Category Archives: Ethiopia

Teaching English in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Report submitted on 28 September, 2014 by Mike Kewer.

Teaching English in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia:

How can teachers find teaching jobs in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia?
I went through seriousteachers.com who allow people to pay about £23.00 to have their details sent to up to 10 countries. I put Ethiopia in my choices to make up the 10 options and it was the only job offer that came through after spending four lots of £23 without Ethiopia I might add.

The lack of responses may be due to the fact that I am 57 years old and obviously no one would want to be taught by anyone much more than 20 years old.

The main English teaching jobs available are:
Teaching at private international schools.

What are the minimum teaching requirements?
– Degree
– TEFL
– PTLLS
– Enhanced DBS
– Over 2 years experience
– Also the qualifications need to be notarised and then apostilled.
– Hint: instead of getting each certificate notarised/apostilled, make copies and get one notary certificate for all the copies and then get one apostille.. That’s the difference between the £135 I paid £1500 plus VAT that another Notary tried to charge me for everything.

What teaching requirements would you recommend?
– Degree
– TEFL
– Enhanced DBS
– Over 2 years experience

How many teaching days a week is normal?
5 days per week.

How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
20 hours per week.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to teach English?
Think seriously about looking for work there because I think it’s better than working for a sub-standard Training Centre in China or anywhere else because the schools are properly regulated.

What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia?
It’s kind of a newly opened country and as it’s up high (2400 feet above sea level) then the day time temp is in the 70’s and night time is in the low 10’s – plus no malaria risks.

What are some of the teaching challenges for English teachers teaching the local people in your area?
Ethiopians have a different language called Amharic, and they don’t have a English style alphabet.

Living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia:

Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in Ethiopia?
Yes, you need a business visa that costs £22 for a multiple entries and then a work permit.  Also notarising services and apostille too.

What are the usual accommodation arrangements and how can you find accommodation?
The school supplies the house, it is shared with two to three teachers.
The house is a new build and near the school.

Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia?
I’m not working for one of those Training Centre Corporations where money is more important than education.

Other than teaching, what negative aspects are there for living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia?
Age discrimination.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to live?
Don’t be over 45 years old.

What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
I have travelled widely from Australia to China, Romania, Moldova, Russia, Czech Republic, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore – my last case of homesickness was in Australia in 1990.  I miss almost nothing because I accept that being overseas isn’t like being at home and that I should enjoy the experience.

What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country (e.g. things that are difficult to get in your location)?
Reference books, bring a Microsoft Surface with your lap top, DVDs or download films off youtube, use a proxy server to watch BBC programmes if the internet is working. Also download as many ESOL resources as possible for the reason previous.

What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave Addis Ababa, Ethiopia?

About Me and My Work:

My Name: Mike Kewer

Nationality: British

Students I’ve taught in Ethiopia: Elementary (6-12 years), junior high school (12-15 years), high school (15-18 years), university, adults, business.

Where I teach: Fountain of Knowledge School in Addis Ababa.

How I found my current jobs: Seriousteachers.com.

My school facilities: Excellent.  They are doing as good as they can with limited internet and other resources.

Teacher support at my school: Training / workshops, lesson observations, teacher evaluations, peer support / training

Do you teach English in Ethiopia?

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