Moving to Pisa
 

Hi all, After some deep soul searching I have decided to forget moving to Spain and am now in the final stages of moving to Pisa, I am doing a TEFL course and have secured a temp teaching position about 20 mins outside of Pisa. Starting the middle of April 09.

My question is are there many expats in this region, and should I be aware of any pitfalls regarding teaching at private language schools.

Thanks in anticipation

Re: Moving to Pisa
 

welcome to the forum and eventually to Pisa.

As for the job - ask about holiday pay - sick pay - and if they pay you something over the summer months if they close.

You must also ask what kind of Italian contract you I know some teachers are required to pay their own INPS contrubutions.
Istituto Nazionale Previdenza Sociale


As for the teaching side of it ........ Italians have no equivalent to our present perfect tense so be prepared for lots of explanations as to why they cannot say :

How long you know Paolo?
How many years you live in Italy?

Re: Moving to Pisa
 

missed out a bit ............

contract you will have .........

Re: Moving to Pisa
 

Kevray

What kind of school are you going to work in???

Somewhere like Inlingua if so let me know and I'll tell you all I have worked in 4 different schools so have a bit of experience of how they work.

Re: Moving to Pisa
 

If you're an Irish girl living in Pisa would your name be Eileen?

Re: Moving to Pisa
 

:lol:...you're bored aren't you

Re: Moving to Pisa
 

:o :o Day trading, looking for jobs, watching Toy Story for the umteenth time and taking the mickey on BE. It's obvious isn't it. Off to the gym later

Re: Moving to Pisa
 

Don't worry,your transparency is safe with me :)

Re: Moving to Pisa
 

Lord Lionheart

Don't think I said I lived in Pisa!!!

Gosh I do attract them!!! LOL

Re: Moving to Pisa
 

HI, the contract is for just two months, about 20 hours a week, my thoughts being that once actually being in Italy it will be easier o find something more suitable., but thanks for the points, had not realised about INPS.

Re: Moving to Pisa
 

Hi Irish, its a private school run by an acquaintance, who kindly said I could get started there, She's a brave woman lol, its in a village called Calci.

Re: Moving to Pisa
 

Well in my opinion if you have someone who can help you get started that is great.

My experience of working in private schools was not on the whole negative but the hours are irregular sometimes early starts then a few hours waiting around then late night lessons. The pay is terrible and if you do business english in companies you might also have to take buses all around PISA.

It really depends on the school and how it is run, for example I worked in one school who always gave me false information on the levels of the students ie said they were book 2 and not book 1, so you walk into the room and start speaking english and you would get blank looks. (Not to mention the time lost on preparing a lesson which you couldn't use).

These schools just want to make money they don't care about the students or their teachers. IF you start with a positive attitude prepare your lessons introduce a bit of fun you and your students will enjoy it.

Beginners are easier students as far as teaching grammar goes but it is hard to build a relationship with them because usually you do not converse with them in italian.

Intermediate are the confident group who will ask millions of questions re grammar, but you can build a quick rapport with them and some may become friends.

Anyway this is just a broad outline if I can help you with anything else let me know.

By the way I don't know Pisa personally but it is a University town so I imagine there is lots going on for young people.

Re: Moving to Pisa
 

and even if your students are following a book - you might need some back-up exercises.

I have hundreds in my pc so if you need anything, shout before typing out loads of lessons, excercises or grammar rules yourself.

Re: Moving to Pisa
 

Also there are some very good web sites for teachers ie onestopenglish. This is something maybe you should ask - some schools have their own books ie Inlingua and are pretty free about letting you introduce other material others like Oxford use books like Cutting Edge and you have to finish so many units with your students or they ask why you haven't. For me this is a bad idea if you have some slower students you must move on even if you know they haven't got the point because the schools say you must finish so many units.

MONEY MONEY MONEY

Re: Moving to Pisa
 

Lorna Irish, many many thanks for your support, its most welcome and I Shall take you up on those offers.

Love the idea of a good night life in Pisa, but maybe I would get arrested for being a dirty old man:lol:, I shall remember to pack my old raincoat:rofl: