Job Discussion Forums

[deeve007]

Hey folks,

Been away from teaching for a few years, did it for a couple of years so not someone with a whole heap of experience but I did pretty well when I was doing it, and wondering how easy/hard I might find it to get back into the game if I wanted to? Quite happy to start low-ish on the ladder, being single and all that not too many responsibilities/bills to worry about.

I'm in my mid-40s, would that be a drawback do you think? Have 15 years experience as a project manager in digital media as my "main" career, working with blue chip clients (banks, major corporations), I take it that would be a plus for some positions?

Cheers,
Dave

[nomad soul]

Your age isn't an issue. A minimum BA + TEFL cert are the basic qualifications for many entry-level teaching jobs. You'd have to look at ads in your target countries to see what other qualifications (such as nationality and teaching experience) are needed for the positions you're interested in. However, your project management experience isn't likely to be useful to employers recruiting EFL teachers.

[deeve007]

So it wouldn't be worth emphasising the management of fairly big budget projects, teams of resources, as a key area of experience and responsibility?

[deeve007]

And would Korea be a reasonable place to aim for if I haven't taught fulltime in a decade, or should I look elsewhere for a year first perhaps?

(and appreciate your response)

[nomad soul]

[MuscatGary]

Do you have a degree and CELTA or equivalent? This is the most important criteria. Your project management might be useful and worth mentioning if you were applying for Business English teaching posts.

[scot47]

I "escaped" from EFL in 1979 and then found it quite difficult to get back in. My opportunity came when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990. No one wanted to go and teach in the region. I signed up for another spell in the educational equivalent of the Foreign Legion !

I think the assumption is that when you get out of EFL you are either in the Madhouse or the Penitentiary.

[damn_my_eyes]

There are occasional jobs in Chinese universities that ask for specialized knowledge such as business, science, IT etc

Might be worth searching some of the China job sites.

[JN]

Business experience would be a plus in Germany, but it's difficult to get work and to survive on that work, until you really get into teaching and the market here. You also have to have qualifications, at least a CELTA or equivalent, and you really have to be on the ground here to find jobs.

[deeve007]

[MuscatGary]