| The short and easy answer is "YES". | | | | when I say that." |
| In fact anyone who has graduated from high school | | | | Basically your learning the lingo. |
| and has a good grasp of their own language can | | | | A TOEFL certificate would be a big advantage and |
| make a comfortable living as a freelance trainer in | | | | you can do the course in the evenings or at |
| Germany. | | | | weekends. It's worth the relatively small price you pay. |
| However, a little prep work is required in order to avert | | | | 3. Observe the culture. |
| disaster. | | | | Search the net, read German authors and watch |
| Over the years I've seen so many people come full of | | | | German movies. |
| enthusiasm only to leave in tears a few short months | | | | Learn a little about the German culture. |
| later. I can't guarantee you success but if you follow | | | | Germans are a lot more reserved than British or |
| the 5 guidelines below then your adjustment will be a | | | | Americans and need a little more time to warm up. |
| lot easier. | | | | Don't mistake this for unfriendliness. Once you gain |
| 1. Learn some basic German. | | | | their trust you won't find more loyal friends. Eating on |
| You don't have to be a fluent speaker but a few | | | | the street can be frowned upon but drinking a bottle of |
| months before your trip you should buy a basic phrase | | | | beer on your way home from work isn't really out of |
| book. "Where is the train station?" "How much is this?" | | | | place. |
| etc. | | | | 4. Have your papers ready. |
| Make sure it has a phonetic pronunciation guide. | | | | The people here are highly organized and for us |
| It doesn't matter if your German is terrible at the start, | | | | maybe a little too bureaucratic. |
| as long as you make the effort to speak the language | | | | Make sure you have all your relevant education |
| then most of the natives will try their best to help you. | | | | papers, tax info. , social security etc. |
| DO NOT blurt out "Hey dude, where can a guy get | | | | You also have to register for a work permit but most |
| himself a mickey dees and a cold bottle of suds in this | | | | schools will help you with this process. Although the |
| town?" Although a lot West Germans had a little | | | | authorities are more tolerant with non-German |
| English in school most of them have forgotten it. How | | | | speakers they still expect everything to be done |
| much high school French or Spanish can you | | | | exactly right. If you have to organize your work permit |
| remember!?! | | | | by yourself then try to have a bi-lingual speaker with |
| 2. Brush up your grammar. | | | | you. |
| Native speakers use complex grammar structures | | | | 5. Have a "Plan B". |
| without thinking what they are called. | | | | Even with the greatest preparation things can |
| Now you need to learn the names and when they are | | | | sometimes go wrong. |
| used. DON'T PANIC! | | | | Make sure that you have an open return plane ticket, |
| Essential Grammar In Use ISBN 3-12-533460-8 | | | | travel insurance and enough emergency money with |
| This book is the bible for English trainers and it's written | | | | you in case things don't go as planned. |
| simply and clearly. | | | | It could be that you get here and the culture shock is |
| GET IT NOW! Read it from cover to cover and do all | | | | too great, maybe you have a skiing mishap on your |
| the exercises. | | | | day off or being an English trainer isn't all you thought it |
| Remember you are not learning the language, just | | | | would be. |
| brushing up. | | | | It's better to be safe than sorry. |
| I remember thinking "wow, so that's what it's called | | | | |