TEFL, ESL Budapest Hungary
teaching English in Budapest, Hungary

Help in finding ESL, TEFL jobs in Budapest, Hungary :
- Introduction for the indexperienced
- Arriving to Budapest, Hungary
- Qualifications and where to look
- Language Schools, Job openings
- Ads, Classifieds, other local, international sources

Introduction for the inexperienced

English language teaching for native speakers in Budapest -- or any other part of Hungary -- is of course not just about choosing the right materials and methods to use. Since you are arriving to a region you don't know just yet, you will need to pick up the pace of the local job market, housing options, accommodation, living cost, places, events, people, lifestyle, food, medical care and so on. Try getting street wise before you arrive, the differences aren't fundamental, but you ought to get ready for them none the less ( Hungary has been around in Europe for a thousand years, but its economy and history left a few generations with a sour taste in their mouth. Basically that's the only warning you'll need. )

The list might sound extensive, but thinking that moving to Hungary to teach English -- even if only for a few months -- is the same as casual travel with a part time job would be your first and last mistake. You would have a hard and unforgiving time. Don't worry, its's not that complicated, given you apply some common sense. There are things you really don't need to prepare for up front, while for some however, you are indeed better off at least reading up on.

Arriving to Budapest, Hungary

One of the most generic advice is to start looking for work after you've arrived, which works in most cases. Get yourself comfortable, allow a day or two to accommodate, and start from there... if your budget doesn't allow this much, you probably should save up some money first. It's not like there's guaranteed placement for everyone, to be on the safe side you ought to have funds for staying and spending money for at least a month or two. As for accommodation, you're probably best off renting an apartment, but that you really have to do through local sources, as it's considerably cheaper than over the net. A smaller apartment can cost anything from 40.000 Fts a month to 100.000 depending on the location and how badly you allow the real estate agency to rip you off >:-)

You might want to crash at a cheap Budapest hotels or hostels near downtown ( click for examples ) until you find the right condo for yourself. Also, some owners will ask for a safety deposit, which is usually one to three month's worth of your rent, and which you'll get back as soon as you move out. From this short introduction you should know, the amount of time you devote to finding the right agency ( there're a lot of them ) and the right apartment is parallel to the level of comfort and reduces the cost. So until you get street wise, again find and stay in a cheap Budapest hotel ( nifty Budapest-accommodation-map, click to see... and don't worry it opens a in another window )... it shouldn't be for long anyway, a couple of days at most.

Qualifications and where to look. ESL, EFL, ELT, TESL, TEFL, CELTA...

While there's an abundance of private language schools, and the English language is taught in public schools all the same, job openings aren't always easy to find. First of all, not every school posts an ad every single time they need a new teacher. Secondly, if you don't have a degree or even a certificate, you should skip all public schools and universities, don't even bother to apply. You will still be able to teach in private and language schools. Considering the competition, you are better up with having at least a recommendation, and some ( years ) of experience in teaching English as a foreign language if applying to a major school. Find job openings in:

- local newspapers, magazines, classified ads ( looking for private native teachers )
- at the websites of the local language schools
- online at the websites of English language press and publications of Hungary
- online at major TEFL, ESL, ELT job portals
- if none of the above brings any success, post your own classified ads!

Or simply by passing around your resume and CV to all of the local schools you'd like to teach in.
This method is surprisingly effective.

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Teaching English, JOBS:
Language Schools

Katedra Language School - Hungarian website - English website - Teacher positions

Claiming to be the market leader, and rightfully so. You're hardly able to avoid their ads even if you don't read any newspapers or magazines. The school is based in Budapest, but they offer courses in an additional 24 towns in Hungary, and something that makes them different from most private language schools is, that they do so at their own premises. Their size permits them to choose only the best teachers so some experience and a teacher's degree is a big plus, although not necessarily a prerequisite.

"If you want to be a member of a young, friendly and supportive teaching staff either as a temp or for a long-term engagement, please send your CV in English with a photo to: tanar@katedra.hu"

Address: Katedra Nyelviskola
1075 Budapest Madách tér 4. / Contact person: Marschall Fruzsina
Phone: +3613278390 / E-mail: tanar@katedra.hu

International House Budapest - Hungarian website - English website - Teacher positions

Part of the International House World Organization, a language school and teacher training center, with a wide variety of courses and jobs, some more flexible, some with a tighter schedule ( 22 hours and course related administrative work ). They have their HQ in Budapest, but there's a school in Eger as well. Needless to say they are one of the largest, highest quality schools in the country. They prefer teachers with at least a CELTA certificate ( Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults ) or a CTEFLA, but a degree in teaching and any other qualifications will only help of course. They offer three kinds of positions, full time, part time, and client coordinator... ( visit their teacher positions page to learn what that means ).

