Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) in Finland

[The Ultimate Warrior]

Hi all,

I'm a Canadian, and I'm interested in experiencing Finnish life firsthand. If I do not get into law school next year I'd be interested in teaching English overseas.

I'm just wondering if there's any resources you can give me or any information you may know about doing something like this.

Take care,

John

[rinso]

There are many topics on this subject. Search and you will find your answers.

[Hank W.]

Well, a masters degree in English philology and a minor in pedagogy is usually what they require of a tenured teacher in a school in Finland.

[Megstertex]

I'm afraid that even if you were the most gifted leaf-raker in the world, you would not be able to simply come to Finland to rake leaves in Kaivopuisto without a Finnish certification to do so.

Finland has strict regulations regarding what you can and cannot do for many types of work, especially if you are a foreigner. Even if you did have a master's degree in teaching English from Oxford, Harvard, Stanford or Cambridge, you would have to go through a process with the Finnish Board of Education examining all of your transcripts etc. to make sure that your degree would be up to par/equivalent of what they require in Finland. (I'll give you a hint, it usually is not satisfactory, and they will persuade you to take additional classes at Finnish universities, and until you do so, you will only receive 50% of what your paycheck could be.)

I have heard, but don't know myself, that Sweden and Germany would be much more welcoming for ESL certification.

[Hank W.]

Which is, to fill in the gap for "natif englisc teechers" theres already the Ryainair flight packed up with your HBS-struck from the limey islands, who as EU citizens are far more "employable" than some "difficult" 3rd world person you need to fight for the residence permit. To add if they do have a certificate from Oxford, the EU has an universal acknowledgement process regarding degrees so they're again there with an edge... again, the Nordics have their superior edge over paperwork acceptance; though I doubt they'd hire a Norwegian to teach English

[Megstertex]

To add if they do have a certificate from Oxford, the EU has an universal acknowledgement process regarding degrees so they're again there with an edge... again, the Nordics have their superior edge over paperwork acceptance; though I doubt they'd hire a Norwegian to teach English [/quote]

EU process of accepting "ulkomaalaiset" degrees from the rest of the EU and reality in Finland are quite different. And most teaching English positions still require some level of Finnish. There actually is a Norwegian at our school, though technically not teaching English, just speaking it through his courses.

[Hank W.]

EU process of accepting "ulkomaalaiset" degrees from the rest of the EU and reality in Finland are quite different.

Well, thats mainly to do with that in some other countries you are let to teach kids with papers where in Finland you couldn't even apply as the janitor... government/county jobs tend to be especially anal regarding the paperwork.

[Rosamunda]

There are plenty of teaching jobs available and I know people from all over the world Canadians, Australians, South Africans, Americans, Brits, Asians all teaching English in international or bilingual schools in the Helsinki area, and many of them do not speak Finnish. I have three kids all in school in Helsinki/Espoo and their teachers come from a huge variety of backgrounds .

There is work available. The teaching qualification issues are real, but that would only affect your salary not the possibility of finding work.

That is not the problem.

Nearly all the teachers I know here are married to Finns. They are permanent residents of Finland. The problem is that you need a work permit/visa in order to live here and to get that permit you will need to prove you have employment. A lot of teaching posts are part-time, temporary, renewable contracts. That is not usually enough to get a visa.

That is also the problem with teaching ESL to adults. I am self-employed (I am an EU national, married to a Finn) and I teach Business English inside companies and public institutions. There is plenty of work available for someone with a bit of experience. However, I don't think you will get a visa unless you have a job contract and most of the language schools do not "hire" teachers, they only take freelancers. Obtaining a visa to start your own company as an English teacher is probably unlikely.

If you want to take a TEFL course like CELTA then best do it in Canada before you leave as there are no equivalent courses on offer in Finland (only on-line courses).

BTW Oulu University is offering an M.Ed in Education and Globalisation which looks interesting....

The other Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) are crying out for English teachers, same situation in Russia, Poland and many other eastern European countries.

[Hank W.]

I know a few people done that "enterpreneur" option. However its the question to "prove" yourself, and all thoise people have been in Finland with some other type of permit and "gotten contacts" beforehand.

So its back to the catch-22... you would get a permit to have a job, but to get a job you need to be here with a permit already...

[Tiberias]

EF or Education First (check out their website) has oppotunities as freelancers in Finland. Request a telephone interview with them. Once a job is offered by them, contact the Finnish embassy here in Canada with their letter. The process will then be for a residence permit and work permit. They should help and provide you with the necessary forms. there is also a fee. hope this helps.

[Rosamunda]

Hmmm... I wonder why EF can't find teachers in Finland

[easily-lost]

Oh come on, it's not THAT difficult to find jobs in Finland, as long as you find the right places, and have a bit of luck. I don't understand why those PhDs would go find jobs as cleaning toilets and such, which is completely a waste of their degree!

Choose wisely and good luck!

[Tiwaz]

Oh come on, it's not THAT difficult to find jobs in Finland, as long as you find the right places, and have a bit of luck. I don't understand why those PhDs would go find jobs as cleaning toilets and such, which is completely a waste of their degree!

Choose wisely and good luck!

Because there are lots of native PhDs without jobs already...
And these are guys who can speak finnish to finns and english to others, as opposed to having guys who can only speak english.

Why is it difficult concept that for finnish employer it is not necessarily good idea to have employee who cannot communicate with locals in local language?
Yes, most finns speak pretty good english, but it does not mean they want to receive service in that language or risk losses/damage due to "lost in translation"/"lost in cultural difference".

[easily-lost]

Why is it difficult concept that for finnish employer it is not necessarily good idea to have employee who cannot communicate with locals in local language?
Yes, most finns speak pretty good english, but it does not mean they want to receive service in that language or risk losses/damage due to "lost in translation"/"lost in cultural difference".

That's why you need to let them know how unique you are to fit in this position among so many applicants, and whether the school needs teachers or not.

Still, I find it ridiculous for high degree holders to start looking for jobs that anybody could do, so why bother to get that degree if you don't use it at all?! How come not to try finding jobs related to what you studied?! There are far fewer people doing research work that PhDs could, why would they want to compete with the majority who can't do what they are able to only?

[Tiwaz]

Why is it difficult concept that for finnish employer it is not necessarily good idea to have employee who cannot communicate with locals in local language?
Yes, most finns speak pretty good english, but it does not mean they want to receive service in that language or risk losses/damage due to "lost in translation"/"lost in cultural difference".

That's why you need to let them know how unique you are to fit in this position among so many applicants, and whether the school needs teachers or not.

Still, I find it ridiculous for high degree holders to start looking for jobs that anybody could do, so why bother to get that degree if you don't use it at all?! How come not to try finding jobs related to what you studied?! There are far fewer people doing research work that PhDs could, why would they want to compete with the majority who can't do what they are able to only?

Alas, but you do not become uniquely fitting for position by wanting to be. If you fit their requirements, yes. But do NOT lie to make yourself more "unique".

And as said, foreigner tends to have extra handicap when competing with natives of same level of education. So you might not be able to compete in field where your studies are valid. That is after you sort out having your studies recognised in Finland.