Jobs teaching English in Hamburg

Hello, I'm moving to Hamburg this fall and I was wondering if anyone has any advice on getting a job as an ESL teacher. Several people that I have met on this forum said they worked as ESL teachers. Does anyone have any information on good online certificates and teaching jobs?
I'd really appreciate any advice,
Thanks!

hi,
here's a link to a website with various schools in hamburg.

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

Do you have any teaching experience?
i have no certificates and still find lots of work.
Take your resume around to all the places and ask if they are looking for teachers.
Get a bestätigung from them that they are willing to employ you and that you could possiby
make x-€ per month, bring that/those forms to the Work permit people.
Look into doing a Berlitz training before you get here. don't know how they work in the states,
but here the training period is 8 unpaid days and they only train a few times a year.
but if you do the training, or are already trained, you get work with them almost right away.

other questiones

Bring me a slice from Uno when you come.

t.

I was planning on getting certified to teach before moving to Europe. I'm in college right now so an online class seemed like the best. Also I have heard that I won't be hired until I can speak at least some basic German. Other than taking some classes in education I don't have any teaching experience. I think I've heard of Berlitz before, I will check it out.

Thanks for your help

actually no, in terms of teaching that is. at berlitz the 'rule' is absolutely no language other than the target.
some schools might like to know that you can speak a little german to be able to communicate with them regarding scheduling and so forth,
but not likely. that kind of vocab is easily picked up.

That's good to know, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get a job unless I could speak some German. I checked out the Berlitz in Chicago. Are resumes pretty much the same as in the States?

resumes are pretty much the same, but it's very common to see photos, marital status, age... and other personal crap.

My boyfriend has been telling me that it isn't worth working unless 1) I make enough money after taxes to offset the amount he would loose in tax breaks because I have a job 2) I make so little money it isn't taxed at all.

Dose anyone know how much ESL teachers are taxed, if employers provide health insurance and what they typical hours are?

Most work as freelancers, which means you get a tax number, keep track of your earnings, and file your taxes yourself (or with help).
Also means you have to get your own health insurance, etc.
If you make over 7,500 or so a year then you will pay some tax. If you can get private clients you can sometimes work under the table.
Hours usually are early mornings or after 5 if you travel around to companies (most language schools offer such a service) since that doesn't break up their working day. In my experience at least.

So I can expect to pay standard (about 40%) taxes plus health insurance?

I have recently been offered a job on a freelance basis teaching English for 16 Euros an hour. Is this pretty average? I am wondering if I should take the job or keep looking for perhaps a mini job. Currently I am on my husband's health insurance and I would prefer not to have to take out my own private insurance. It seems like unless I work a lot, it will cost me money to have this kind of job rather than help out. My accountant said that it will put my husband in a higher tax bracket and that I will also be in a higher tax bracket because of my husband's income. I am really just looking for a part time job. Any advice?

Hi MaryManu

If you stay earning under the 400 euro (in the hand) per month mark (if it is a mini-job) then you don't need to get your own insurance and it also won't change your husbands tax bracket but for a freelance position or self-employed position that figure goes down to 350 euro per month. So, I guess it depends on how many hours they have offered you as to whether it's a good thing or not. At the rate they are offering you could safely do 20 hours per month as a freelancer. I think 16 per hour is a really good rate for teaching English? I was only offered 12 per hour but of course that is the mini-job rate so you have to do more hours to get the same money...

Good luck with that!

Brenda

It's not a mini job, but they are offering me less than part time if I want it. However that would be something like 64 hours a month, so I wouldn't fall under that lower level. I am so confused as everyone tells me something different. I have heard you can be "okay" under 400, now 350, and still another person told me that's not actually accurate but that some people get away with not paying taxes only because they make such a small amount and "stay under the radar." I would love to find a mini job but again one where my speaking English is a commodity rather than a hindrance. I have been told it will be hard for me to find a mini job as a non-German speaker because I would be taking away a job from a German and the company would be hard pressed to prove that they needed to hire me over a German person. Any thoughts?

Not if you have an unrestricted residence and work permit ...

I don't have an unrestricted residence or work permit. I am here simply because my [American] husband works in Hamburg. I contacted my German tax person about my above question and this is what he said, if anyone else reading this post is interested:

"You can earn, freelancing, up to about EUR 325-350 per month before you have to pay medical insurance. For the exact amount you need to ask your insurer- each is a bit different, as I understand it. You can have tax-free jobs all over town, so long as in total you don’t earn more than EUR 400 per month."

Did you inform your tax person about the lack of permits?

Access to the German labour market

Foreign nationals other than European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals may as a rule only reside in Germany for the purpose of taking up gainful employment if they have the requisite residence permit. They may not work without it. Australian, Canadian, Israeli, Japanese, South Korean, New Zealand and US citizens may acquire this residence permit from the competent foreigners authority after their arrival in Germany. They may not however commence gainful employment until they have the permit ...