Addresses ( there's a different contact email for every job, so visit the website! ):

Budapest, 2nd District, Bimbó út 7
(postal address: Budapest Pf. 92, 1276 Hungary)
Tel.: (+36-1-)212-4010 / Fax: (+36-1-)316-2491 / E-mail: info@ih.hu

Eger Mecset u. 3., 3300 Hungary
Tel.: (+36-36-)413-770 / Fax: (+36-36-)413-770 / E-mail: admin@iheger.hu

International Language Centers - Hungarian website - English website - Teacher positions

ILC ( stands for International Language Centers ) is a private language school in Budapest, that specializes in conversational environments. While they have other courses available their main focus is on the Callan Method, which provides a stress-free, more casual but all-English course to pound the grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary in the students' memories in a much friendlier way. And four times faster, or so they claim ;-) While most of their teachers hold a CELTA certificate and a teacher's degree, they actively seek out native English speakers from all around the world to help people get used to the different accents, further raising their skills in understanding the language. For these positions a degree / certificate seems a plus, but not required.

Contact: For general course and school information: Malgorzata Randé – Director of School. For teaching information: Michael Martin – Director of Studies

Addresses: ILC Nyelviskola
Markovits Iván utca 4. I/5
Phone: +36 (01) 202 33 37 / Mobile: +36 20 349 33 36
Fax: + 36 (01) 202 33 37 / Email: info@ilc.hu

London Studio - Hungarian website - Teacher positions ( also in Hungarian! )

Judging only by their activity on the market they are probably the runner up behind Katedra. Yet they don't have an English language website for me to point you to, if you are already in Budapest you will find their flyers / ads / posters on every corner. None the less you may try to contact them through the person who's in charge for the employment applications.

Stépánné Dr. Vancsa Ágnes - agnes.stepan@londonstudio.hu
Postal Address: H-1117 Budapest, Október huszonharmadika u. 6-10.
Phone: (+36 ) (1) 385-0177

Concord Language School - Hungarian website - Teacher positions ( in English )

Concord has specialized itself in English courses and translation for the corporate sector, and offers its services for companies only. They also offer special training with focus on technical and business English. Their partner list is like the fortune 500 of Hungary, their HQ is in Budapest, and as many other of the bigger schools, it's in Buda, the 2nd district. Visit their page for employing native English speaking teachers, as they have some conditions you are unlikely to be prepared for, and which have little to do with a CELTA or CTEFL certificate... and more with taxes.

Phone: ( +36 ) ( 1 ) 336-11-48 / ( +36 ) ( 1 ) 336-11-49 / Fax: ( +36 ) ( 1 ) 326-56-70
E-mail: nyelviskola@concord.hu / Postal address: H-1025 – Budapest, Pusztaszeri út 70/c.

Superkids - English website - Teacher positions

Following on the list is an idea that some would think of as a bit off-course. It may not be the biggest leap in a TEFL career, but if you find yourself feeling up for this demanding job, at least you now know where your real interests are. Superkids is a very famous and prestigious Budapest preschool and kindergarten, in Völgy utca ( Valley street ) deep within the most pleasant area of the 2nd district, under age old trees on premises as large as a smaller university. If you're up to teaching English or teaching in English ( to native English speaking kids ) in such a friendly environment, you can try sending an application.

Address: H-1021 Budapest, Völgy u. 1-3.
Office phone: (36-1) 200-0644 ext 1 / Tel/Fax: (36-1) 394-3815, (36-1) 394-3858
E-mail: info@superkids.hu

M-Prospect Language School - Hungarian website - English website - Teacher positions

M-Prospect has quite a list of activities involving foreign languages, from translation to on-scene company training to one on one lessons in their own schools. The offered languages aren't limited to English either, although it is their main profile. If you're interested in jobs that require native English, aside actually teaching it, you may also want to contact them. But they do have teacher positions open of course. Visit their website for more information, and keep in mind that the left navigation is for the translation section, the top-middle is for the language school. Their headquarters are about 60 Kms ( less than 40 miles ) Southwest of Budapest, in the city of Székesfehérvár, Hungary.

