Job Discussion Forums

[lucyn]

Hi everyone,

I am a 26 year old Australian. I am looking at spending some time overseas beginning in mid-late 2005 and am interested in teaching ESL while I am away.

I do not have a degree, although I do have a diploma (2 year course) in a totally unrelated field (Natural Resource Management).

I am looking at spending time travelling through Asia and then hope to go onto Europe.

I understand that even though I probably could get a job in Asia without ESL qualifications, it is a good idea to get them anyway so I have at least a few teaching skills (& maybe a bit better idea what I'm getting myself into!).

Here are my questions:
1. What European countries can I work in without a degree, but with an ESL qualification?

2. Does anyone have any experience with the ESL programs that have job networks attached to them (eg Global TESOL). I am not so much thinking of Asia here, but Europe, where I'm thinking my chances of landing a job might be more difficult - no EU passport,no degree etc.

3. Should I pay the extra money and get a CELTA qualification, or would one of the other programs be enough? Money is an issue - this isn't a long term career for me, but if CELTA's the only way to go given where I want to teach I'll shell out the money!

4. A very general question. I understand I'm not going to be making heaps of money. But I would like to earn enough to live on, and to have reasonable working conditions (happy to work hard, but don't want to be exploited). Is this a reasonable expectation given my background, and are there any countries/programs that have a better/worse reputation as far as this goes?

I'm using the terms Asia & Europe which are extremely broad. I really don't have any preferences as far as specific countries go, and at this stage am more interested to know where I can realistically hope to get the work.

Thanks heaps for your time,

Lucy

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

Rather than spending thousands on a TESOL certificate, you should see if there's any way to add another year or two onto that diploma and get a B.Sc or BA out of it.

A four or six week CELTA isn't going to help all that much without an undergrad. And working in Western Europe with neither an EU passport nor a degree? If you are extremely lucky you might get under the table illegals, but try to consider it from the employer's point of view: there is a tonne of competition for jobs in the EU, most people have undergraduate degrees and also have EU passports (and many have additional languages to boot). What do you have to offer them that other people do not? (if you have learned one or two foreign languages already that can help- especially if it happens to be the local language of that country).

As for Asia, I think China would be your best bet. The pay is low, but so is the cost of living, so if you have no debts at all, it could be alright. A CELTA may help you in China.

[Varvian]

I agree with gambate, you really do need a bachelor's degree of some sort. I know in some Asian countries you cannot get a work permit without having a bachelor's. On another thread is the full list of where you can't go without a bachelors.

I also know that a TEFL cert and a bachelor's degree will get you a job somewhat easily in Eastern Europe without a EU passport. But I'm not sure if they'll accept you there without a bachelor's.

Also in Taiwan you must either have a bachelor's OR a 2 year degree plus a TEFL certificate in order to get a work permit.

[CharlesTESOL]

You can't get a job in Japan, Korea or Taiwan without a degree. You could get work in Thailand or China, but you would need a certificate -- it doesn't have to be CELTA, though. I lived and taught in Prague for two years and saw people with no degrees get work there as well as in other Eastern European countries -- same for Spain where I am living now. Other European countries are do-able, too. I suggest getting certified and then working in Europe first. I say this because it may be better for you to gain experience, make connections in the TESOL world and learn what pitfalls to avoid while in a culture that is more similar to what you are used to in Australia, as opposed to dealing with everything at once in Asia. Email me for more details. Good luck,

[Glenski]

CharlesTESOL wrote:

[CharlesTESOL]

Thanks for the info. In my experience (which is from Europe) I have only known of two people who got around the degree requirement in Japan -- one married a citizen, which is always an option anywhere, I suppose, and another started work in a hotel and eventually taught English. Both of these people were certified, too, by the way. I have never heard of situations like these being very common, so your news is welcome. Goes to prove, where there is a will, there is usually a way. Cheers,