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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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 Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 4:15 pm Post subject: |
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| algernonsidney wrote: |
One thing that is stopping me right now from applying for jobs is that I don't know where to apply. I also do not know how to apply. What should my application look like? What should I say or not say?
This is called the newbie forum. Did you notice how many posts I have so far? |
I realise you're a newbie, but come on, help us help you. Look at the top of the page. There's a section that says "Jobs" on the left. Click on that. It's a great place to start. Dave's is the first place I go to when I apply for jobs.
People have been trying to help you. Lots of oldbies have posted here, but less people will be likely to post since you can't help people who can't help themselves.
Google is also good or so I've been told, I prefer yahoo. If you search for TEFL jobs you should get a couple of good websites as well. |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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| Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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| MotherF wrote: |
You can begin to give private lessons on the side--your friend was right, you'll make more money that way. If you find a city in Mexico you like and want to say in, you'll undoubtedly build a network that will get you more and more work. One or two posters among us have rather gruff personalities and have proven themselve unable to build such a network, but don't let their experiences been seen as the norm. I
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One caveat regarding trying to support yourself solely with private students. Though I have eventually found a few students who have stuck with me for a long time, perhaps over a year, others have come and gone. It's just the nature of the work. Of course, the longer you live in a place, the more connections you will make and the more students you'll get through recommendations. |
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BadBeagleBad
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
Posts: 1186
Location: 24.18105,-103.25185
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| Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Isla Guapa wrote: |
One caveat regarding trying to support yourself solely with private students. Though I have eventually found a few students who have stuck with me for a long time, perhaps over a year, others have come and gone. It's just the nature of the work. Of course, the longer you live in a place, the more connections you will make and the more students you'll get through recommendations. |
Good advice. Like Isla I have always had a few private students on the side, some of them for over two years! Get a part time school job and do private classes on the side. I do know a couple of people who lived on just doing privates, but they worked so many hours when the stars were aligned and no one cancelled, no one quit, etc. that it made me tired just hearing about it. One other thing, before you start with a new student make it clear up front what your cancellation policy is. Without it, students sometimes feel they can cancel and reschedule whenever they want. I haven't had a big problem with cancellations, though I did have one student who I let go because of that, and he was flabbergasted, promised to change, pay for any cancellations (though I allow one last minute and one ahead of time rescheduling per month, and one vacation period per year), but didn't really take it seriously after the first month, so finally I just let him go. |
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algernonsidney
Joined: 16 Nov 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Austin, Texas
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| Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 4:13 am Post subject: |
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| MotherF wrote: |
Since you are in Texas, I'd suggest starting in Mexico. |
I will admit that I have not given Mexico much thought. Perhaps I should give it more. What is the best place to go to in Mexico?
I would still be able to keep my car, too.
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| One or two posters among us have rather gruff personalities and have proven themselves unable to build such a network, but don't let their experiences been seen as the norm. |
I find this comment very easy to believe. Is it just one or two?
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| there is a path to Mexican citizenship that will take you about 9 years. |
That seems like a rather long path. I have heard it takes two years in some countries.
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| not being 20 something |
Is age discrimination a problem with this field? That is actually one good reason for getting the hell out of information technology--age discrimination. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 5:00 am Post subject: |
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| algernonsidney wrote: |
| Quote: |
| there is a path to Mexican citizenship that will take you about 9 years. |
That seems like a rather long path. I have heard it takes two years in some countries.
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| not being 20 something |
Is age discrimination a problem with this field? That is actually one good reason for getting the hell out of information technology--age discrimination. |
Some countries yes, it takes two, but that's the time it takes to qualify, then the actual paperwork may take a year or two longer.
Ageism is alive and kicking here in TEFL. My uni won't hire people over 45. Other places have 55 or 65 as a cut off. |
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algernonsidney
Joined: 16 Nov 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Austin, Texas
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| Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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| naturegirl321 wrote: |
I lived in Peru for 6 years |
One of the good things about Peru is that you can get there on a visitor's visa, I believe. You just pay $1 a day for each day that overstay it when you leave. |
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algernonsidney
Joined: 16 Nov 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Austin, Texas
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| Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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| naturegirl321 wrote: |
Look, you could do it. You definitely can. I know people a lot older than you and people without even a HS diploma that teach overseas. Just be aware that you are going to face challenges due to your lack of degree. Your age really isn't an issue at the moment.
