Job Discussion Forums

yowie · Joined: 16 May 2015 Posts: 11 Location: Australia

Hello there, I am an Australian seafarer and am trying to get into the Maritime Teaching trade. I will complete my CELTA in July and would like to know if anyone has any contacts or teaching experience in this field? I am currently in discussion with two Chines maritime schools, and have sent emails to many others in Asia without any replies. Any small bit of information will be helpful as this is such a specialist industry, so please don’t hesitate in contacting me.

Regards, Dave.

suphanburi · Joined: 20 Mar 2014 Posts: 916

yowie · Joined: 16 May 2015 Posts: 11 Location: Australia

Thanks for that. Apparently there are plenty of people teaching Maritime English, but none with Maritime experience, and it is becoming a problem in the schools. From other MET’s I have spoken to the schools are more interested in Maritime experience, not Bachelors degrees, but a degree would guarantee work.

Unrung School Bell · Joined: 13 May 2015 Posts: 43

Do you mean actually teaching on ships? My guess is that sounds adventurous, sailing the high seas, but life on a ship can be quite dull and even maddening with the constant drone of engines, and the impossibility of going anywhere. If you are on a ship at sea, there is no way off, and nowhere to go for hundreds of miles once you're out to sea. It's like people who think it would be great to be an air steward. It seems romantic traveling all over the world, but the fact is you're confined to a small space, a narrow aisle blocked by your own cart, trying to hear the demands of the passengers over the roar of the engines for hours on end. No where to go, and then jet-lagged and exhausted when you reach your destination. The next day you have to do it all over again. Please correct me if I am mistaken or have misunderstood.

USB

suphanburi · Joined: 20 Mar 2014 Posts: 916

yowie · Joined: 16 May 2015 Posts: 11 Location: Australia

Thanks Unrung School Bell, I am actually writing this email from my bunk on a ship off the West Coast of Australia. I have been doing this for 10 years and need a change. An old seaman once told me ‘Being at sea is like being in jail, with the possibility of drowning’ and that about sums it up.

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

I think we can assume no degree. Narrows things down very considerably, as government regulations are government regulations. Same as in maritime regulations.

yowie · Joined: 16 May 2015 Posts: 11 Location: Australia

Yes, spiral78, I don’t have a degree, gold star to you.

As I was saying, if anyone has taught Maritime English, or has any contacts in this field, please contact me.

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

You mean "...any contacts in this field in a country where a degree is not a legal requirement to teach." To be realistic about it. There are some such countries, though the ones I am personally familiar with are landlocked.

I think Latin America would be a possible option and suggest you post in the LA forum below with your query. There's some coastline there, according to my globe, and I think that many countries in the region don't require a degree for teaching (but ask the experts on the other forum!).

Probably best to be open about what quals you have and don't have, in order for people to be genuinely helpful. It's not very useful to gather info from people in countries where a degree is a legal requirement for work if you don't have one.

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

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

Gamajorba · Joined: 03 May 2015 Posts: 357

Maybe the Saudi Navy in Dhahran?

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

AGoodStory · Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 738

Hello, Yowie, and welcome to the cafe! Are you under 30? If so, Australia has reciprocal working holiday agreements with a number of countries. While this won't help you long-term, you might be able to get a year's experience under your belt with the WH visa.

And where are you doing your CELTA?

.

yowie · Joined: 16 May 2015 Posts: 11 Location: Australia

All apologies about my sarcasm, after 30 days straight with 2-3 hours sleep a day, I can get a little prickly.

I understand my limitations without a degree, and am also looking into Mongolia and South America to try and get some teaching experience, my other option is a study Japanese in Japan for a year and work legally with a student visa. I am in contact with a guy called Dave at the Nohingo School in Kyoto. I am not sure I could do the same thing in China, I am 45 and may be to old, but that is possibly an option I should be looking at?