Job Discussion Forums

dmk1967 · Joined: 19 Aug 2014 Posts: 19 Location: USA

Hi all, another newbie here, been debating posting here for a few months (since I got my CELTA) but kept "chickening out," but after some traumatic stuff happening to me today I really need to talk to some nice strangers...

My background: I'm a 47yo woman in the US, got both BS and CELTA, single, no kids, worked 17 years as a graphic designer...looking to start my new teaching career pretty much anywhere in the world.

My "perfect" plan would have been to teach adults (which I really do enjoy) as I have no experience with children whatsoever. But I'm finding that adult teaching jobs are few and require years of experience. I still applied to a number of job postings over the past few months (mostly in Korea) but am getting the silent treatment. So it's pretty clear that if I want to pursue this new career I have to accept teaching kids. How difficult is it to do this? Like i said, I have no kids of my own, no siblings either...

Is it safe to say that once I open myself up to teaching kids I'll have an easier time landing a job? Or am I still going to have "issues" due to my advanced old age?

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

You can pretty much teach anywhere in the world except those countries that are part of the EU (you have the wrong passport) and where a relevant degree is required. The Middle East tends to have the most opportunities for teaching adults (usually in university EFL programs), especially for female teachers. However, your unrelated degree and lack of paid teaching experience are likely to only catch the attention of the sketchiest of Saudi contracting companies that staff positions at universities throughout the country. This is the main reason why the ME is never recommended for newbies.

Keep in mind, not every overseas employer will see 47 as "advanced." There are similarly qualified newbies older than you who land jobs primarily in Asia. And yes, they end up teaching children and seem to do fine with it. So it's unclear if you're worried that you won't be perceived as energetic, or that you feel you won't be good at essentially 'entertaining' a group of children with learning activities. Or both. In other words, what is your "fear," per your subject line?

esl_prof · Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 5:13 am Post subject:

You might consider applying for one of the following programs, both of which have plenty of opportunities to work with adults and neither of which would have any objections to your age.

1) Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program

http://us.fulbrightonline.org/about/types-of-grants/english-teaching-assistant-grants

2) U.S. Peace Corps

http://www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer/

dmk1967 · Joined: 19 Aug 2014 Posts: 19 Location: USA

dmk1967 · Joined: 19 Aug 2014 Posts: 19 Location: USA

esl_prof · Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 4:19 pm Post subject:

dmk1967 · Joined: 19 Aug 2014 Posts: 19 Location: USA

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

Post on the General Asia forum so that you don't "miss" any of the less-talked-about countries. Also, ask on the Turkey forum. Just be very clear that you're only willing to consider universities as well as language schools that teach teens and adults. (You should be able to handle teens.)

esl_prof · Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 10:44 pm Post subject:

One other thing: Did you do your CELTA here in the U.S.? If so, you might inquire whether or not the school you studied with knows of any teaching opportunities with adults within their local network or network of alumni. It may be a long shot, but it never hurts to inquire.

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

toteach · Joined: 29 Dec 2008 Posts: 273

Keep in mind that even if you wind up teaching University-age students in China, you'll still be teaching "children." IMHO, students here can be compared to students 3 to 5 years their junior in the USA. (A 19-year-old Chinese student will have the same behaviors and emotions as a 14-year-old student from the USA).

I hope your day improves!!

psychedelicacy · Joined: 05 Oct 2013 Posts: 180 Location: Beijing

In my opinion, teaching children is demoralizing drudgery. Occasionally, they're great, but nothing more than occasionally. Overwhelmingly, children are not authentic learners - they'd rather be playing computer games instead of being made to study English by their parents. Only very rarely is this not the case with children. By 'children', I mean pre-teens. Teens, likewise, can be utterly dreadful. It's hard work. And I, like you, have no children and no siblings. Who knows, you might like it, but ask yourself this. Picture the scene: you'd spent a long time preparing what you thought was a brilliant lesson plan - it can't go wrong. You then get into the classroom and struggle to even begin the lesson in a civilized fashion because of unruly, immature behaviour. I find it deeply irritating.

That's what teaching kids is like every day. Mind you, it's a job.

fpshangzhou · Joined: 13 Mar 2012 Posts: 280

adaruby · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2015 10:09 am Post subject:

psychedelicacy · Joined: 05 Oct 2013 Posts: 180 Location: Beijing

A lot of very experienced YL specialists, though they may not admit it, find teaching children depressing and demoralizing drudgery. You can tell when they come out of the classroom, and indeed by their general demeanour and disappointment with life. It's a bloody hard job. I admire those who are good at it and enjoy it.

Something the OP might consider (I would do this if I was still teaching full-time) is the CELTA YL.