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[African Girl]

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[Bubba Elvis XIV]

Do a search. there has been a fair few threads about the TEFL experience in Finland.

Ideally you should have a TEFL cert. (CELTA being the best) and a degree, preferably in languages or business. But this is Finland...So the qualifications aren't so important. The industry here is pretty much a joke and most of the companies are run by a bunch of clowns who couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery. That's not to say all the companies are bad. I've TEFLed in 3 countries, and hopefully I'll add a fourth asap.

The biggest problem you might face is the fact that you are 19. You might be considered too young or lack experience/life skills or something.

Just remember that pretty much all the TEFL work here is in-company, so you will go to a business and teach there. The work is mostly conversation classes, business English and ESP. Your childcare experience will mean jack here as you are working with adults.

Also, you will be employed on a freelance basis. So you will get a bunch of classes and get paid when you teach. If you don't teach, you don't get paid. There's no fixed monthly salary type thing.

The economic situation is quite bad...so companies aren't booking classes much. Most people are teaching less than they normally would, it is getting better though.

It's quite easy to get an interview but don't get all excited. Most companies will give anyone an interview but that doesn't mean they will give you work.

Here's a list of schools in Helsinki...there's others:

http://www.eslbase.com/schools/finland

PM me and I am happy to name and shame.

The good side is...the teaching side can be quite fun and a bit of a laugh.

[Rosamunda]

Nothing much to add to that except that in Helsinki there is a fair amount of public sector work which fills the gap when all the companies start cutting costs.

But I certainly wouldn't suggest you give up your nanny job before you've found any work. And be prepared to take a VERY long summer holiday. There is hardly any work available in the summer.

Given, as Bubba says, you are very young, I think you might stand a better chance of finding work as a tutor, giving private lessons to school kids rather than teaching adults. But to do that you would have to set yourself up as a toiminimi (self-employed tax card) which involves a bit of bureaucracy.

[onkko]

....working as an aupair (live-in-nanny). The job was ok but basically aupairs are paid next to nothing (250 or so euros per month).

You have misunderstood something, aupair isnt work and you arent working.

[Bubba Elvis XIV]

But I certainly wouldn't suggest you give up your nanny job before you've found any work. And be prepared to take a VERY long summer holiday. There is hardly any work available in the summer.

To the OP. Yeps, very true. You have to remember you won't get a fixed salary. Thank God, Christmas etc was a weekend event this year. When you take every holiday into account, you can end up working about 9-10 months of the year. There is no fixed start and stop date so work dies down before summer and then picks up slowly after.

So it means you have to save through the year...or you could do summer camps (they're mostly abroad), which can range between slave labour and a good laugh. A lot of teachers in Spain etc do the summer camp thing. But then again...I like a 2 - 3 month summer vacation!! Depends what you want from life.

There is other ways to make money in TEFL...km money is tax free here, so driving to companies is a good idea and getting day money can make a difference too.