Job Discussion Forums

KeliiCompulsive · Joined: 06 Oct 2014 Posts: 5

I have had a good read of the forums so apologies if I have missed a thread answering my specific questions but here goes:

I am 34 with no degree, I've been a touring musician for 15 years, chose not to go to uni, had much more exciting things to do at the time! Anyway, I just started my OU degree, but it will take me up to 6 years to complete. I don't want to wait til I'm 40 to start teaching!

I passed my CELTA in September, got a pass B grade, also did an add-on course in preparing students for the IELTS test.

I have absolutely loved the teaching practise I have done so far, I want to get working ASAP so that I can improve my teaching and gain that valuable experience. Due to other commitments though I can't go abroad until the end of November.

I will be travelling with my long-term partner, who is not a teacher. He will be looking for non-teaching jobs, bar work, whatever!

I am a UK citizen.

I have seen so much negativity regarding people not having a degree on here, I get the impression that the general consensus is I've got no chance without one. Can anybody offer me some positive advice about where in the world I might be able to find work without one? Do I have ANY options?!

I am used to living frugally by the way, I've survived on minimum wage, casual jobs here for years Smile

Any advice from you ESL experts is very much appreciated!

esl_prof · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 12:28 pm Post subject:

Casual, subsistence level work is great when you're young, but do you really want to be doing that 10, 20, or 30 years down the road? Many of us enjoyed that lifestyle when we were young, but eventually tired of it and chose to settle down (relatively speaking, of course). Having a degree in hand can help you to do that and, for that matter, help provide the income you need to continue traveling and doing things you enjoy outside of work.

My advice: Start working on your degree and stick with it until you finish. In the meantime, see if you can tutor international students at your university or do some volunteer English tutoring through a program that serves refugees and immigrants in your community. Depending on your degree program, you may be able to work out an internship, either locally or via a semester abroad, doing some English teaching or tutoring as well. There's no reason why you can't experience the thrill and excitement of teaching while en route to your degree.

Additionally, you've got the advantage of knowing up front what you want to do. So unlike the average recent college grad turned TEFLer who has a degree in an unrelated field like, say, criminal justice or microbiology, you can actually choose a program of study (which, perhaps, might include further teaching credentials) that will eventually open doors for you that are simply not an option for the typical entry-level teacher with a four-year degree plus CELTA.

Even if you don't finish your degree until you are forty, you'll still have a good 25+ working years ahead of you, more than enough to enjoy a full and rich teaching career. Not to mention, you'll bring tons of life experience to the classroom that other teachers simply don't have.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

KeliiCompulsive · Joined: 06 Oct 2014 Posts: 5

Thanks to everyone who has replied so far, much appreciated. Maybe I didn't make it clear, I will absolutely finish my degree, I am fully aware of the benefits of that, plus I enjoy studying, but as it's self-study it gives me a little more freedom to work while I'm doing it, I'd much rather use my CELTA and get some experience teaching under my belt, and maybe live in a different country for a while, than carry on waitressing in Manchester for the next 6 years while I'm doing it. I'm sure you can all relate!

esl_prof · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 1:38 am Post subject:

Tudor · Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 339

Kelli

Some unis in the UK now offer "fast-track" degrees which can be completed in two years. These are full Honours degrees but instead of having 3/4 months off in the summer, you continue to study therefore doing two years of three semesters as opposed to the traditional three years of two semesters.

I know tuition fees are high but the student loan system makes going to uni possible and you only pay back when you start earning. I owe over GBP 16,000 and pay back 30 quid a month - big deal. By my reckoning, I'll have retired before getting anywhere near paying it back.

The OU are good but six years is a long slog - this way, you could be done in two, have your degree in your back pocket and set out to follow your dream without the hindrance or worry of not being qualified enough.

Good luck with whatever you choose - I like your attitude Wink

MuscatGary · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 3:34 am Post subject:

Be aware that the OU charges students more if they are non-resident and any remission in fees due to being on benefits would also be lost. The plus side is that working as a tefl teacher and studying with the OU would mean that you will definitely NOT be spending too much time hanging about in bars regardless of what your partner does. Consider doing some business English teaching in Paris. There's plenty of Brit pubs and bar work there.

Tudor · Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 339

MuscatGary · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 5:44 am Post subject:

Yep, not as 'open' as it used to be sadly...

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Perhaps the 'open' stands for opening one's wallet more.