Prague language schools do not expect exodus of UK teachers in wake of Brexit

Prague, Jan 26 (CTK) – Czech language schools do not expect a dramatic decline in the number of their British teachers after Brexit, but they admit that Britain’s withdrawal from the EU might lower their interest in long-term stays in the Czech Republic, the schools’ representatives have told CTK.

This is why language schools are offering help with administrative formalities concerning work permit and health insurance to them for the future.

English is the far most popular foreign language in the Czech Republic.

“We do not fear any dramatic decrease in the number of our teachers also because UK citizens will enjoy the advantages of European Union citizens in the Czech Republic for a transition period,” Bibiana Machatova, deputy chairwoman of the Association of Language Schools in the Czech Republic, said.

Despite that, Brexit will increase the administrative burden for both British teachers and language schools, which might discourage some of the teachers from extending their stays in the Czech Republic, she said.

Machata is the academic director of the Edua Group’s language section, including the James Cook Languages (JCL), Jipka and Caledonian School.

JCL executive director Martin Borl said most of the British language teachers in the Czech Republic did not agree with Britain’s departure from the EU. They fear its economic and political consequences, he added.

This is also why language schools are trying to minimise the Brexit impact.

The JCL organises events in Britain to recruit native speakers as its teachers, addressing primarily the TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) schools attended by those who would like to teach English abroad, Borl said, adding that the JCL is also targeting the teachers who are living in Britain, but were not born there.

There are 84 language teachers from the UK at the Edua Group’s language schools, company spokesman Jan Simral said.

At the end of last year, over 8,300 people from Britain lived in the Czech Republic, more than 2,600 of whom had permanent residence there, according to the Interior Ministry’s statistical data.

Brexit is scheduled for January 31, followed by a transition period, which British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to end on December 31. However, a vote on this is yet to take place.