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CANDLES
Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 605
Location: Wandering aimlessly.....
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 Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 9:13 am Post subject: MA TESOL |
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| Is it worth doing a degree after the age of 56 if the job market is closed for them in the Middle East, China and in the UK and maybe other countries too? |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 9:49 am Post subject: |
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It's probably not worth the time and cost considering you won't have any post-MA experience.
Have you looked into teaching in Mexico or South America? What about changing careers to something like technical writing? |
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In the heat of the moment
Joined: 22 May 2015
Posts: 393
Location: Italy
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 10:58 am Post subject: |
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| Late 50s is definitely not closed to new teachers to the Middle East. |
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CANDLES
Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 605
Location: Wandering aimlessly.....
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 11:47 am Post subject: |
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If you are there and going into your late 50's (58 and over) no problem, but new recruits - no chance-. It happened to me several times, including last night.
NS - I have an MA, but not Tesol (just experience). This is a change of career for me. Have done couple of things before, but catch 22 situation- 'you leave something and it's deemed as no experience, or too much time spent away from it'! |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 2:28 pm Post subject: |
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| CANDLES wrote: |
| Catch 22 situation- 'you leave something and it's deemed as no experience, or too much time spent away from it'! |
Not always. What's your MA in? |
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CANDLES
Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 605
Location: Wandering aimlessly.....
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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| English Lit and no I don't have QTS, OTHERWISE I'd be fine. |
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suphanburi
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 916
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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Buy a plane ticket.
Bring your degree and some university copies of your academic transcripts (or sealed letter from the registrar to confirm the legitimacy of your degrees.
Pick up a police clearance certificate.
Head for Asia and don't sweat the MATESOL. There is lots of work to be had and most of it will pay as well as China.
You might want to grab some books (e-books) on TEFL and brush up on methods and approaches for teaching in an EFL context.
You're good for a few years before they toss you to the wolves.
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Unless you're married to teaching English (until you're "thrown to the wolves"), why not look into technical writing/communications instead? |
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CANDLES
Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 605
Location: Wandering aimlessly.....
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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| What is that NS and how does one get into it? I'm a mere infant compared to all of you in the teaching profession (NOT AGE WISE, but EXPERIENCE). |
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In the heat of the moment
Joined: 22 May 2015
Posts: 393
Location: Italy
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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| CANDLES wrote: |
If you are there and going into your late 50's (58 and over) no problem, but new recruits - no chance-. It happened to me several times, including last night.
NS - I have an MA, but not Tesol (just experience). This is a change of career for me. Have done couple of things before, but catch 22 situation- 'you leave something and it's deemed as no experience, or too much time spent away from it'! |
Sorry to hear that, Candles, but I have to beg to differ; some universities still take on those in their 'golden years' if the qualifications and experience are an asset.
Maybe not a newly-qualified MA in his/her late 50's, I accept. Still, it doesn't hurt to keep on applying, eh? I think the legal limit for a new teacher is now 60 but there is no age limit for existing employees.
Good advice re: going there and interviewing in person. You can show them you're physically and mentally capable and have have a positive, but mature, attitude. I think older teachers will have more luck in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Cambodia and Malaysia. |
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CANDLES
Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 605
Location: Wandering aimlessly.....
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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| I know that Vocational Schools have an age limit of 62/63?....but they are out in the sticks and dunes of KSA....and not many people put up with it., especially if there is no 'civilisation' except by an hour by air! |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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| CANDLES wrote: |
| nomad soul wrote: |
| Unless you're married to teaching English (until you're "thrown to the wolves"), why not look into technical writing/communications instead? |
What is that NS and how does one get into it? I'm a mere infant compared to all of you in the teaching profession. |
Technical writing isn't specific to TEFL or teaching. But since you've asked what it is, perhaps it's not a viable path for you.
That said, it's not uncommon for teachers to transition into training in education or business. You'd need to evaluate your transferable skills and experience to determine if trainer is a role for you. Take a look at http://ezinearticles.com/?From-Teacher-to-Corporate-Trainer---Your-Next-Career?&id=731196 |
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CANDLES
Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 605
Location: Wandering aimlessly.....
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry NS I misunderstood you re Technical writing. I know what it is,but it's specialised and as I said before; in the teaching profession I am a 'mere infant'. Neither would I feel comfortable, at the moment of being a teacher trainer.
Thank you for the website though. |
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spanglish
Joined: 21 May 2009
Posts: 742
Location: working on that
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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| CANDLES wrote: |
| English Lit and no I don't have QTS, OTHERWISE I'd be fine. |
I'd say get a CELTA in Latin America to gain the foundational classroom skills. After, with luck and a bit of time, your vaguely relevant MA and relative maturity may enable you to work your way into one of the better university jobs. No age discrimination that I am aware of in LatAm. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 12:49 am Post subject: |
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| CANDLES wrote: |
| Sorry NS I misunderstood you re Technical writing. I know what it is,but it's specialised and as I said before; in the teaching profession I am a 'mere infant'. Neither would I feel comfortable, at the moment of being a teacher trainer. |
I haven't been teaching long either; I worked in a very different field for years before switching to TEFL. I'm now transitioning into training and development, which is unrelated to TEFL (i.e., presently finishing a degree in educational technology and a certificate in technical communications).
Anyway, I definitely wasn't suggesting that you become a teacher trainer. My point is that you consider a move completely away from teaching and into the field of training, particularly with a business or nonprofit. It's an alternative to the age-related challenges you're experiencing in trying to get a TEFL job in your target countries. Otherwise, given that you already have a CELTA and some experience, head to where your age isn't yet an issue even if the country/location isn't your ideal. |
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