Make a plan and go. Have a back up plan just in case. |
What kind of "plan" do I have to have? What do you recommend as a backup plan?
Does this mean that I should just go somewhere and look for a job? |
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algernonsidney
Joined: 16 Nov 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Austin, Texas
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| Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 3:00 pm Post subject: Re: getting started |
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| KizuStrife wrote: |
| Individuals within a forum will have different "personalities" when responding, some nurturing and helpful - some blunt and a bit brash. |
A person's first response is never about me or what I am saying or asking. Their first response is always about them. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Algernonsidney, have you decided what your next move will be in terms of transitioning from IT to TEFL? You mentioned in your initial post that you briefly taught ESL some years ago. Instead of focusing on what you don't like about IT, think about what you enjoyed or appreciated about that teaching experience and let that inspire you to take the first steps towards reaching your goal. That might mean doing a short-term volunteer ESL teaching stint in your area again as you plan those next steps. |
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MotherF
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1450
Location: 17�48'N 97�46'W
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| Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 11:37 pm Post subject: |
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If you get married or have a Mexican child, you can become a citizen in two years. But if you have no family ties, you have to establish yourself.
Some schools want young attractive teachers--you probably don't want to work for people like that anyways.
And to those wondering what the top of this field looks like: http://www.professorjackrichards.com/ |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 11:53 pm Post subject: |
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| algernonsidney wrote: |
| One of the good things about Peru is that you can get there on a visitor's visa, I believe. You just pay $1 a day for each day that overstay it when you leave. |
Yes, that's true. However, it's still illegal to work on a tourist visa.
| algernonsidney wrote: |
What kind of "plan" do I have to have? What do you recommend as a backup plan?
Does this mean that I should just go somewhere and look for a job? |
No. I would apply for jobs and take your time doing research and then accept one. Once you go, realise that it might not turn out according to plan. So plan B would involve having enough money to go home. Or Plan C, accepting a different job in the same country. Or plan D, accepting a different job in a different country.
| algernonsidney wrote: |
| KizuStrife wrote: |
| Individuals within a forum will have different "personalities" when responding, some nurturing and helpful - some blunt and a bit brash. |
A person's first response is never about me or what I am saying or asking. Their first response is always about them. |
That's probably because people usually know 100% about themselves and only 10%, if that about someone who posts a couple times in a forum. |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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| algernonsidney wrote: |
| MotherF wrote: |
Since you are in Texas, I'd suggest starting in Mexico. |
I will admit that I have not given Mexico much thought. Perhaps I should give it more. What is the best place to go to in Mexico?
I would still be able to keep my car, too.
| Quote: |
| One or two posters among us have rather gruff personalities and have proven themselves unable to build such a network, but don't let their experiences been seen as the norm. |
I find this comment very easy to believe. Is it just one or two?
| Quote: |
| there is a path to Mexican citizenship that will take you about 9 years. |
That seems like a rather long path. I have heard it takes two years in some countries.
| Quote: |
| not being 20 something |
Is age discrimination a problem with this field? That is actually one good reason for getting the hell out of information technology--age discrimination. |
Well I don't care if you like my response or not, so let's get that out of the way right off the bat.
1. Look at and really read my advice to NEWBIES sticky.
2. RESEARCH! Nobody is going to hold your hand and show you everything step-by-step. Teaching EFL in often developing countries means you need to be VERY independent and able to adapt quickly and figrue things out on your own.
3. Just cause you dislike or hate the US, don't think life is any better outside of America. Many people will HATE YOU just because you are an American.
4. You lack of a degree will hurt you in many ways. Maybe you won't even see or feel it at first. But once you have spent a few years teaching EFL in language schools, you might want to get a better job teaching in a colegio or a uni, and guess what? That lack of a degree will come back to haunt you.
