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Starting to Teach TESL at 60 Years Old
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horton333



Joined: 20 Nov 2014
Posts: 5
PostPosted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 2:09 pm    Post subject: Starting to Teach TESL at 60 Years Old Reply with quote
Hi:

I am 60 years old, and I am strongly considering TESL in Spanish Latin America (possibly Spain) for about a year now, holding back while I ponder 'age' issues.

I reviewed a couple of threads to do with age on the getting started forum, some very good info, and I believe the consensus is there will be issues but it is being done by some people so - it's possible!

1) While there was relevant information specific to some LA countries I saw nothing specific to Chile nor The Dominican Republic, which are high on my list. Does anyone have specific information on the chances/issues in those two countries?

2) I only want to teach adults, with the intention to be able to leverage my business background into teaching specific to business people after my resume has something on it. Does limiting myself to adults limit my marketability?

3) If there are any older people who have been there and done this I would appreciate any experience on health insurance in that area of the world.

Thanks in advance.

John
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Prof.Gringo



Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
PostPosted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 3:56 pm    Post subject: Re: Starting to Teach TESL at 60 Years Old Reply with quote
horton333 wrote:
Hi:

I am 60 years old, and I am strongly considering TESL in Spanish Latin America (possibly Spain) for about a year now, holding back while I ponder 'age' issues.

I reviewed a couple of threads to do with age on the getting started forum, some very good info, and I believe the consensus is there will be issues but it is being done by some people so - it's possible!

1) While there was relevant information specific to some LA countries I saw nothing specific to Chile nor The Dominican Republic, which are high on my list. Does anyone have specific information on the chances/issues in those two countries?

2) I only want to teach adults, with the intention to be able to leverage my business background into teaching specific to business people after my resume has something on it. Does limiting myself to adults limit my marketability?

3) If there are any older people who have been there and done this I would appreciate any experience on health insurance in that area of the world.

Thanks in advance.

John


Hello and welcome!

Do you have TEFL/TESOL/CELTA?

Degree(s)?

Is this something you want to do for a year or ten?

Do you have income/investments etc that you will use to support yourself abroad?

Are you married? If single, then the possibilty exists if you marry a local which makes certain aspects of immigration easier in most of Latin America. (I am not advocating marriage to circumvent immigration laws, just stating the possiblity of getting married in the future which can impact your immigration status).

MBA+CELTA+Biz Exp. is in demand in the major cities in Lat Am. Age isn't going to be as much of a factor for those jobs as it would be in a language center or a colegio.

Are you willing to risk work on a tourist or retirement visa?

You may find real problems with getting an employer to sponsor you for a work visa, or they may not be able to at all, depends on the "laws" and whoever is interpreting them that day at immigration...

You would do better to apply in person, esp. if you "look" younger than your age, regardless of the photo you provide with a CV many employers will discount a photo if you look significantly younger than they expect for your age.
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Prof.Gringo



Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
PostPosted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 4:08 pm    Post subject: Re: Starting to Teach TESL at 60 Years Old Reply with quote
horton333 wrote:
Hi:

1) While there was relevant information specific to some LA countries I saw nothing specific to Chile nor The Dominican Republic, which are high on my list. Does anyone have specific information on the chances/issues in those two countries?


Did you see the CHILE Thread in the forums?

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=106067
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horton333



Joined: 20 Nov 2014
Posts: 5
PostPosted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 5:03 pm    Post subject: Re: Starting to Teach TESL at 60 Years Old Reply with quote
Prof.Gringo wrote:

Did you see the CHILE Thread in the forums?
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=106067

"Age should be no problem. I taught in Chile 3 years ago at 66." I missed that one, this is most encouraging.
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horton333



Joined: 20 Nov 2014
Posts: 5
PostPosted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 5:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
In reply to the questions, thanks for the help prof.

There is a local course, Oxford Seminars, I will take when I feel comfortable. The online courses seem a bit limited and I have time to take a full course.
The intention is to break even financially, I want to learn Spanish and ....
I have an engineering degree with a background at various management levels and my last formal employment is at a company well known around the world. That is what I intend to leverage.
I would only work 'through the proper channels' - I like to travel and getting through U.S. customs is already a pain in the ______ some days without having something they actually should maybe worry about hanging over me if I got caught.....
Thanks for the tip about applying in person. I probably am among those who presents better than my age may suggest (pictures lie!!!). I read a long recommend from some who has worked in Chile saying you should *only* apply once down there. Not sure how that would work with getting a visa ..... fortunately for Chile I have a friend who was born there and hopefully I can leverage those relatives of his who did not leave so maybe it is possible - not sure how - a detail for later.
thanks again.
John
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Prof.Gringo



Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
PostPosted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 5:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
horton333 wrote:
In reply to the questions, thanks for the help prof.

There is a local course, Oxford Seminars, I will take when I feel comfortable. The online courses seem a bit limited and I have time to take a full course.
The intention is to break even financially, I want to learn Spanish and ....
I have an engineering degree with a background at various management levels and my last formal employment is at a company well known around the world. That is what I intend to leverage.
I would only work 'through the proper channels' - I like to travel and getting through U.S. customs is already a pain in the ______ some days without having something they actually should maybe worry about hanging over me if I got caught.....
Thanks for the tip about applying in person. I probably am among those who presents better than my age may suggest (pictures lie!!!). I read a long recommend from some who has worked in Chile saying you should *only* apply once down there. Not sure how that would work with getting a visa ..... fortunately for Chile I have a friend who was born there and hopefully I can leverage those relatives of his who did not leave so maybe it is possible - not sure how - a detail for later.
thanks again.
John


Oxford Seminars is a complete joke. Waste of time & money.

You need a 120 hour ON-SITE TEFL course, best if it is a CELTA.

Legal work? Who is going to hire you with a joke of a course and SPONSOR you for work visa, permit, etc? Think about it. Sure, it's possible, but your age is working against, not for you.

Something hanging over you IF you got caught? Doing what? Working without the proper visa in Lat Am, what does that have to do with Uncle Sugar?

You will most likely work some low-wage TEFL job with an unsteady salary and on a TOURIST visa for the first year or so. Maybe if you get a CELTA and have networked, studied Spanish etc, well, then you might get a gig that provides a visa... Maybe.

Just get a CELTA to start, it will make life much easier.
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naturegirl321



Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
PostPosted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 7:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
You could get a retirement visa. I think in Ecuador you can now teach on one. In other countries you might be able to get around it by teaching online.
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Prof.Gringo



Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
PostPosted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 10:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
naturegirl321 wrote:
You could get a retirement visa. I think in Ecuador you can now teach on one. In other countries you might be able to get around it by teaching online.


I think that's an option in several Lat Am countries, but the OP said he wanted to do everything "legal" and if your visa doesn't allow you to work, then it's not "legal". But of course, how many "teachers" are 100% legal in Peru or Mexico? Visa runs are always an option.
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