|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Neutrino Girl
Joined: 01 Apr 2010
Posts: 128
|
 Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 9:44 am Post subject: |
 |
|
You sound like you have all of your ducks in a row with a really solid plan; good on you! It is good to look ahead and plan the way you're doing it and to take advantage of opportunities when they are there. Plus, if everyone felt the same way that I do about kids, there would be no one to teach them. 
Hats off and good luck! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Shroob
Joined: 02 Aug 2010
Posts: 1339
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 9:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
| SunShan wrote: |
In keeping with the newbie status (me), the way I see it, a newbie has no choice but to work with kids. The majority of starting positions are in kindergartens, language chains or schools. There seem to be a few exceptions, like being lucky and getting a uni place, or teaching only adults 1-1 somewhere like GABA in Japan - though pay is poor along with many other negatives.
Even if a newbie had a CELTA & MA before starting, the lack of any teaching experience is going to mean uni work is hard to find (and rightly so). I'm guessing three years' experience is needed before realistically applying and being accepted at a university (and being eligible for the DELTA).
I only have the CELTA, so I figure: Why not get paid (well) teaching kids for those three years with QTS - £21000/$35,675 a year for the two qualified years; easily enough to save for an MA and with a third of MA credits already completed doing the PGCE. If I teach TEFL for three years, I can't see that I'd easily be able to save enough for an MA (apart from Korea or the Middle East; not interested in those countries). I prefer to attend a red brick university rather than online too.
Either way, I've got to teach kids, but this way I'll be guided to teach to a very high level and my experience will be valued by international schools; I get to teach subjects I love and, having looked into doing a PGCE, there's the chance to also incorporate Drama, which sounds like a whole lot of fun, and useful in the future to help relieve students' inhibitions and generally have a laugh. I will probably go the uni route further down the line.
A caveat for me is also the fact that a CELTA, MA and DELTA are fairly useless in the UK. I don't wanna come back, but you just never know - loved one with long-term illness, war declared abroad, on the run for being unjustly accused of a crime in corrupt third-world-country... |
I don't know where you got the idea that newbies can only work with kids. I'll cite the example I'm most familiar with...China. There are hundreds of public (and private) universities desperate for teachers.
Additionally the CELTA, MA, and DELTA are not 'fairly useless' in the UK! They'll open doors to pre-sessionals and long-term work. I landed a job on a pre-sessional with just a CELTA. Then work in an international college whilst studying towards an MA.
If you're only thinking about teaching kids as a means to an end, I'd advise against it. There are other options and routes. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SunShan
Joined: 28 Mar 2013
Posts: 107
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 10:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Shroob wrote: |
1. I don't know where you got the idea that newbies can only work with kids. I'll cite the example I'm most familiar with...China. There are hundreds of public (and private) universities desperate for teachers.
2. Additionally the CELTA, MA, and DELTA are not 'fairly useless' in the UK! They'll open doors to pre-sessionals and long-term work. I landed a job on a pre-sessional with just a CELTA. Then work in an international college whilst studying towards an MA.
3. If you're only thinking about teaching kids as a means to an end, I'd advise against it. There are other options and routes. |
1. I said 'the majority of starting positions', but thanks for the example about China.
2. Apologies, I stand corrected, but I imagine there's less of these type of positions available than working in schools. My references were based on what I have read online (including the England forum on here), and the experiences of returning TEFLers that I know.
3. I appreciate the advice, which is why I am currently organising some voluntary experience in UK schools to test the waters. Though even if I was staying in the UK, I would go the school teaching route anyway. I'm looking forward to working with teenagers and it seems like a good challenge at this stage. If it doesn't work out, I'll be heading in another direction. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SunShan
Joined: 28 Mar 2013
Posts: 107
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 10:26 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Neutrino Girl wrote: |
You sound like you have all of your ducks in a row with a really solid plan; good on you! It is good to look ahead and plan the way you're doing it and to take advantage of opportunities when they are there. Plus, if everyone felt the same way that I do about kids, there would be no one to teach them.
Hats off and good luck! |
Thanks! I'll certainly give it my best shot! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SunShan
Joined: 28 Mar 2013
Posts: 107
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 10:41 am Post subject: |
|
|
[quote="Shroob"]
with...China. There are hundreds of public (and private) universities desperate for teachers.
quote]
I think professional development is a factor for me too. I want to become the best teacher I can be. It's a bit of a lottery for a newbie to accept a position and potentially end up with nobody decent to guide them, or just left to get on with it and nothing but a CELTA file and some teaching/grammar books to reference. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Shroob
Joined: 02 Aug 2010
Posts: 1339
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 1:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
[quote="SunShan"]
| Shroob wrote: |
with...China. There are hundreds of public (and private) universities desperate for teachers.
quote]
I think professional development is a factor for me too. I want to become the best teacher I can be. It's a bit of a lottery for a newbie to accept a position and potentially end up with nobody decent to guide them, or just left to get on with it and nothing but a CELTA file and some teaching/grammar books to reference. |
That's true, but there are units which will help a new teacher, just ask at the interviews, though it's getting a little late for China as hiring season's almost over. Also, a lot of life is what you make if it, if you have internet access you can educate yourself. I know it's not a real substitute but it's an alternative.
I'm not saying China's the solution, I'm just saying it's an option. It worked well for me. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 1:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| In keeping with the newbie status (me), the way I see it, a newbie has no choice but to work with kids. The majority of starting positions are in kindergartens, language chains or schools. There seem to be a few exceptions, like being lucky and getting a uni place, or teaching only adults 1-1 somewhere like GABA in Japan - though pay is poor along with many other negatives. |
Across Europe, children are taught English in regular state schools by local teachers in most cases. Teaching children is actually fairly rare, particularly in northern/central Europe, though I understand it's becoming more prevalent in the south. In any case, there are many thousands of EFL teachers in the region who have never taught kids - in fact, I don't personally know anyone who has!
Asia is a very different kettle of fishies, clearly. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sparks
Joined: 20 Feb 2008
Posts: 632
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 9:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Across Europe, children are taught English in regular state schools by local teachers in most cases. Teaching children is actually fairly rare, particularly in northern/central Europe, though I understand it's becoming more prevalent in the south. In any case, there are many thousands of EFL teachers in the region who have never taught kids - in fact, I don't personally know anyone who has! |
In Poland, at least, there are numerous private elementary and secondary schools which use native speakers to teach English. There is certainly an abundance of work teaching children in Warsaw. The problem here is that very few people want to teach 5-year-olds all day. I know I don't. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