Centre telephone: 00 36 22 311-653 / Centre fax: 00 33 22 311-653
Centre mobile: 00-36-20-9-940-920 / Centre E-mail: office@m-prospect.hu
Address: H-8000, Székesfehérvár, Kossuth utca 8. Hungary

Lingua: School of English - English / Hungarian website

A veteran of the Budapest language schools, Lingua has a much more professional approach than their website would suggest. They have been around ever since English teaching / learning has become a vital part of conducting business in Hungary, and as so, their resume has some interesting companies and organizations listed, including the police! : ) They rarely post job openings, but sending an application is still recommended.

Address: H-1055 Budapest, Szent István krt. 7.
Phone: (+36)(1) 302-55-46, (+36)(1) 312-4989/ Fax: 302 5402
Email: lingua@angol.hu

H-Net Professional Language Studio - Hungarian website - English website

As most of the schools on the list, this company is also an accredited source for learning English. Their motto is "Professionalism for professionals", and to reflect that, their services include a lot of the regular and some not so ordinary services, providing special language training for companies, individuals and also a wide range of public service organizations -- even the Hungarian Ministry of Health and Ministry of Defence! They have a large team specializing in many areas ( including STANAG, the standardized English for NATO ) and are often posting job openings on their "news" page. A real professional language studio with some rare areas covered in their program including -- but definately not limited to -- teaching military language to the army. Their headquarters and in house classes are in Budapest, right in the center of the real downtown, at the Nyugati square.

H-Net Professional Language Studio
Address: H-1137, Budapest, Nyugati tér 4.
Phone: ( +36 ) ( 1 ) 239 22 54 / ( +36 ) ( 1 ) 786 24 01 / Email: info@h-net.hu

One Word - Hungarian website - English website - Teacher positions

A relatively veteran school, under a relatively new name, One Word is yet another example of schools trying to be flexible enough to attract more students. If you'd like to teach English one on one, or to small groups of at most six people, check out their job openings. Their courses and lessons are always adjusted to the needs of their clients, so get your calendar and pen ready. They have studios in Budapest and Veszprém.

One Word Ltd.
Address: H-1074 Budapest, 49 Dob str.
Tel./Fax: 06-1-266-0096 / Mobile: 06-30-555-8030
E-mail: info@oneword.hu

H-8200 Veszprém, 19 Egyetem str. I/2. / Tel./fax: 06-88-789-664

Berlitz Hungary - Hungarian website - English website

Don't let a brand name scare you away. Berlitz Hungary has a lot of different courses for different sectors, ages and purposes, and as so, it's constantly seeking native English teachers. Job openings are usually posted on their website along with the contact information. ( Their current ad offers both part time and full time jobs, although a teacher's degree or higher education certificate required. They currently have two offices in Budapest, both in the heart of downtown:

Budapest - HU-1065 Bajcsy-Zsilinszkyút 29. 4th floor
Phone: +36 1 475 2050 / Fax: +36 1 475 2059

Budapest - HU-1052 Váci u. 11/b 4th floor
Phone: +36 1 486 2130 / Fax: +36 1 486 2135

Ring / Dint Language School - Hungarian website - Teacher positions ( in Hungarian! )

RING is not a single school, rather an association of schools. Their main profile is adult education but the company is so extensive that they have anything and everything from personal language training to company courses. You can even rent your own classroom from them if you think you can fill it with students by yourself. Either way, their contact for the ELT job openings are in Hungarian only, but since the specifics are rather short ( language degree for local teachers, no information for native speakers of English, and be able to provide an invoice, although not sure if that's a requirement for people from abroad ), you can send your CV to tanar@dint.hu .

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Teaching English, JOBS:
Ads, Classifieds, some great local and international sources

Pesti Est Apró ( Classifieds ) Language teaching - Hungarian website

The online classifieds of Pesti Est, or Est.hu. Pesti Est might come up later as well, as it's the best resource for local events, entertainment, venues, movies, music, shows... and so on, and has a website that isn't just a mirror of this weekly free booklet. That means that you could just as well pick up a copy ( available nearly everywhere, clubs, restaurants, movie theaters, McDonalds, Burger King... ;-) and browse through the classifieds in there as well.

Expats Hungary ( jobs forum ) - English website

A not so frequented, but on topic source to look for, or post job requests.

JobMonkey - Searching for work in Hungary - English website

Some generic tips on how to look for a job in Hungary, although nothing special, it may cover some aspects this website does not, or in a manner that is more suitable for people arriving from the US.

TEFL.com Job search - English website
ESLBase.com Job search - English website

Surprisingly short lists of jobs available in Hungary, but exactly because of that, they're unlikely to overlap the local ads, classifieds or job openings you find by yourself. Consider these resources as supplemental.

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