Moving to Budapest CELTA/Teaching English Advice and Awesome

I'd love some first-hand experience to go along with the sometimes contradictory advice I find on the interwebs, hoping this stellar group of people can help...

My plan is to go to Budapest this fall and take the CELTA. After that I want to teach English in Budapest, am hoping that the course will give me some leads on jobs and if not, I know several people there who teach English and might be able to help me on the finding a job front.

*How likely is it that I will be able to get a job there directly after I'm done with the course? I'm a 19-year old American with no uni degree.

*How much money should I have saved up before I go? The course costs about 1300 US. I'll have to buy plane tickets and pay for lodging (although I'll be staying with friends, at least until I find a job and an apartment, so it'll be quite cheap.)

*Visas: Do I need a student visa to take the course? And I'm pretty sure I have to return to the US to get a teaching/work visa after the course is completed and I get a job. Is it possible to get that visa before I even go for the course, or how likely is it that an employer will pay for me to return to the US just for the visa, and how much does the visa cost?

*Anything else I should know before I venture into this hare-brained scheme? I fell in love with Budapest and I've got to get back soon and the best way to do it seems to teach English.

I took the Celta course in Budapest, and yes, once you have it, is is very possible to get a job just after certification. They have a list of opportunities once you graduate, all over europe.

I did so.

It's a very good program there, by the way, and you will love the city.

Money: figure on 100 euros a week, minimum, I'd say 150-200 to be comfortable. It can be cheaper, but you go out with your classmates a lot to eat. The rule in Europe is about 750-1000 euros a month for full travel. Budapest is a lot cheaper, but its not the bargain it used to be.

No you do not need a student visa, since the standard one month course fits inside the Schengen Visa limits. I'm not even sure you CAN get a student visa for a one month course.

If you choose to apply for one, apply inside the USA at the Hungarian Embassy, and find out their list of requirements.

By the way, there are often jobs IN Budapest if you love the place so much, and they can arrange for a working visa if they like you. Course, with so many Brits around now, it might be tough. They get working visas a LOT easier than non-Europeans.

You MAY be able to get a working visa outside of the USA, say, from Romania or something like that, outside the Schengen zone. I got my Ukraine visa from the embassy in Budapest.

+

I've been teaching ESL for roughly 5 years.

You can easily get a job without a CELTA. You'll more than likely do just fine and pick up everything you need to know about being a teacher in the first six months. You'll spend a year or two after than refining your approach to best reach your students.

However, doing the CELTA first gives you the advantage of just getting it overwith. It seems to me that more and more jobs are requiring a cert of some sort. So you might as well get it overwith now and be done with it.

I certainly wish I had done it.

I've heard some really good things about the course in Budapest, along with the city being absolutely gorgeous. Have a good time and if you need a job lead and are interested in China I know my company is always looking for teachers to fill six month contracts. It's not a bad way to get your foot in the door until you find something better.

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'd like to get a job in Budapest after I finish the course, but if that's not possible China would be interesting.

I love Budapest and I can't wait to get back. Is there a particularly good time of year to take the course so there will be a lot of job opportunities when I finish it?

A Celta is rarely required in China, but as I said.. Just get it over with as someday it'll be a requirement I'm sure.

I teach in China now and jobs are easy to find. PM me if you have questions.

Hi,
I'd recommend CELT (the Irish CELTA) It's a bit cheaper, there are more input sessions and they offer you work and full reimbursement of the fee. Check the link:
http://www.katedra.hu/tanarkepzes_CELT
regards,
AJ

Hey thanks for the advice But I've already taken the CELTA in Budapest. Everything worked out splendidly and I now live here teaching full-time. It's a good life and I'm glad I took the plunge and did it.

The CELTA was great, very informative...although for kind of a limited range of classes. They have one afternoon session on Business ENglish, for example, even though that's 95% of what I teach. Same with exam prep classes. Still, they give you the basics and the most important thing is that they make you feel comfortable leading a class, so I'm definitely glad I took it.

If anyone has any questions about this, I'd be happy to share my own experiences. In fact, if you're looking to come teach in Budapest, every school seems to be desperate for teachers right now and every empty timeslot I get is filled immediately so come on over and join the party!

I take it that a degree is not necessary to teach English there? Have my TEFL from Bangkok & am headed to Cambodia for 6 months experience then will be looking for another country next year.

Hey there!

I just arrived in Budapest to take the CELTA course at IH Do you still live around here???? Is there anyway to tutor while taking the course and do you know if the schools here offer 6 month contracts

Thank you! Any input is greatly appreciated!

Cheers!

1. The course is rigorous enough that you may not want to take on extra work. Weekends are kind of free, but I used them to unwind from the 9-5 study days. In a month it is done, that is the time to look for work....

2. Once you graduate, there will be a job list given to you by the staff, or its on the IH website. I found a job no problem, though it was in an area I found well, more than a little depressing.

3. Jobs in Budapest can be found, if one look, or could be years ago. Not sure now, that Budapest is more in the Eurozone where they might -prefer brits with EU citizenship.

Say hello to the charming russian speaking australian(brit?) woman with a degree in Law if she is still there. She is a real treasure.

With regards to completing a CELTA course and living / working in Budapest (or any other european city). Who did you go through to apply ? and did you need a visa to study there or did you apply for a working visa after you completed the CELTA course ?

i applied to them directly through the internet, I had a telephone interview, if I recall, and they accepted a bank transfer to pay for it.

When I went there they were not part of the EU, at all, so I landed in Hungary, through land, i believe, and was given a 90 day tourist visa. You can ask them for a student visa, but its not worth the trouble unless you intend to work in Hungary afterwards. I believe that Hungary is still outside the Euro border zone, I could be wrong. If it is part of the Euro border zone, you will NEED to get a student visa in the USA. Its probably not worth the trouble., a 90 day tourist visa would be just fine for your purpose.