The Place
The picturesque city of Prague is at the cultural and historical crossroads of Europe. The Czech capital is a
Mecca for tourists all year round. Visitors come to the city to see the stunning gothic and baroque architecture
and to take in its many and varied cultural events. Prague is the city of music. For some a visit to Prague is an
opportunity to sample many of the country's cheap frothy beers and famous goulash !
The Lifestyle
Prague has a buzzing and active social life. All tastes are catered for with a large number of beer halls, jazz bars, cafes and night-clubs scattered throughout the city.
For the sports and outdoors enthusiasts, everything can be found in Prague or within an hour's drive of the city. From skiing in winter, to trekking, fishing and camping in the summer. Czechs are an active people and enjoy "getting away from it all" for the weekend and holidays.
The People
The local people are friendly and welcoming to visitors and enjoy sharing their love of Prague with those they meet. Though there are over a million inhabitants in Prague itself, the city is small enough to radiate a warm, inviting feeling and is a place that locals and expatriates alike are proud to call home.
The School
Prague Schools takes a slightly different approach to TEFL teaching. We concentrate our resources purely on teacher-training and the placement of our graduates, either in the Czech Republic or within our world-wide network of associate schools.
- The Trinity CertTESOL / TEFL course is recognised all over the world (see below) giving you far better
chances of securing a job.
- Our tutor to trainee ratio is 1:4
- Our TESOL /TEFL course is moderated by Trinity itself, insuring the highest level of quality, and
recognised by the British Council.
- Our TESOL/TEFL courses are attended by a large percentage of trainees through personal
recommendation.
- And not leastly, Prague is a highly-charged and thrilling venue!
INTRODUCTION TO LIFE IN PRAGUE
Language
Czech is a member of the western group of Slavonic languages. It is closely related to Slovak. English is nowadays more widely spoken than it was in the past and, together with German is the most common foreign language in the Czech republic. Although a knowledge of Russian will help with grammatical aspects of the Czech language, it might not be appreciated while communicating with the Czech people, due to their past relationship with USSR.Food
There are an enormous number of restaurants and pubs in Prague and the Czech Republic. An average meal consists of a soup and main course, usually meat with other "trimmings". The "trimmings" may be potatoes, rice, pasta or dumplings made from bread or potatoes. Vegetable salads are on menus everywhere. There are usually quite a few dishes on the menu, suitable for vegetarians and vegans.Drink
Drinking is a favourite national pastime in the Czech republic. Beer is especially popular here in the home of Pilsner Urquell and Budvar / Budweisser. But do not be confused with the American Budweiser. Beer is not the only favourite either. There are quite a few local spirits too such as Slivovica, Becherovka or Fernet which are definitely worth a try!Money / Banks
Using major credit or debit cards is a daily routine for making payments or withdrawing cash from the cash points. VISA, MASTERCARD and American Express are the best way to access funds abroad. There is no need to worry about using cash dispensers and on-line credit card facilities in shops. These are safe and guaranteed by the authorities.The cost of living
English teachers in Eastern Europe can live a comfortable lifestyle but will
probably not be able to establish much in the way of savings. For instance, in Prague,
teachers earn around 180-200 CZK/hour while working in language schools.
Those who do freelance work can earn from 300-500CZK/hour. (Keep in mind the exchange rate is approx. 30
CZK/$1)
The cost of living in Eastern Europe varies from country to country but you will live a comfortable lifestyle. We
can give you an example of living expenses in the Czech Republic. This will be comparable but not exact with other
Eastern European cities. For more information please send us a note of your country of interest.
Prices
Furnished apartment with utilities included, close to the centre
7,000-9,000 CZK for a studio or 1 bedroom
10,000-15,000 for 2 bedroom (many teachers choose to room together in order to cut the housing expense almost in
1/2.)
Travel pass for the city of Prague
420 CZK for one month, (includes, bus, metro, tram and funicular)
Groceries for one month
1500-2500 CZK (depends how much you eat out but it is possible to get by on 500 CZK/week for groceries.)
Eating out (depends on restaurant)
Average price of a meal and beer/wine/soda at a nice Italian Pizzeria 200-250 CZK, Czech Restaurant 70-150 CZK
depending on the quality of the restaurant.
A beer in a pub 18 - 30 CZK
Supermarket prices:
A large loaf of brown bread - 20 CZK
A litre of milk - 15 CZK
A litre of mineral water - 12 CZK
A 1 litre bottle of beer - 10-15 CZK
these are approximate prices.
INFO SITES
Prague
www.inyourpocket.com/cr/prague/en/
Public transport
Maps
the Czech republic
HOW TO GET TO PRAGUE
By coach
Town to Town
By plane
VISA
Details of visa requirements for different nationalities intending to travel to the Czech republic:
Visa free entry
(on arrival, visitors receive different number of days according to their country of origin)
British - 180 days
US - 90 days
New Zealand - 90 days
Australian - 90 days
Canadian - 90 days
The above information is subject to change and we suggest you confirm this with the nearest Czech Embassy.
Phone number for the Czech Embassy in
UK - 0044 (0)207 243 11 15
USA - 001 20 22 749 100
New Zealand - 0061 262 901 386
Canada - 001 61 35 623 875
Australia - 0061 262 901 386
Visa required
(please contact the nearest Czech Embassy)
South African
Phone number for the Czech Embassy in
South Africa - 0027 124 312 380
Prague Schools strongly advises that you check visa requirements prior to making travel arrangements, as requirements are liable to change at short notice. Prague Schools accepts no responsibility for costs incurred due to denial of permission to travel due to visa restrictions.
Please feel free to contact Prague Schools for further information - info
tefl.cz
TRAVEL INSURANCE
In order to maximize the pleasure of staying abroad even when unfortunate and unexpected circumstances arise, you should have health insurance. This will help you focus fully on your TEFL certificate course.
If you don't have an existing policy, which will cover you while travelling or living abroad, you should obtain one available from a variety of sources. Many domestic insurers have provisions for short-term international travel, and some credit cards carry basic travel insurance. It is worth checking with your credit or debit card issuer whether or not you are covered.
When obtaining information about insurance bear in mind the differing types. The main difference is whether or not your insurance may be accepted as partial or full payment. The majority of hospitals require the patient to pay up front in full, which means that the patient must wait to be reimbursed by the insurance company at a later date. This does not apply for basic first aid.
Prague Schools is able to assist in obtaining basic health insurance for the duration of the course. It is valid for first aid only and costs 30 CZK per day, which is approximately $1 per day. Such insurance can be arranged on the first working day after your arrival. Should you wish us to arrange this for you, please contact our student coordinator in advance.
There are also many insurance providers listed on the Internet, which can be found if searching for "travel insurance" key word.
For further information or assistance, you can contact our student coordinator at coordinatortefl.cz.
Insurance for TEFL/TESOL teachers - http://www.health-insurance-4-tefl-tesl-instructors.com