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lmace41
Joined: 28 Feb 2011 Posts: 11 Location: US
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 7:19 am Post subject: Where to begin |
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Hello Everyone,
Here is just a little about myself. I have a bachelor's degree in Education with a Reading minor. USA. I am currently working on my Master's degree in TESOL. I will finish October 2 in 2013. I have a husband and 2 sons, 16 and 13. I would like to travel and teach overseas. Any suggestion on where to start, or what would be a good fit for myself and my family. My husband also holds a master's degree in Composition and Theory. He is a pianist. He taught university level for 15 years. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 8:33 am Post subject: Re: Where to begin |
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Some questions:
- Do you have any teaching experience? If so, teaching what, specifically, and for how long and where?
- As for TEFL, what level or situation do you want to teach? K-12 schools? Adults in a language school? University level?
- What countries or regions are you interested in? Any that you absolutely want to avoid?
- Does your husband expect to continue teaching music, or are his interests also in TEFL?
- By the time you finish your MA, your oldest will be close to his last year of high school. Do you plan for him to stay and graduate in the US, or will he be going with the family overseas and graduating from a foreign school? |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:13 am Post subject: |
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1. Education for your own children ? Make sure that provision is made in the form of an education allowance. This is NOT as common as it used to be
2. Have you looked at the possibility of teaching in an international school ?
Do a search on here and do some googling. There are recruitment fairs. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 12:10 pm Post subject: |
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International schools require a license from the home country and 2 years of experience there (at least for ISs in Japan).
What does your family think of all this? Can your husband speak/read/write any foreign languages? |
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lmace41
Joined: 28 Feb 2011 Posts: 11 Location: US
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 6:56 am Post subject: Where to begin |
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Thank you all for your responses. I have about 15 years of experience in teaching. I would like to teach at a university but am flexible. As far as the place, I am not that picky. Somewhere sunny would be nice, though. I am very interested in teaching at an international school. I have a license to teach in two different states, plus a reading endorsement. My dream is Austria, I am not sure about the sunny part though. I think my husband would have some possible opportunities. He has 15 years of teaching at the university level and is a pianist. ISS has a recruitment fair, but they charge a fee. Is that something I should expect? Thanks again for all you help. |
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VietCanada
Joined: 30 Nov 2010 Posts: 590
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 9:36 am Post subject: |
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I typed this into google and there were quite a few hits.
"International schools in Austria"
I'd start there. I would never pay a fee to find a job in this industry. Recruiters get paid by the school. I would line up a couple referees and contact the school directly.
Read their web page, look at the teachers if they are listed on the site. Use Linkedin.
Go for Austria! Why compromise before you even begin looking?
Go to the Austria or general European board on this site. Search for a forum dedicated to Austria or Europe or professional teachers working or seeking work at international schools.
The Internet is your friend. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 11:03 am Post subject: |
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I've lived in the European region for the past 15 years. I have to disagree with VietCanada here to some degree, based on my first-hand knowledge of the teaching scene in Europe. Not sure what VC has based his advice upon, but his optimism is in conflict with what I know of employment conditions in this part of the world.
As regards Austria specifically, I have two long-term friends teaching in Austrian universities and 'my' university on the border with Germany partners with several universities in Austria, so we have considerable contact.
There are occasional openings at international schools in Austria, but they are extremely rare. The issue is that there is relatively little turnover in these positions; people who teach in international schools here (as in universities) usually have family ties and are here for the long-term.
Most will want you to have at least basic German language skills, and you will need direct contacts to be considered in most cases.
You'll need to be aware that Austria (as with the rest of Central and Western Europe) will strongly prefer teachers with passports from an EU country. An international school can get exceptional visas for non-EU teachers, but so long as there is an EU member citizen with equivalent skills and qualifications, there is little need for them to go through the expensive and complex legal processes required to do so.
There are lots of highly qualified teachers around; the last position for 'my' university advertised drew well over 25 solid CVs, meaning related MA + relevant experience + EU citizen.
It is by no means impossible that you will find something, and it's worth a search, but it's by no means a given that Europe or Austria will be within easy reach. |
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zactherat
Joined: 24 Aug 2011 Posts: 295
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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spiral I just want to say that i love 'your' apostrophes. |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 11061 Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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Spiral's capitalisation is worthy of affection too! |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 11061 Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 12:35 pm Post subject: |
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To follow up Spiral's post, the EU will not be an easy place to start out in, if it is even possible to find a job from abroad.
So, come to Russia! Also has a fine musical history, which I would imagine husband would greatly enjoy.
See the Russia board for the ins-and-outs of finding gainful employment in the Motherland. |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 11061 Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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By the way, is Spiral really using apostrophes in the phrase 'my' university? |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 12:57 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
spiral I just want to say that i love 'your' apostrophes |
Spiral is indicating that the university in question is not a private one, owned by Spiral
Actually, a little research indicates that my use of this particular form of punctuation for this purpose is non-standard. Apologies. Won't happen again. Proper wording: ...the university where I work.... |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 11061 Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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I dunno about that, Spiral. Aren't quotation marks used for irony, or unusual usage? I think you can stretch your usage to that. But 'the university where I work' is probably less dramatic |
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lmace41
Joined: 28 Feb 2011 Posts: 11 Location: US
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 5:59 pm Post subject: Where to begin |
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Hello all,
You are all too funny. I have heard of the difficulties getting jobs in the EU. I think people stay because of family connections but also because the quality of life there is excellent. I know someone whose sister teaches in Austria. Where in Russia would be best? |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 11061 Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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Best in Russia? Hard to say. For me it is Moscow. Plenty of jobs in language schools. Others love smaller cities in Siberia - less competition, or so I hear. St Petersburg has its advocates too, though job opportunities appear to be thinner on the ground.
In any case, I wouldn't bother with universities. They do not pay at all well.
So, check out Moscow, and listen to Tchaikovsky in the Conservatoire!
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1410305
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNhkOMvBujo |
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