English which can be a bit of a challenge, though with today’s technology it’s quite easy to manage. In the center it is much easier to get by as they’re more used to tourists.
The Czech people themselves may come accross as stubborn at first, but once you get to know them and emerse yourself in the culture you’ll find that they’re actually great and fun-loving people.
Travelling around Europe from Prague
One of the best things about living in Prague is that travelling around Europe is very easy to do. Coming from a large and spacious country, it is an amazing experience to only travel for a few hours and be in a completely new country.