Job Discussion Forums

[rob275]

I want to teach ESL. I do not have TEFL certification. Would prfer not to do the TEFL, if I can avoid it, for lack of funds. I am 55. Do have a BS degree in journalism from 1980. Seems that you need 120 hrs for anything in Korea, so I am looking at Japan. Do I have a shot at getting a job here, or if not, where?.......What should I be looking for. I saw the EPIK website says you do not need the ESL certification,just a degree. But when I have called recruiters, they say that even with EPIK you need the ESL if I just have a non-teaching related degree. Just need some coaching that considers my qualifications, or lack thereof

[rob275]

Apologies for asking about the EPIK program here...confusing myself with too much info. Will post that question in the Korea forum.

[spiral78]

Very generally speaking, what you are asking seems to be "where can I teach without having the slightest idea about the approaches and methods used to teach English as a Foreign Language?"

There are some places where there are no standards for entry-level teachers (journalism isn't any sort of guarantee that one can convey one's knowledge of the language effectively), but this window is narrowing.

Basically, you are talking bottom-of-the-barrel, and totally entry level, I think.

[Sashadroogie]

Yip. Spiral has offered the only possible advice here. Worth listening to.

[rob275]

Yes.
I am looking to see if I can get an entry-level job where I could live and save some money so that I could in the future take the 120 hr course, and learn the methods of teaching esl.
Is this doable, or should I just find a way to gain the prpoer TEFL certification?

Does anyone think this is something I could do?

[rob275]

Well, thanks Sashadroogie(spelling of that??), I'll listen to that advice.

[coledavis]

Personally, I think to start at your age, you need to have a certificate (and I would opt for CELTA or Trinity for maximum acceptability) to give yourself much of a chance of getting a halfway decent job. Unless, as suggested previously, you are willing to go for really lousy jobs, ones which might not save you much money anyway. I would also reiterate the point that teaching English to foreigners really requires a specialist set of skills. Being articulate and a superb writer are helpful attributes but not the really relevant ones.

An alternative, if you don't mind me suggesting it, is to utilise the experience you have. As a journalist, you could persuade companies that you can edit their documents to the highest level. (Many companies get their websites and other documentations translated in-house but then need them proof-read.) So, approach companies in the places you're interested in and maybe get some more money by offering business English to people with high levels of English. Do not make the mistake of thinking that teaching lower level students is easy.

[fluffyhamster]

You really don't need a cert in Japan, or China. While there may be some job ads for those countries that state a cert would be preferable, the majority don't (the minimum needed is just a bachelor's degree), and I've known quite a few "colleagues" who've had zero ELT qualifications or even experience. I mean, entry level is entry level, and chalkface teaching is that big wide never truly ending level "below" the dizzying heights of Dip or MA or even PhD level.

[Glenski]

Come to the Japan forum. Your age might be a little off-putting to some employers, but your energy level will offset that a little. Bear in mind, though, that Japan is very flooded with teachers and wannabes right now. Competition is steep. Also, you may end up working for a manager who is half your age and has almost your level of inexperience.

[tttompatz]

[Prof.Gringo]