5. You think there is age discrimination in the USA??? Try Latin America! It is much worse. In Mexico job ads routinely state no applicants over the age of say 35, 40 or at the most 45. Is it illegal? Sure, just like cops taking bribes, pirated DVD's on every corner and folks working for cash wage jobs that don't pay taxes. In other words, nobody cares.
6. What is your plan 20-30 years down the road? Work till you are dead? Latin American countries are far more unstable than the US. I would not bet the farm on things in say Ecuador or Bolivia staying stable for a long term goal.
7. You want residency? Ecuador will give you a visa to live there forever with an investment of $25,000 US into an Ecuadorian bank.
8. Get on a bus, head to Mexico City, take a CELTA course at International House Mex DF and start looking for work. You can practice Spanish in the street while ordering tamales for breakfast, comida corrida for lunch and tacos al-pastor for dinner. |
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algernonsidney
Joined: 16 Nov 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Austin, Texas
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| Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 4:56 am Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| Algernonsidney, have you decided what your next move will be in terms of transitioning from IT to TEFL? You mentioned in your initial post that you briefly taught ESL some years ago. Instead of focusing on what you don't like about IT, think about what you enjoyed or appreciated about that teaching experience and let that inspire you to take the first steps towards reaching your goal. That might mean doing a short-term volunteer ESL teaching stint in your area again as you plan those next steps. |
Ultimately, I probably want to get out of IT more than I want to get into ESL.
Have you people here ever made the decision to leave a career? It may very well be the most emotional decision I have made since I left the church in 1994.
I suspect there are places to teach English here. I just haven't looked for them yet. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 6:31 am Post subject: |
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| algernonsidney wrote: |
| nomad soul wrote: |
| Algernonsidney, have you decided what your next move will be in terms of transitioning from IT to TEFL? You mentioned in your initial post that you briefly taught ESL some years ago. Instead of focusing on what you don't like about IT, think about what you enjoyed or appreciated about that teaching experience and let that inspire you to take the first steps towards reaching your goal. That might mean doing a short-term volunteer ESL teaching stint in your area again as you plan those next steps. |
Ultimately, I probably want to get out of IT more than I want to get into ESL.
Have you people here ever made the decision to leave a career? It may very well be the most emotional decision I have made since I left the church in 1994.
I suspect there are places to teach English here. I just haven't looked for them yet. |
Many of us left other careers for one in TEFL. And yes, it's a major decision because it usually means leaving a work situation that has pretty much been familiar, predictable, financially secure, supportive, and often uninspiring, and taking a leap of faith into the unknown. Making such an important life change can be difficult and perhaps even scary for some. Aside from practical and financial reasons, a career change entails soul-searching---reflecting on the "what ifs" because we're taking a huge risk that could lead to failure. For myself, I had more reasons for wanting to go into TEFL compared to why I should continue my legal career. The concept of teaching abroad energized me and motivated me to change fields, and I haven't looked back. But for others, that change may happen more slowly and with tentative steps.
Frankly, in your situation, it doesn't sound like teaching English is the right career move for you. You could be exchanging a field you don't like (IT), for another that doesn't rock your boat (TEFL). You might think about completing a career assessment to discover what best suits your interests and personality. In addition to online career tests, there's sure to be a job center in your city where you could speak one-to-one with a career counselor. Your local community colleges offer similar services even to those who aren't students. Good luck with whatever you decide. |
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jpvanderwerf2001
Joined: 02 Oct 2003
Posts: 1117
Location: New York
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| Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 3:00 am Post subject: |
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Have you considered getting (or finishing, whatever the case may be) your degree? It would help you a great deal.
Your age is not a factor in most countries (especially still in your 40s). Unfortunately, there are some countries in which being 55+ can be a hinderance; I hardly think they are worth your while anyway.
You can look into Ukraine. I worked with a New Zealander there who didn't have a degree. However, that was a decade ago and we didn't make much money 
I know two Americans here in Vladivostok who have managed to carve out a nice life without holding degrees.
If I were you, and getting a degree were out of the question, I would find a medium-sized city in the former Soviet Union, stay for a while, make connections, and you will find yourself in a pretty good situation down the road. I have seen it done.
Bigger, more popular cities/countries will be very difficult w/o a degree as has been mentioned.
Best of luck to you. Stay positive. |
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