Job Discussion Forums

mrjack · Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 65

How old were you when you got into TEFL ?
I'm a 38 year old teacher with 15 years experience in the UK.
Is TEFL a young mans game ? will I blend in at my age ? I'm so bored at home and need an adventure.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

First job at 21. Prior to that I had travelled in Europe and practised my foreign languages. I have known many who started later in life. Travel and TEFLing is addictive. It can become very difficult to settle down back on the farm. I am doing that now buit only because medical "issuies" forced me to retire at 64. I envy former colleagues still working away - one is now aged 79.

sparks · Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 632

I started right after college at 22. Now 32. At 38 you are BY FAR not the oldest person to start in this business after a career at home. In fact, I'd say that you could still be called young.

MotherF · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 4:41 pm Post subject:

I also started at 22. That was in 1995.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I started when I was 23. I'm 37 now and have been home teaching at a university in the US for a year and a half now. I love my job, but after living abroad for so long and moving countries every few years, the thought that I have come home and "settled" is a bit scary.

mrjack · Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 65

Well it's been in my thoughts for a long time. I am a Uk trained teacher with fourteen years teaching experience in the UK and a year each in NZ, Oz.
My subject is Physical Education but I have experience teaching Mathematics and I.T. to examination level though could confidently offer these at Key stage 3.
I would not know where to start with TEFL so would do a course and then take it from there.
I have hit the point in my life where rural Wales is just not doing it for me any more, most of my friends are settled down with kids and my current job bores me to tears as does my social life which needs a drastic improvement. Basically I feel like I have nothing to loose though I am not really into cites which is where most of the work is I guess ?

tttompatz · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:38 pm Post subject:

Certified UK teacher with experience in the UK, NZ and OZ?

Why start at the bottom of the pile in EFL when proper international schools all over the planet are a viable and better paying option?

.

Perilla · Joined: 09 Jul 2010 Posts: 792 Location: Hong Kong

I was 33 when I got involved in TEFL, but unlike you Jack I had zero previous experience in teaching. As far as I'm concerned the actual "act" of teaching, irrespective of the subject, is 90% of the job, so you're already a good ways in. Of course there are differences teaching EFL and perhaps the biggest differences are related to living and working in foreign climes.

I agree with tttompatz you could be looking at international schools rather than entry-level TEFL jobs. You might be able to find a position looking for a PE teacher combined with TEFL, or either.

mrjack · Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 65

Thanks guys.
I am looking at International Schools but it is very competitive and being very experienced I am much more expensive than someone newly qualified. I see you are in Hong Kong, what are you doing over there ? how is it ?would you reccommend ?

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

mrjack · Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 65

I love Asia and Hong Kong is my goal.

tttompatz · Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 1:31 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks

mrjack · Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 65

Thanks.
When I said I was expensive, I meant because I am an experienced teacher and at the top of the pay scale, in the current economic climate I know that it can be a disadvantage in an allready very competitive environment.

Kofola · Joined: 20 Feb 2009 Posts: 159 Location: Slovakia

Most British International Schools are run by private companies (e.g. Nord Anglia) and as such are not on the pay scale. However, it depends on where you go of course, but you may get a pay decrease in comparison to what is on offer in the UK as a consequence. It is all relative, though, since depending on where you go, you can earn good salaries compared to local schools.