Job Discussion Forums

[kmac]

Yup, another newbie, probably with some of the usual questions.

Essential info: I'm 24 years old, female, have a BA in English, and MS in Library Science. I have no formal/classroom teaching experience but have worked a lot with children in libraries, like story time, special summer programs, etc. My current job involves a lot of teaching in the form of technology assistance and research help, just one on one.

Since I was a teenager it has been my ambition to work abroad. I almost got a job with a business school library in Spain last summer, but it fell through. Or rather, I let it fall through, because the contract was very vague, and the school seemed so unreliable. Maybe I should have just gone with it but I had a bad feeling about it, and thought something else might come up...
Anyway, nothing else has popped up since then. I was also interested in gaining teaching experience, and possibly working in an international k-12 school library at some point. After some internet searching I came across ESL teaching as a possibility, and I started considering it more and more seriously.

I've been reading on Dave's, and other sites, for a while now. I also started volunteering once a week with an ESL class to get a taste for things. (granted, that's over Skype).

Where and when to go?
After my initial Spain plan didn't work out, I started looking at English teaching jobs there, but it seems like a mess there right now. :/ (People not getting paid, etc.), and I may also be too broke to do that. I'm interested in other places in Europe too but it seems hard to get a visa, especially without much experience, so maybe that is something I would do later in my career.
Then I started looking at Thailand, because it seems easiest to get a job there. But, I'm not sure if I would like the expat or local culture as much. (no offense to those of you in Thailand!)
So I've come around to Korea. The EPIK program sounds pretty good, but from what I understand, I'm too late for the August intake since I wouldn't have the documents. Should I wait until Spring (that would also give me more time to make sure this is for me, maybe get a TEFL certificate, etc), or go to hagwons? If I choose a recruiting company or applying to private schools myself, when is the best time to do so? I'm actually more interested in small cities, not Seoul, if that makes a difference.
I know China is also a possibility, but I'm not really familiar with the country at all, so I would need to do a lot more research about it.

Also: Should I get a TEFL certificate? I'll be honest, it seems like it could be a waste of money when first starting out, especially since I have the English degree and a master's. I'd like to get a CELTA after saving up from a first year of teaching, though.

Any advice? Thanks for reading through my rambling post!

[johntpartee]

You're a US citizen, I'm assuming? Western Europe will be tough; visa issues, as you mentioned. Try looking at the China forums, a government university will be the best bet for somebody just starting out there and you are eminently qualified.

[nomad soul]

[rtm]

[kmac]

Thanks for the input. Maybe I will look more seriously at the CELTA. I just need to save up more money to afford the course itself, especially since there's not a course within driving distance of me and I would have to move, pay for accommodation, etc.
I'm going to look at Teach Away for library jobs, too.

[rtm]