Job Discussion Forums

[TitanicWreck]

I have my TEFL certification- I procured it back in 2006, and had planned to teach abroad, but was sidetracked as I enrolled at a local university in a Masters program- This summer I'll be getting my Masters degree in Education, focus being in special education- students with moderate level disabilities


I am still interested in teaching abroad- but my age has me worried- I am 45. Most new English teachers seem half my age. Are there any cultures where my age would be a great asset?
Despite TEFL certification and a Masters degree, would my middle age be a hinderance? I'd like to teach in Europe, possibly France- my other pick is is Japan. I was told Japan prefers only young teachers

I'm single, and have no kids, so could easily 'leave it all behind'.
Have many people in the 'over 40 crowd' been able to delve in the world of teaching English abroad?

If I don't teach abroad, I'll likely find a job at a local high school- but I have a serious case of wander lust, and would really like to teach in another culture.


I'm a bit nervous as most of the postings and accounts of people who are teaching abroad are in their 20s. Anyone here my age or older?

[nomad soul]

Since when did 45 become middle aged? Seriously, your age is irrelevant---there are teachers in their 50s and even 60s working in classrooms abroad.

What is relevant is where you can teach, and as a US citizen, you'll have to scratch most of Europe (incuding France) off your list. Additionally, you haven't mentioned what age group you want to teach. If you're leaning toward students in primary and secondary school, then yes, there are employers who want energetic younger teachers. But that shouldn't rule you out.

If you already have a teaching license from the US and prior teaching experience, then check out Teachaway for positions in international schools.

[spiral78]

Actually, a greater percentage of the teachers I know are over 40; at least those who've been around for more than just a year or two.

For a US citizen, as nomadsoul notes, France isn't an option, nor is most of Western Europe.

[HLJHLJ]

Hmm, I'm not sure I would say age is irrelevant. I'm nearer your age than I am to most new teachers, and I do think it's a factor, though not an insurmountable problem. Some countries place an age limit of 50-55-60-65 on visas, and some employers get jittery if you are approaching that age, but in general there is flexibility in the system, especially if you are already there and settled when you hit 'age x'. As NS says, it's even less of an issue if you are teaching adults rather than kids. However, it's definitely something to consider for the long term, with a view to settling somewhere sooner rather than later. Or, if you plan to country hop, head for the places with age restrictions first

I was told age was a big deal in Japan, but I haven't seen it, YMMV of course. However, without teaching experience and publications you won't get the full benefit of your masters here. Certainly you would easily get Eikaiwa work, but would you want to? Ditto for ALT work, especially for say high school rather than junior high positions. But you could do better elsewhere.

You would get easily get university work in Ecuador, BUT it probably wouldn't get you a visa, so you'd have to jump through additional hoops to sort that out. You might want to look at Mexico and Russia too, I'm sure other people will be along with more suggestions soon. As has been said, unless you have a claim to working rights in Europe, France is unlikely to be an option.

[sicklyman]

many many teachers of your age in Japan when I left in 2004. It may have changed but I doubt it, especially if you are happy to be out in the countryside miles from anywhere... which is the best of Japan anyway.

Go for it

[MotherF]

I work in a department of 15 teachers, only one of whom is under 30, and only 4 more are under 40.

[Kofola]

For some companies in Europe, you are the ideal age. That is because older people have more life experience and general knowledge of how things work. They are also seen as more reliable and likely to create a better impression on clients. Younger teachers often have little experience of the work place and also smaller vocabularies simply because they haven't had as much experience of the world. These are generalisations of course but, particularly where business Engish is concerned, are a factor in hiring decisions.

Plus at 45 you've got 20 years of teaching ahead of you before you retire at current retirement ages and the way things are going they'll probably add a good few years to the retirement age, so it'll probably be 25 years at least.

[coledavis]

Forgive me, but this question is an old chestnut! There are quite a few threads on it. Anyway, my take: no, as well as the twenty-somethings, there are loads of older people TEFLing. Many of us started in our 50s and there are some starting even later in their respective days.

Attitude, skills, experience. These will make you as a teacher.

There are some cultures which prefer very young people, but on the whole I doubt if you will have much of a problem. Enjoy.

[fladude]

I'm 41 and have a job.

What I see isn't age discrimination as much as discrimination against people who stick around too long. Stay more than 3 years and a lot of places start to look at you funny. Now that is obviously not true of all schools, but some of them.....