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Where to go? (yup, another one.)

 
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mjlfoto



Joined: 17 Sep 2012
Posts: 4

PostPosted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 3:15 am    Post subject: Where to go? (yup, another one.) Reply with quote

Hi, I graduated this past May with a BFA in Visual Arts. (yay basket weaving!) I do not have a TEFL certification and currently don't intend to get one. I want to test the waters before a spend a month and a couple thousand dollars doing a CELTA.

I've wanted to teach/work and live abroad since before graduating high school, and was able to spend a year studying in Italy during my BFA coursework and worked as a private tutor for some extra funds. Being a US citizen I know Europe is pretty much closed to me as far as teaching ESL or most any job. Which is fine because I've been there and am looking for a new 'adventure' so I'm concentrating my search on Asia.

I've looked into teaching in Korea and a bit of info on teaching in China (though they want 2 years experience for the Z visa which I don't have) and it seems the EFL market is getting tougher to break into for people fresh out of college.

Is there any advice? is South Korea still considered the best option considering all the extra perks? (housing, airfare, completion bonus) I'm curious about job requirements for Hong Kong, Thailand, and Taiwan. Are they higher or lower than that of Korea? Ideally, I'd leave tomorrow since that is not financially viable for me at the moment I'm looking at maybe starting off as early as possible in 2013.

My biggest concern at the moment is enjoying where I live and what I am doing;. I have a preference for being in a major urban center. Is this going to make it easier or harder to find a position? As for the monetary compensation; I'd like to just be able to live comfortably and perhaps start chipping away a bit at my student debts.

So, ESL Cafe, where is the best place for someone with no qualifications beyond a Bachelors these days?
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tttompatz



Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines

PostPosted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 3:31 am    Post subject: Re: Where to go? (yup, another one.) Reply with quote

mjlfoto wrote:
Hi, I graduated this past May with a BFA in Visual Arts. (yay basket weaving!) I do not have a TEFL certification and currently don't intend to get one. I want to test the waters before a spend a month and a couple thousand dollars doing a CELTA.

I've wanted to teach/work and live abroad since before graduating high school, and was able to spend a year studying in Italy during my BFA coursework and worked as a private tutor for some extra funds. Being a US citizen I know Europe is pretty much closed to me as far as teaching ESL or most any job. Which is fine because I've been there and am looking for a new 'adventure' so I'm concentrating my search on Asia.

I've looked into teaching in Korea and a bit of info on teaching in China (though they want 2 years experience for the Z visa which I don't have) and it seems the EFL market is getting tougher to break into for people fresh out of college.

Is there any advice? is South Korea still considered the best option considering all the extra perks? (housing, airfare, completion bonus) I'm curious about job requirements for Hong Kong, Thailand, and Taiwan. Are they higher or lower than that of Korea? Ideally, I'd leave tomorrow since that is not financially viable for me at the moment I'm looking at maybe starting off as early as possible in 2013.

My biggest concern at the moment is enjoying where I live and what I am doing;. I have a preference for being in a major urban center. Is this going to make it easier or harder to find a position? As for the monetary compensation; I'd like to just be able to live comfortably and perhaps start chipping away a bit at my student debts.

So, ESL Cafe, where is the best place for someone with no qualifications beyond a Bachelors these days?


Newbie with no cash = go to Korea (prepaid airfare and supplied housing).
Strike Hong Kong off of your list.

If you can come up with your own airfare and a couple thousand dollars for getting set-up then Taiwan (buxibans) and Thailand are both potential candidates.

You might also want to look at Vietnam if you have loans to pay off.

You don't "need" a TEFL cert (CELTA or any other flavor) but having one is in your best interests. Experience is also not needed for entry level jobs.

For just about everywhere in Asia you will need your original degree, transcripts and quite possibly a criminal background check. For Korea / Taiwan (for legal work with proper visa/permits) it needs to be an FBI check. for everywhere else you can get by with a "State level" CBC.

The best time for your Asian job search is early spring - about 60-90 days prior to the start of the academic term in the country(s) you are looking at going to. (With China off of your list the start of the school year varies from March - June depending on the country).

.
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mjlfoto



Joined: 17 Sep 2012
Posts: 4

PostPosted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 3:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you for the response tttompatz. It looks like I'll try Korea first and if I'm enjoying the job/lifestyle maybe move onto other countries from there.
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