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phila009
Joined: 29 Jul 2010 Posts: 2
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Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 9:56 am Post subject: need a job, need advice |
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Hello everyone,
I would like to get a job as an English teacher, preferably in European countries or somewhere further, e.g. Canada. The thing is I come from a small town where no one wants to hire teachers. The town is called Bialystok and there are so many English teachers / schools that they don't want me I'm really sad 'coz I think I deserve a well-paid job !! I really am desperate. I don't have a driving licence yet so I can't take up a job in the other city.
I've heard of some UK's programmes but still I don't know if they're trustful. The programme I heard about is called bluewaveinternational.com
Can anyone help me? Do you have any recommendations for work in the USA Canada or European countries??? I'd appreciate your help.
I have experience. I already give private lessons in my city. I've got a FCE certificate and I'm about to finish my MA degree next year. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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I would like to get a job as an English teacher, preferably in European countries or somewhere further, e.g. Canada. ..... I'm really sad 'coz I think I deserve a well-paid job !!
Sorry, but with just FCE and being a non-native speaker, I don't think you qualify (yet) for 'well paid jobs,' particularly not in countries where English is the first language of the natives!
Consider Canada: a very tight job market, many teachers seeking work - to get a well-paid job requires a related MA and years of experience teaching - plus native speaker status. Check out the North America forum for more info on this .... it's totally unrealistic that any school would give a non-native speaker teacher a visa, when there are tonnes of highly qualified and experienced native speakers around.
I work in Western Europe at a university. We do hire non-native speakers, but only with related MAs, lots of experience, and something much higher than FCE certs (CPE).
Realistically, I think you will need to consider other options. I really don't think that you currently have what it would take to get any job as an English language teacher (much less a well-paid one) in either Western Europe or North America. Sorry to be negative, but it's important to have realistic expecations so that you can make plans that will actually work for you!! |
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phila009
Joined: 29 Jul 2010 Posts: 2
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Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 10:08 am Post subject: |
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spiral78 wrote: |
I would like to get a job as an English teacher, preferably in European countries or somewhere further, e.g. Canada. ..... I'm really sad 'coz I think I deserve a well-paid job !!
Sorry, but with just FCE and being a non-native speaker, I don't think you qualify (yet) for 'well paid jobs,' particularly not in countries where English is the first language of the natives!
Consider Canada: a very tight job market, many teachers seeking work - to get a well-paid job requires a related MA and years of experience teaching - plus native speaker status. Check out the North America forum for more info on this .... it's totally unrealistic that any school would give a non-native speaker teacher a visa, when there are tonnes of highly qualified and experienced native speakers around.
I work in Western Europe at a university. We do hire non-native speakers, but only with related MAs, lots of experience, and something much higher than FCE certs (CPE).
Realistically, I think you will need to consider other options. I really don't think that you currently have what it would take to get any job as an English language teacher (much less a well-paid one) in either Western Europe or North America. Sorry to be negative, but it's important to have realistic expecations so that you can make plans that will actually work for you!! |
OK and you're the master of the world!! Big deal!! I will get the MA degreee and even higher. Then we'll see whose posts are going to be negative. I'm already preparing for CPE and Business cert.
Anyway, thanks a bunch for the reply. Wish you luck |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 12:07 pm Post subject: |
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You're welcome |
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AGoodStory
Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 738
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Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 12:57 pm Post subject: |
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OK and you're the master of the world!! |
Well. . . he did get that (almost) right! I have long appreciated your dedication to the thankless task of getting people to face reality, Spiral. Somehow you usually manage to convey a hard-headed, common sense view of reality while maintaining a courteous respect for the poster's hopes--not an easy balance to achieve. |
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wojbrian
Joined: 13 Aug 2009 Posts: 178
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Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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I think he was just being honest... He just told you something you don't want to hear.
He didn't sugar coat anything...
A company will not import someone when there are millions of native speakers already there. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the kind words, guys. Also for corroboration...it's always useful to have more than one person's viewpoint on the issues. |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 11061 Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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Spiral, as usual, was giving honest and valuable advice. I don't think the tone of the OP's replies was warranted. Perhaps the CPE will help with that, eh? |
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scottie1113
Joined: 25 Oct 2004 Posts: 375 Location: Gdansk
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Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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spiral, your initial reply to the OP was right on target, and I would have written the same thing if you hadn't beaten me to the punch. Sometimes reality is a bitter pill to swallow, as witness his response to your post.
And to the OP: once you have your MA and CPE, plus some sort of teaching credential (ie CELTA or more), you'll be well qualified to teach English, whether it be in Poland or Canada. Keep your nose to the grindstone, don't lose sight of your goal and you'll get there. Good luck to you lad. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 6:59 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the kind words, Scottie, but it needs to be really clear: Canada will still be off the table for a Polish native, even with a related MA and a CPE. I've worked in Canada - the job market is really full up with native English speakers with related post-grad quals and tons of experience - it wasn't easy for me to find a job, and I've got the whole package.
English teacher is not one of the jobs that Canada will issue a visa for, having more than enough of their own already.
If it's North America the OP wants, another option will really be needed. Western Europe might be a possibility. |
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scottie1113
Joined: 25 Oct 2004 Posts: 375 Location: Gdansk
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Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:23 am Post subject: |
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Hmmm. Didn't know that about Canada. I agree that Western Europe might be worth a look. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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I agree that Western Europe might be worth a look.
With more quals than the OP currently has, just to again be (crystal) clear. |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 11061 Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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Aw I dunno about that, Spiral, me old master. Charm can get you a long way... |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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OK and you're the master of the world!! Big deal!! I will get the MA degreee and even higher. Then we'll see whose posts are going to be negative.
Yep, Sasha, I see your point. Huge charm potential |
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LongShiKong
Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1082 Location: China
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 10:47 am Post subject: |
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spiral78 wrote: |
English teacher is not one of the jobs that Canada will issue a visa for, having more than enough of their own already. |
Maybe things have changed but 10 yrs ago, I met a Ukrainian with his family in Vancouver who'd arrived to do just that. He's been teaching ever since. As he's fluent in Russian and English, he also does translation from time to time. Back then there were also a fair number of non-native speakers teaching English in some of Van's private schools. |
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