Job Discussion Forums

[Niederbom]

I want to teach in Singapore next year after I spend a year teaching in mainland China.

Can I realistically expect to find a job specializing in the TOEFL or SAT tests? Or should I take a traditional ESL job?

Right now in China, I have the option of taking a traditional oral English job at a university or a TOEFL teaching position at a prep school beginning September 1.

I would imagine, given that Singapore only has 3 universities, compared to 11 in Dalian for a similar population, many Singaporean students would try to study abroad. Am I wrong?

I have a BA (in English, not teaching) and TEFL, and if feasible next summer, I would get a DELTA at IH Bangkok before starting work in Singapore in the fall of 2011.

EDIT: I also do not have a teaching background, which is why I want the 1 year of experience + DELTA + Intermediate Mandarin before trying to crack Singapore.

[wailing_imam]

Do some research on the demographics of esl students in Singapore before you come. I have been teaching here for 3 years and have yet to have a singaporean student.

[Niederbom]

Sorry, but that doesn't answer the question: Do the Malaysian, Chinese, Indonesian, Pakistani, African, and Indian students whose presence creates employment for foreign teachers usually only study traditional ESL, or is there a demand for TOEFL teachers, too?

In short, is TOEFL teaching experience valuable at all in Singapore?

[wailing_imam]

Not really. General esl courses, ielts and academic English mainly.