Job Discussion Forums

[londonsteve]

Hello,

My primary reason for wanting to teach abroad is to make some money. Excellent candidate: very healthy; +15 years very wide experience including managerial and teacher training; TESOL and PGCE in ESOL (post-grad cert), but no degree; very well-travelled inc. 5 years in Thailand and can speak and read/write Thai. Quite like idea of China and learning Chinese, but open to all suggestions, given age restrictions in some places. Up for 2-3 years away.

Many thanks in advance for all input.

Steve Jackson

[nomad soul]

In addition to your age, you'll have to factor in your lack of a degree, which may turn out to be the bigger issue. I suggest you first look at where you can teach without a degree, and then check into the age issue. Both issues have been discussed within this forum as well as the newbie forum.

[londonsteve]

[spiral78]

You're qualified for Europe with one caveat; experience earned in Asia isn't always highly valued, as the expectations and motivations of students are quite different between the two regions. And the European market doesn't pay much, even with the related post-grad qual. There are better jobs around but it takes some commitment to a region, building local rep and contacts, and patience, to get them.

[londonsteve]

[spiral78]

Your goal of making money, as I noted before, is difficult in Europe. On this, the north/western countries have generally stronger economies, so your chances of earning more than subsistence level are higher in, say, Germany or France or Luxembourg than in Spain or Greece. Belgium is traditionally relatively lower paid than its neighbors, and the market in the Netherlands is extremely small and tight.

As for making contacts, you need to be there. Speaking the local language helps, but it's mainly about establishing a presence in the region.

[londonsteve]

[teenoso]

Do you mean make a living , or make some real money ?
I suppose in China you could do both, but mainly your age , and lack of degree , could mean international schools and high-end language schools are not interested.
Unis and ordinary chain language schools may be OK, but you won't earn much money , just enough to save a few thousand pounds at the end of the year (unless you are extremely energetic and find lots of private tuition work).
Unlikely you can build up a significant pension pot here in China, but it's not impossible.
There is a thread about age-discrimination in China on the China teacher's forum. Depending on the province and city, you may welcomed or rejected outright.

[londonsteve]