Job Discussion Forums

joe_doufu · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 25 Location: Korea

Dear forum,
Is there any hope of getting work teaching English to adults? Without ESL qualifications other than a year of kindergarten experience in Taiwan? If so, where should I look?
thanks,
Joe

Freddie_Unbelievable · Joined: 06 Jun 2003 Posts: 288

Take the qualification (part time) and work full time in HK. It can be done.

Ludwig · Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 7:43 pm Post subject:

I am afraid to say that, at best, I really do not rate your chances (they are, at the very best, somewhat slim) and, at worse, your question is (outstandingly) naive.

Who, exactly, do you think would want (read, 'need') to employ you to perform a task for which you are neither trained nor qualified? Also, what students, exactly, do you think would want to have you as their 'teacher'? The word 'teacher', though banded around in TEFL in some areas and states as if it were but a mere token term, really means just that here in HK. In HK, a teacher of English is a teacher who teaches English, not the other way around (as on the Mainland, for example). In addition, how, exactly, do you think any putative employer would be able to even begin to justify an application to sponsor you to the immigration department? What specialist training and academic qualifications would you cite? How would any employer evince that you - and you only - could perform a task that no one else already in the territory could perform?

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

As you are so fond of correcting mistakes Luddy, can you explain this one to me:
"I have coming up for a decade of experience now, have 10 'O' levels, 5 'A' levels, 2 'AS' levels', a BA (Hons) in language studies and linguistics, a MA in language acquisition, a CELTA, a CELTA YL-extension, a PGDE and, as stated, am currently completing my doctorate."

You might recognise the quote as coming from yourself and the term "A MA". Now which should it be, A or AN.

It really would be interesting to clear this up.

dez · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 52

Ludwig · Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2004 4:09 pm Post subject:

I think it interesting that you think a 6-week CELTA is equal to a one-year PGCE.

2 over lee · Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2004 9:30 pm Post subject:

Thanks for that quote, �once again�, I was under the impression Luds must have about three decades of experience.

For a guy whose spent most of his adult life in Transvaal, Ludwig has fitted a lot into that decade of experience. Not forgetting his present job, time on the �grim� mainland and 4 years of NET, he has managed to hold posts in: Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Finland, Bahrain, Germany and Holland. He also knows at least 4 Chinese dialects.

Not a bad effort for ten years, he was born experienced.

B.S. ( those really are my intials)

millie · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 413 Location: HK

I don’t see why people get so upset with Ludwig’s comments and want to direct venom towards him.

OK, one could be a little more diplomatic but essentially he is telling some poor misguided folks to “get real”.
This advice might save these people a lot of money and heart-ache too.

Ludwig often makes points about the lack of acceptable standards in mainland China, in all sorts of areas including the educational quality.
Again, very hard to disagree with the substance of his message.
M.

dez · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 52

Ludwig · Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 10:50 am Post subject:

Ludwig · Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 11:38 am Post subject:

dez · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 52

Now if I knew the answer to my question, why would I ask it, Ludwig?

Will the PGCE allow me to teach in Canada?