Job Discussion Forums

Mohassanach · Joined: 08 Feb 2013 Posts: 5

Hi everyone!

After lurking in the shadows for months, I decided to register and post something even though it's for selfish reasons. I need help in making my mind about teaching English abroad.

My background: I hold a BS in Business and a Masters in International Relations. I understand neither degree has prepared me for a career in education. I have very limited teaching experience; mostly volunteer at community center teaching ESL kids.

Honestly, I don't know if this is for me but I'm willing to invest more in education and time if I find it to be my calling. But I do need to pay off student loans (Yay! for higher Ed in the US) and I have always wanted to travel and live abroad.

My question: What's the best TESOL/TEFL/CELTA program for someone who doesn't want to spend too much money but wants to get a respectable job overseas? If it works out, I'm willing to go back to school and dedicate myself to the field.

I understand this question has been addressed time and again BUT times are changing and new certification programs are out there. What's the best one for preparing one to get proper certification to teach abroad?

Thanks for your advice!

tttompatz · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2013 4:39 am Post subject:

I want to say right off that I am not opposed to getting proper certifications in the area you wish to work in.

I do think that at this point in time, spending a huge whack of cash before you decide if you actually want to be a teacher is not really in your best interests.

While a cheap, quick on-line TEFL course is not usually well thought of It will give you the fundamentals of what you will need to know in a classroom.

With a masters you are more than qualified to walk into an entry level position anywhere in Asia, central or south America.

Best paying jobs are usually in government programs like EPIK in Korea, JET in Japan or at lower tier international schools all over Asia. Without proper teaching credentials (IE teacher's license and 2+ years of classroom experience) the upper tier schools won't (often can't) even consider you.

Just about anywhere in Asia you should be able to find a job that will let you pay down about US$10k-15k per year on that debt.

Teaching business related programs (corporate or in a undergrads in a university) in English is a very definite option with your credentials and it often pays well but you won't be finding those jobs on the internet. They are all about who you know and who knows you.

Pick a region of the planet you would like to aim for and it will be easier to give more accurate advice.

.

Mohassanach · Joined: 08 Feb 2013 Posts: 5

tttompatz,

Thanks for the advice. I really want to avoid spending too much money on certification before I know whether this is for me or not. Are the quick online TEFL programs all the same or some considered more "prestigious" than others?

I don't mind taking a low paying position to get my feet wet. I'm interested in teaching in the Middle East. What would you recommend?

tttompatz · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 3:46 am Post subject:

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 6:52 am Post subject:

I know I am quite hardline on this issue, but I would say that any online course is a total waste of time and money. I do not agree that they at least provide the fundamentals of what you'll need in a classroom. At least, no more than a humble methodology book will. Just go and buy or download Jermey Harmer's 'Practice of ELT', and you'll get as much benefit as an online course. Way cheaper too. That benefit will, of course, be hamstrung by the absence of real teaching practice. But if you do not wish to invest in a basic on-site course, then that is the best on offer.

BTW, many fly-by-night online course are just cut-and-paste jobs of these books anyway - so why shell out for online courses based on bastardised versions of core books?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Practice-Language-Teaching-Handbooks-Teachers/dp/1405853115

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Learning-Teaching-guidebook-language-teachers/dp/1405013990

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Ditto what Sashadroogie said.
The value in a cert course is supervised teaching with actual students, and feedback on how you've done. Anything less can be gained from simply reading some of the better books in the field.

Mohassanach · Joined: 08 Feb 2013 Posts: 5

Thank you very much for your feedback. I absolutely realize the motive behind these online TESOL programs is money and they don't help anyone become better teachers. But I was wondering if they can be a requisite for teaching positions abroad. I have a couple of friends who went through and landed employment afterwards. I just have one more question: do the online certification programs help in gaining employment or did my friends just get lucky? Can/should i apply for these jobs without any TESOL certification? I just noticed all of them require some sort of certificate or diploma in addition to some or no experience.

RoscoeTX · Joined: 06 Jul 2012 Posts: 56 Location: Moscow, Russia

Hi there Mo,

I am by no means tooting my own horn here or advocating what I did...But in short, I came to Moscow, Russia in 2008 on a student visa to study Russian language, and had previously visited as a tourist and was intrigued by the place. I was enjoying my stay and finished my program and decided I wanted to stay. I was boots on the ground and decided to hit the pavement looking for ESL teaching jobs. At that time, I had a BA in "Arts" and no/zilch experience teaching of any kind and no teaching certificates whatsoever. I went on a few interviews with the larger language schools and was rightfully rejected and then came across a smaller school and was hired. I may have embellished my CV a bit, but honestly not too drastically. Long story short, worked there for about 2 years, great experience and decided it was a career that I wanted to do for the long term. I was even earning a decent salary then and able to save money.

No too long after that I got my CELTA certificate here in Moscow at BKC. I can highly recommend this course here in Moscow. It was extremely thorough, helpful, demanding, and worth every kopeck! The trainers there were such experts in this field and were so pleasant to work with and learn from.

I am also a relative newbie to this field and forum compared with the other previous posters and I would definitely agree with and value their views, especially Sasha! I might add just to possibly narrow down the region of the world where you would like to teach, pick up some good literature on this field, SCOUR this forum for helpful posts, and then take the leap! There are so many more opportunities out there if you happen to have your boots on the ground.

Best of luck!

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Online certs are accepted in parts of the world where demand for teachers is relatively high, and not in regions where employers can afford to be choosier.

I've been in Europe and occasionally Canada over the past 15 years now, and in neither place would an online cert get one anywhere, nor would an entry-level teacher be able to pay off student debt back home with a teaching job.
US passport holders are seriously restricted when it comes to Europe anyway.

OP is from the US and has student debt to pay off, right?
If yes, pretty much limited to Asia.
Where I read online certs are often OK.

Suggest posting on country-specific forums below (or the General Asia forum) to get more info on what will be acceptable.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

First he says "overseas".
Second post says: " I'm interested in teaching in the Middle East."

Which is it?
Shouldn't posters be concentrating only on the Middle East options for you?

I'd also like some clarification on what this means:
get a respectable job

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 8:11 am Post subject:

I thought the Middle East was overseas, no?

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Unrelated degrees and online (or onsite) TEFL course does not translate into well-paid ME job.

Asia.

Mohassanach · Joined: 08 Feb 2013 Posts: 5

Roscoe, very interesting story! Boy, have i got much to learn?! Spiral, great advice. I will post in country specific forums. I had no idea different countries had different requirements for TEFL teachers.

Glenski, from where I live, the rest of the world is overseas. Why does that bother u so much?

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

Re online certs.

Sticking my neck out here to say they're not all bad! I once hired a teacher who only had one (rather than the CELTA) in super-competitive Europe. But there were other factors at play: the teacher had loads of business experience, was going to get lots of support from the school...

To the OP: if you're not keen on shelling out for a course (online or otherwise) see if you can observe some ESL classes nearby to get a feel for how teachers manage the class, present material, give the students practice and so on. Or have a look at any of the youtube videos Sasha has posted to get an idea of how NOT to do it!

If you need to pay down debt, take tttompatz' advice and head for Asia. He recently contributed a post about what the visa requirements are and best hiring times of the year for individual countries - a quick search should find it for you.