Job Discussion Forums

savi · Joined: 21 Dec 2016 Posts: 7

Hello there,

At first, I'd like to introduce myself and briefly describe myself. My name is Dawid, I will turn 21 in January.
I am a European (Polish) and I live in the UK. I attend the college over here (NVQ Lvl 3 in Mechanical Engineering) and also I am going to start the university (The Open University) to get a bachelor degree. I've chosen the English and Literature major.

So much for the introduction. I have a couple of questions for the future. Firstly, have I chosen a right major in order to find a job overseas (particularly I mean in South-Eastern Asia, because I am really fascinated about this region).

I've been hesitating between the Education major and the English language & literature. Finally, I've made the decision to pick up the second one. What are your thoughts about my choice?

Secondly, will I even have any real, I am marking out a word real chances to find a job in countries like Korea, Taiwan, Japan, China, Vietnam, Thailand etc with the BA in English from a British University and let's say a PGCE / TEFL / CELTA certification?

Thirdly, what are your expectations of the job market in Asia in let's say 3-5 years? In your opinion will there still be a demand for foreign English teachers (not necessarily native)?

Fourthly, do the fact that I'll possibly have a chance (maybe in few yeas) obtain the UK citizenship and passport enhance my value in any way (I guess that it does, but I'd like to know the opinion of an experienced people in the business).

Fifthly, do you think that finding a legit job remotely as a NNES and person like me is possible or should I rather turn up in a place I'd like to teach and work in?

Sixthly, thank you for reading this abundant and long post I hope that you will help me to direct my career and reach my dreams of Asia.

And obviously - Merry Christmas everyone.

Best regards,
Dawid

creeper1 · Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 12:33 pm Post subject:

Korea, Taiwan and Japan. Forget about them. These places are very popular and can therefore demand native speakers - that is candidates with their primary and secondary education in a native English speaking country.

China and Vietnam present opportunities. In China they are trying to up standards and make sure all those issued residence permit are native speakers with degrees. However I know for a fact that there are a lot of people here not native speakers teaching English for big employers.

In Vietnam much of the work is done under the table anyway and again plenty of non native speakers teaching English.

You said you like South East Asia? Well Vietnam will be right up your street.

The job market of the future raises questions about demographics since most of us teach kids.

On that question of demographics, Korea and Japan are going to have a demographic catastrophe. Their very survival as a race is questionable.

In Vietnam they have a growing population and ought to offer a good future for a long time.

fluffytwo · Joined: 24 Sep 2016 Posts: 139

I think you need to be aiming for at least a PGCE if you want to differentiate yourself sufficiently from the thousands of NES graduates and provide yourself with more options (such as teaching, albeit not really TEFL, in international schools; or possibly teaching as more than just an AET in state schools in e.g. Japan, assuming you could pass the licensing exams in Japanese LOL; or possibly even returning to the UK to teach in state schools there, unattractive though that might be) than increasingly hand-to-mouth entry-level (e.g. private language school; AETing) TEFL work. Some might even advise you to not give up the engineering!

Regarding the demographics, presumably places like Japan are going to have to eventually compromize and let in an appreciably larger number foreign workers, and grant permanent residency more readily.

savi · Joined: 21 Dec 2016 Posts: 7

suphanburi · Joined: 20 Mar 2014 Posts: 916

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

In Taiwan I knew a Russian who ended up losing his visa as he was thought to be a native speaker.

In Japan it does happen that French or German teachers end up teaching English as well, but they need at least a MA and sometimes have to take an English test to prove their competence.

There is so much competition for work that a MA or masters degree is the bare minimum.
A UK passport would certainly help.
I knew a Pole who taught in Japan but her MA was from the USA.

There is less work than before in Taiwan and Korea.

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