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pancake
Joined: 21 May 2003
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 2:26 pm Post subject: Hiring of "Older" Teachers |
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Are there any countries that accept (and pay) qualified and highly experienced EFL teachers who have reached the age of 65?
I have recently turned 65 although look much younger, and am in excellent health, with a TESOL M.Ed. and a good appearance. I am getting either "no replies" or "negative replies" to all jobs I apply for.
The "profession" now seems to prefer 30-year-old PhD's who are wiling to work cheap, teach large classes, work long hours, and who are slaves to the business and the course book. Is this what the profession of TESOL has evolved (or degenerated) into?
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 3:29 pm Post subject: |
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There are other threads on this. Try a search. Middle East is out, unless you get in before 60. China is becoming difficult but you might get something there. S.E.Asia ? Vietnam, Cambodia ? Indonesia ?
I retired at 64 but would have continued had I been in better health.
"Hey ho, so it goes" as Kilgore Trout used to tell me., |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 3:44 pm Post subject: Re: Hiring of "Older" Teachers |
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| pancake wrote: |
| I have recently turned 65 although look much younger, and am in excellent health, with a TESOL M.Ed. and a good appearance. I am getting either "no replies" or "negative replies" to all jobs I apply for. |
Where have you been applying and for what teaching situations? Do you have recent TEFL experience?
Anyway, do a search, as Scot47 suggested. But also, if you just scroll down, you'll find a couple of recent threads on the topic of "mature teachers." |
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Ixchel
Joined: 11 Mar 2003
Posts: 156
Location: The 7th level of hell
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| Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 10:22 pm Post subject: Re: Hiring of "Older" Teachers |
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| pancake wrote: |
Are there any countries that accept (and pay) qualified and highly experienced EFL teachers who have reached the age of 65?
I have recently turned 65 although look much younger, and am in excellent health, with a TESOL M.Ed. and a good appearance. I am getting either "no replies" or "negative replies" to all jobs I apply for.
The "profession" now seems to prefer 30-year-old PhD's who are wiling to work cheap, teach large classes, work long hours, and who are slaves to the business and the course book. Is this what the profession of TESOL has evolved (or degenerated) into?
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How about China? They hired my dad who had no TEFL training and was in his 70's. I think anyone can work in China. The pay was low but he wasn't doing it for the money. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 10:50 pm Post subject: |
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Is that "The 7th level of Hell" that you give as your location ?
The word I get is that China is choosier tha n it was. Upper age limits may be enforced. |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 10:55 pm Post subject: Re: Hiring of "Older" Teachers |
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| pancake wrote: |
Are there any countries that accept (and pay) qualified and highly experienced EFL teachers who have reached the age of 65?
I have recently turned 65 although look much younger, and am in excellent health, with a TESOL M.Ed. and a good appearance. I am getting either "no replies" or "negative replies" to all jobs I apply for.
The "profession" now seems to prefer 30-year-old PhD's who are wiling to work cheap, teach large classes, work long hours, and who are slaves to the business and the course book. Is this what the profession of TESOL has evolved (or degenerated) into?
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There is no place that will hire you from abroad at your age. In most of Asia you are beyond the age of compulsory retirement (ruling out all but some language academies).
There are enough opportunities for work if you are actually IN the country (like Thailand) and age becomes much less of an issue,
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 2:15 am Post subject: |
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| There is no place that will hire you from abroad at your age |
WRONG!! |
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Javelin of Radiance
Joined: 01 Jul 2009
Posts: 1187
Location: The West
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 6:30 am Post subject: |
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| johntpartee wrote: |
| Quote: |
| There is no place that will hire you from abroad at your age |
WRONG!! |
RIGHT!! |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 6:32 am Post subject: |
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| johntpartee wrote: |
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| There is no place that will hire you from abroad at your age |
WRONG!! |
Places that recruit EFL/ESL teachers who are over 65 while they are not in the country of the school are scarcer than hen's teeth.
It WON'T happen with an Asian employer.
As mentioned, if the applicant in question is IN the country of the school there is a chance.
As long as they are sitting in their living room in their home country there is virtually no chance of an off-shore employer hiring them and bringing them abroad.
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 7:49 am Post subject: |
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It WON'T happen with an Asian employer.
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I have first hand knowledge of three instances and am aware of other times it HAS happened with an Asian employer. Speaking in absolutes is wrong when it comes to China. |
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Teacher in Rome
Joined: 09 Jul 2003
Posts: 1286
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 9:18 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| The "profession" now seems to prefer 30-year-old PhD's who are wiling to work cheap, teach large classes, work long hours, and who are slaves to the business and the course book. Is this what the profession of TESOL has evolved (or degenerated) into? |
I think that most professions are going to prefer 30-year-old highly qualified candidates who will work long hours and are "slaves to the employer" than post-retirement age candidates. TEFL / TESOL is similar to most other professions in that respect.
I'd say, generally speaking, that older workers have an exceptionally tough time in difficult economic climates, but it's not impossible to find work - you need to accentuate the positives that you bring.
- network in to opportunities where possible (I agree with others saying that being in country is preferable to applying from abroad - though hiring patterns obviously vary country to country)
- emphasise other positives such as a background in business / management / specialist field
- don't include your earliest work history in detail on your CV / resume if you can help it. (Try an "Earlier Career Highlights" section preferably without dates where you can include anything relevant or interesting but without dating yourself)
- show you're up-to-date with teaching methodologies if appropriate, or that you have the experience required by the employer (YL, large classes might be in those categories) |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 10:49 am Post subject: |
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| Great advice from others on this thread. I'd like to add that there's a risk in applying in person because potential employers will see how old you are. That's not a major concern if you look younger than your chronological years. However, if you're showing (and feeling) some heavy-duty wear-n-tear, then you'll need to come up with some strategies (which might also include a physical makeover) that leave no doubt to potential employers that you're physically and mentally up for the job---that you're vibrant as well as creative. In other words, first impressions are critical. |
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Ixchel
Joined: 11 Mar 2003
Posts: 156
Location: The 7th level of hell
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 4:03 pm Post subject: |
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The last time my dad worked in China was either 3 or 4 years ago which would have made him 76 or 77 at the time. He worked there several times for the same university because they kept inviting him back. He had no EFL experience/training but he had a BA in Engineering and a law degree (juris doctor) which equals a PhD in law so he wasn't exactly uneducated.
The OP is fully qualified. My father during the same time also taught law at a school in Central America. Quite possibly things have changed in the past 3 or 4 years but OP, while it might be a challenge, I'd never say never. |
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coledavis
Joined: 21 Jun 2003
Posts: 1838
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm not sure that China should be the be-all and end-all of the discussion. I don't think Russia and Ukraine are that bothered with the age of the applicant or at least it depends more on the attitude of the school concerned. |
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