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GLeigh
Joined: 18 Feb 2016
Posts: 9
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 Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2016 9:08 am Post subject: Finding first teaching job |
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I'm CELTA certified, have a Uni degree with two majors (English and Poli Sci) and have a valid EU passport.
I originally wanted to work in Spain, but I have no teaching experience beyond my CELTA.
I'm considering Hong Kong, mainland China, Korea or Japan.
My dream is to travel and work all across Western Europe.
Would anyone recommend working in Asia for a year—to establish myself—and then using the experience/references to earn a job in Western Europe?
Is this a valid plan? |
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suphanburi
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 916
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| Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2016 11:44 am Post subject: Re: Finding first teaching job |
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| GLeigh wrote: |
I'm CELTA certified, have a Uni degree with two majors (English and Poli Sci) and have a valid EU passport.
I originally wanted to work in Spain, but I have no teaching experience beyond my CELTA.
I'm considering Hong Kong, mainland China, Korea or Japan.
My dream is to travel and work all across Western Europe.
Would anyone recommend working in Asia for a year—to establish myself—and then using the experience/references to earn a job in Western Europe?
Is this a valid plan? |
Asia and Europe are like apples and oranges when it comes to EFL.
If you want to work in Europe then go to Europe. Experience in Asia won't do you much good.
If you want to try Asia then give it a go. There is decent money to be made while still enjoying a comfortable lifestyle and paying down your student loans.
Oh, and for most jobs in Asia, if you have a degree and TEFL cert (yes, CELTA is a TEFL cert) then you are good to go.
For most jobs (at least the legal ones) you'll need to get your degree authenticated (apositlle in most cases), university issued and sealed transcript of academic records, as well as obtain a police clearance (ACRO or disclosure Scotland). You'll also need to bring your originals along with you.
NOW is the time to be looking if your aim is East Asia. The school year starts between now and June (depending on the country).
Beyond the usual documents you need:
no experience,
youth,
white face (yes, racism is alive and well in Asia),
and bonus points for being female (the majority of jobs in Asia are working with kids).
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2016 11:47 am Post subject: |
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I agree that Asia experience won't be particularly helpful in Europe, and potential employers are generally aware that the teaching is apples and oranges between the two regions.
Here are a couple of threads (another link is posted in this thread) discussing what's different.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=112851 |
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GLeigh
Joined: 18 Feb 2016
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2016 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the information.
I suppose the main issue is that finding work in Western Europe seems incredibly difficult.
The money is another issue, but that's not why we get into teaching-is it? 
Anyway, thanks again. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2016 8:27 pm Post subject: |
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If you are trying to job hunt from abroad, that's just not the way it's done in Western Europe regardless of qualifications and experience, unless you really have something specialist to offer. And now is not the time to seek work.
Most contracts are Sept/Oct through June. Pick a city, go over at the end of August and walk the streets with your CV, looking professional. You'll find something.
Trying to job hunt from abroad in this season is probably doomed to failure, but that doesn't mean it's so difficult to find work if you time it correctly and go in person. |
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GLeigh
Joined: 18 Feb 2016
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 11:57 pm Post subject: |
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You seem to be right Spiral78.
I'm considering China at the moment, but there are a lot of reasons to be hesitant.
I might stay home (I live in Vancouver, Canada), work here for a while and do as you suggest.
Thanks for the advice. |
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suphanburi
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 916
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2016 6:46 am Post subject: |
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| GLeigh wrote: |
You seem to be right Spiral78.
I'm considering China at the moment, but there are a lot of reasons to be hesitant.
I might stay home (I live in Vancouver, Canada), work here for a while and do as you suggest.
Thanks for the advice. |
If you have a Canadian passport (rather than just an EU passport) then all of Asia is open to you.
A BA and a CELTA will get you a job in Korea without too much trouble (EPIK). Airfare, housing, severance, pension, medical and a salary of about CAD$2500 to start.
You should be able to do just about as well in southern China with a BA and a CELTA. Shop around - you have some time.
Korea and China are all done through recruiters. Now is the time to be looking and jobs will start in August although there are always lots of "language centers" who hire year-round.
In SE Asia the jobs are found "on the ground" and not from your living room in Lotus-land.
Vietnam will pay about $2000 (and have a much lower cost of living).
Taiwan will pay about the same for a BA + degree + Canadian passport.
Thailand will start you off at about $1500.
Myanmar and Malaysia are about the same.
NOW is the time to be here and looking. The bulk of EFL jobs start this part of the world start in March/April/May.
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In the heat of the moment
Joined: 22 May 2015
Posts: 393
Location: Italy
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| Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2016 9:34 am Post subject: |
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Seconding South Korea, there's a massive amount of support there from other teachers, China's a bit 'Wild Wild West' and the pollution is chronic. My first gig, without a CELTA, was in China and you're realling being thrown into the deep end there. Fortunately I had a very, very understanding school and supervisor but I was lucky. Many others I knew were in bad schools and gave up after one year, even thought they could've been really good teachers. 
BTW, in Korea don't look at hagwons, go to a public school either directly or through EPIK. |
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Chroniclesoffreedom
Joined: 13 Jan 2015
Posts: 261
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| Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2016 12:35 am Post subject: |
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| GLeigh wrote: |
You seem to be right Spiral78.
I'm considering China at the moment, but there are a lot of reasons to be hesitant.
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Somebody I know posted this video on youtube. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lG3_2UqeNfI
If you are thinking about teaching in China, please bear in mind that almost nobody will ward you of the things discussed in this video if you are a newbie. China can be a great place. But just as a fair warning. You will experience alot of social segregation. Anyway the video link I posted above will give you most of the warnings needed. I know it sounds negative for the most part, but everything in that video does happen to be some of the top 10 things a foreigner should know before going to any asian country.
Not trying to scare you out of coming to this part of the world, you will have excellent times out here. But the topics discussed in that video above are not something you want to learn the hard way. So do come and have a great time, but please be aware of the social compromises you will have.
That video should be a disclaimer video for everyone and anyone who wants to come to any asian country for their first time. |
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