This is the first lesson in your ''Street Education.'' This entry is not for the faint of heart. This is for non-students. It's for grown folks that have no intention on matriculating at a traditional university. This is for my peeps that are fresh off the boat and must hit the ground running. I keep it real. I am sharing lessons from my own experience in this country.
When you get to Germany, make sure you have your finances together. You have to show that you have the means or resources to stay. They don't want broke foreigners in Germany. Straight-up. You must prove to the Immigration Office that you've got paper to support yourself for at least a year. Unless you hold a student visa to enroll full-time in school, you're a responsible adult in the eyes of the law and you're expected to contribute to the German system.
How to Play The Game
There are three key items that you'll need to bring to or retrieve from Immigration:
1. An official Residential Registration: You need this in order to obtain your resident permit. In other words, you need an address. I suggest you get permission to use the address of the local Youth Hostel (of course, you have to stay there for a little while) and meet people. If you write to me and introduce yourself, I'll give you some other suggestions. The beauty of the international community is that people really do look out for you. If you're traveling abroad for the first time, I think it's always better to start off in a small German city and get your feet wet before trying to play ball in the big cities. Hence, Freiburg.
2. You need to open a bank account right here in Germany. Again, you have to show that you have some money. If your bank statement indicates that you have a low balance (less than $1000), get a letter from a family member explaining that a relative will sponsor you. Whether or not that's true is something you'll have to work out on your own. The point is that you need something in writing that verifies the source of your income.
3. If you're struggling with number two, get a job. Your employer can write you a letter certifying that you are legally employed in Germany. Teach English (more information on that later), or get a job at a local coffee shop. One interesting place where I've met employed Americans is at Starbucks, working as baristas. When I first arrived in Germany, I was advised to check out the Irish Pubs, too. Maybe you'll skip the bartender or waitress thing and work directly for an NGO like General Electric. There are many American corporations with offices throughout Germany. Research the company of your choice and find out if they have an office here.
*Once you obtain a job, you qualify for a work visa. You'll need to bring your letter of employment to the Immigration Office.
Searching For Employment
The list for gainful employment is a short-one unless you possess an adequate command of the language. Don't be like me and play your hand at the language once you arrive. Take a German course before you come here. German has been such a struggle for me but that's because I'm hard-headed and I can be lazy. However, if you prep yourself before leaving, you'll be in much better shape than me.
Teaching English is the fastest way to get into the system. There are a number of courses leading to a TESOL or Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. However, the CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) qualification is the cream of the crop. You can work anywhere in the world with a CELTA. It'll cost you somewhere between $2000 and $2500. For me, I got my teaching qualification through Transworld Schools in San Francisco. Typically these workshops run for about four weeks. You're in class everyday for around eight hours. You should accumulate at least 100 hours in classroom instruction including six hours of teaching observation overseen by a teacher trainer.
If you have any other questions about teaching English in Germany, please shoot me a quick e-mail.
Until next time...Tschüss!
Sir
Additional website information:
http://www.freiburg.de/
http://www.britishcouncil.org/teacherrecruitment-tefl-qualifications-certificates-2.htm
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