Alexandria Program FAQs
Questions about Alexandria
What is an average program day like? What's the schedule?
The initial orientation is usually on Saturday evening prior to the course start date at 6:00 p.m. The first class will take place Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. The course schedule will be provided on Monday morning. Sessions generally run between 9:00 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. with appropriate breaks. In the first 2 weeks of the course, classes run Monday through Friday. In the last 2 weeks, during the teaching practice, classes are held from Saturday to Thursday; a typical school week in Egypt. The first two weeks are input sessions where trainees acquire teaching techniques, classroom management, grammar, phonology, Arabic language and culture, and other components of the course. Teaching practice starts in the last 2 weeks of the course. It includes live teaching observation, shared teaching practice and 6 teaching practice classes. In a typical day during the teaching practice time, trainees go to the teaching practice school to give their lesson in the morning and in the afternoon they prepare for the next teaching practice class with the assistance for the trainers at the center.
Does TEFL International offer any included excursions?
The Alexandria course includes two FREE excursions: A one-day trip to Cairo, usually at the end of the course - you will visit the pyramids, the Egyptian museum, and you will go on a boat ride on the River Nile. The other excursion is a three-night trip to Sharm El-Sheikh, a resort location on the Red Sea. The trip includes transportation and accommodation in a four or five-star hotel depending on reservation availability.
What is the TEFL job market like in Egypt? Will I have trouble getting a job?
The current demand for TEFL teachers in Egypt is quite high. In locations such as Cairo, Alexandria, Heliopolis, Maadi and Zamalek there are opportunities for qualified EFL teachers, while in other parts of the country the prospects are still good. Work is available in the business and tourism sectors, as well as in private language schools, which are numerous in the major cities.
What is the average teaching salary?
Salaries in Egypt vary widely. They range between 800 and 3000 Egyptian Pounds (US$ 100-500) per month. Most teachers in Egypt depend on private tutoring for higher income. Also, most Egyptian schools do not provide accommodations for their teachers.
Does TEFL International offer any sort of flight discounts to Egypt?
While TEFL International is not involved directly with flights and travel arrangements we would like to recommend STA Travel for all of your travel needs. They offer competitive rates, flexible return flights, and travel insurance. Please visit them at www.statravel.com/teflcourse for more information.
Do I need a Visa? How do I get one?
You will be required to get a tourist visa (our course is registered as a seminar in Egypt, not as a school) from the nearest Egyptian Consulate or Embassy. This process takes about one week. You can also obtain your visa upon arrival in Cairo. We recommend getting your visa before you leave your home country not to waste time at the airport waiting for the visa. If you want to stay longer in Egypt you can extend your stay for periods up to one year. If you want to extend your stay for three months it will cost you about one USD. You will pay about two USD for six month and 8USD for one year. For more information on obtaining visas please visit one of the following web websites: * www.traveldocs.com/eg/ * www.worldrover.com/entry/egypt_embassy.html * projectvisa.com/countryinfo.asp?countrycode=eg
What will TEFL International do to help me secure employment?
Our knowledgeable staff is available to assist you in resume preparation, interview consultation, and application procedures. Course graduates are also given lifetime access to our extensive database of job openings with contact information and details of institutions all over the world.
How many students on average are in the program each month?
On average we have about nine to twelve students enrolled in each program, most of which are American, Canadian or British. They are typically between 22 and 50 years old, but we often have students who are 60 or even near 80 years old.
How do we get around Alexandria once we're there?
There are different means of transportation in Alexandria such as the tram, buses, vans and taxis. The most comfortable of which are taxis. As well, they are not expensive; the usual rides inside Alexandria will cost something between 2 and 5 pounds.
In summer it is hot. The average high is 93 degrees and it is very dry. Cotton wear is the best for this season. You can buy Egyptian-cotton clothes at great prices in Egypt. The rainy season in Egypt is from October to March and it is rather cold then, with highs in the lower 60's. Warm clothes and raincoats are recommended then.