Job Discussion Forums

Dragonsaver · Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Posts: 41 Location: Dalian, China

I am hoping to get a teaching position in Asia, maybe after Christmas. I plan on taking a TEFL course first. I have a Master of Engineering Degree.

What I need to know is how much problem older people have getting a teaching position.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Dragonsaver,

What kind of age are you referring to as "old"? Many of us are teaching in our forties, fifties, and sixties.

I'm in Japan teaching at 48.

I have a masters degree in science and several years of industrial experience. Got a TESL certificate and my first teaching job at 41.

JosephP · Joined: 13 May 2003 Posts: 445

As the great Ed Buryn, author of Vagabonding in Europe, once wrote, "Buck up Grampa and get out there!"

Dragonsaver · Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Posts: 41 Location: Dalian, China

AsiaTraveller · Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2004 3:06 am Post subject:

International teaching of English is one of the few fields in which elders (even those who are newcomers) are frequently quite well received and respected. The exceptions are those schools that think only young, energetic (and typically naive) teachers can keep up with the children and teenagers.

You'll find positive testimonials here in most of the Asia forums.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

I am turning 60 next month, and have been teaching in Latin America for 10 years.

AsiaTraveller · Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 2:13 am Post subject:

MR, you're four years my elder. Cool

But I've been around Asia for 33 years, and I see no signs that aging results in less respect or opportunity. In fact, it's frequently just the opposite, at least in the countries I'm most familiar with.

Dragonsaver · Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Posts: 41 Location: Dalian, China

I would like to thank all the people who have responded to my question.

sojourner · Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 3:40 pm Post subject:

Mary,

In China, I have come across several FTs in their 60s - in fact, I once met a guy aged 70 who was teaching at a college in Jiangxi Province ! However, in Japan and Sth Korea, employers usually prefer young teachers - although, older teachers with good qualifications and/or plenty of experience have been known to find jobs in those two countries. I'm not sure about Thailand and Indonesia. Regarding Vietnam, one of the regular posters to Dave's China forums is Rhonda Place, an Australian lady in her late 50s. Prior to coming to China, Rhonda was working in Vietnam - contact her if that country appeals to you.

If you are contemplating working in China, with your qualifications, you should be looking for a job at a college or uni. Avoid language schools at all costs ! The next term for tertiary institutions will probably be commencing in early or mid February 2005 - start to apply for jobs during November/December.

Being a qualified engineer, there's a good chance that you may be asked to conduct courses in "Engineering English", if the college has an engineering faculty. In a job application, an indication by you that you would be willing to teach other subjects (eg maths) would, I'm sure, be looked upon very favourably by a college/uni. Anyway, you may find teaching run-of-the-mill Oral English somewhat boring.

In another thread, you have discussed the matter of TESOL training. Yes, I'm fully aware that CELTA training, in Nth America, is quite expensive. I did my course in Melbourne, where it is also expensive ! However, after completing it, I discussed the matter with my taxation adviser, who was able to arrange for a tax refund, of about 30-40 % of the cost of the CELTA course - Australian tax laws provide, in many circumstances, for educational expenses incurred. Probably, Canadian tax laws have similar provisions - check with your tax adviser.

Are you aware that in Thailand, CELTA courses are reasonably cheap ? Anyway, even without TESOL training, you should have no problems in finding work in China. But for your own peace of mind - and,also, for the sake of your students - you should undergo some training before arriving in China. Hopefully, the course that you referred to in your posting will provide you with some useful ideas - but, ideally, any high quality TESOL training should include a component involving every trainee having to conduct proper lessons before real students, as is the case with CELTA and Trinity courses.

Good luck.

Peter

AsiaTraveller · Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:48 pm Post subject:

Actually, I was addressing moonraven as MR. Smile

Sorry for the confusion!!

AsiaTraveller · Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:50 pm Post subject:

Peter, what an extraordinarily thoughtful and complete response!

In Indonesia, Malaysia and India 'older' teachers are highly respected. Agreed: Stay away from the private language schools with their masses of children and teenagers.