TEFL in Finland
Posted by Erin MacKenzie - 15:13 on 23 March 2010
English is taught in every sort of educational institute in Finland despite Swedish being its official second language. The Finns are enthusiastic about learning other languages so you will probably be teaching students who are attentive and interested in what you have to say. A TEFL certificate is usually needed for teaching in Finland and jobs that pay well such as those teaching business people in private language courses will require experience. Jobs can sometimes be found in private kindergartens for those who have previous experience working with children.
Contract jobs can be hard to come by in Finland and so most teachers work freelance. A contract can mean help in finding your accommodation and perks such as contributions towards travel expenses. Certain positions can pay €1,500 per month while freelance teachers can earn on average €20 per lesson. However, like other Scandinavian countries, the cost of living in Finland is high.
In Helsinki there are over 35 museums and art galleries along with many sporting facilities such as ice rinks. During winter the South of the country gets about six hours of sunshine each day while the North gets as little as four.
Nightlife doesn’t seem to suffer much as a result of the dark winters as the countless bars, clubs, cafes and restaurants in the city are vibrant throughout the year regardless of the season. Some teachers might be lucky enough to work in a school where the time for teaching is compressed into four days giving you a longer weekend to experience Finland outside work!
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“Joe is full of energy and very engaging. The course focuses on technique and approach rather than drilling.” Gary Mulder, Computer Engineer, Marlow