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AMF08D
Joined: 08 Apr 2016 Posts: 23
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 12:49 pm Post subject: Anyone know about ASL teaching overseas? |
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My BA degree is in English and I have a minor in ASL. What is the market like for ASL teachers overseas? I can imagine this might be a niche job but is there potential for private tutoring or special ASL schools overseas? I am particularly interested in SE Asia or Korea. Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated. All the best! |
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suphanburi
Joined: 20 Mar 2014 Posts: 916
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 1:30 pm Post subject: Re: Anyone know about ASL teaching overseas? |
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AMF08D wrote: |
My BA degree is in English and I have a minor in ASL. What is the market like for ASL teachers overseas? I can imagine this might be a niche job but is there potential for private tutoring or special ASL schools overseas? I am particularly interested in SE Asia or Korea. Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated. All the best! |
Not much demand for ASL (American Sign Language) in most of Asia and where there is a demand there is no money to pay you (street merchants in central Bangkok).
Your BA in English will get you a hagwon job in Korea or maybe an OK job teaching EFL (rather than English) in China.
It won't pay anything in Thailand, Cambodia or Malaysia but you won't have problems finding a job at US$900/month either.
When coupled with a TEFL cert it will get you a language center job in Vietnam ($1200-2000 depending on work loads and how salable you are) and just about any "English teacher" job in Indonesia.
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AMF08D
Joined: 08 Apr 2016 Posts: 23
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks suphanburi. Your responses are always so detailed and informative. You've been an invaluable resource so far. |
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Jmbf
Joined: 29 Jun 2014 Posts: 663
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 2:09 pm Post subject: |
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Hong Kong has a very good market for general English tutoring. You could advertise yourself as an English tutor with a sideline specialism in ASL and find plenty of work, although it might take time to find some traction in the local market and develop your niche. Now that I think about it, I seem to recall some anecdotal evidence a while back that parents were interested in ASL for their children and some companies were set up to cater for that demand. You could google search 'Baby Signs Hong Kong' as an example (which I believe are looking for teachers to join their program). |
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nomad soul

Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world
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Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 12:29 am Post subject: |
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Quote: |
I seem to recall some anecdotal evidence a while back that parents were interested in ASL for their children and some companies were set up to cater for that demand. You could google search 'Baby Signs Hong Kong' as an example (which I believe are looking for teachers to join their program). |
I'm familiar with baby signing; it isn't the same as structured sign language. It's a system of hand gestures that help infants communicate their needs to mom and dad. For hearing babies, once the muscles in their mouths strengthen and they develop the ability to vocalize words, they use less hand signing to communicate, and eventually, not at all for non-verbal communication as they grow out of their toddler years.
Anyway, having ASL skills isn't required for training moms and dads how to communicate with their infants; a background in child psychology, early childhood education, speech pathology, or linguistics would be more valuable (in addition to being a parent). Plus, I suspect baby sign companies are more likely seeking franchisees to grow the business versus employing teachers.
Interesting stuff, however. |
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GambateBingBangBOOM
Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan
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Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 3:21 am Post subject: |
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I'm sure you must already know that not only does most of the world have their own version of sign language, but ASL isn't even the type of sign language used in all English speaking nations. They use BSL (British Sign Language- a two-handed system) outside of the US and most of English Canada.
If you happen to be fluent in French, then ASL could be of some use in France (it's apparently mostly the same thing). My understanding is that oddly enough, Quebec sign language is based on the two-handed BSL but Anglo-Canada uses ASL. |
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AMF08D
Joined: 08 Apr 2016 Posts: 23
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Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 4:30 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the interesting responses. I wasn't expecting much but thought id check and see if anyone knew of a possible niche job market where this might be a possible lead. Anyways, thanks for all the feedback. All the best! |
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