Job Discussion Forums

[slas7713]

Hello Alll,

I'm new so I'll first give some brief background on myself. I recently quit a systems analyst/Project manager job, Computing Science bachelors degree, and will be taking the CELTA certification course at Houstons North Harris College in June of 2005. I have traveled extensively in the past but more recently in 2003 I spent close to a year in the Dominican Republic where I taught English for four months at the local language school in Luperon and studied Spanish. Besides that, my teaching experience involves writing user manuals for the software my group developed and then personally teaching the software classes throughout the US.

In July I plan on beginning my search for ESL employment. I am still weighing the pros and cons of the various locations but I am leaning towards Mexico, Central or South America because of my Spanish skills and general attraction to Latin American culture. Of course others appeal to me also including, Thailand and Vietnam. I have had two very close friends from each of these countries and have done quite a bit of researched on both locations.

Now the questions sticking in my crawl:
Do any of you have experience in marrying technology skills with your language teaching skills and what type of position did it involve? What type of company or organization do you think would find this type of experience most useful and how? Is there a job market in this area?

I read that Mexico is the best paying location to teach throughout the Central and South American region. Is this in fact true? What cities are the most attractive for prospective employees?

I would also be interested in Columbia, Panama, or Honduras. Can you give me any insight into the current status of employment in these areas?

I've also read that if you just go to Thailand or Vietnam and spend a few months networking and getting the lay of the land you would be able to easily find employment. Do you believe this is the way to go and is it like this in most places you have worked?

OK, enough for now. I will also post on the Latin America forum but right now I am not opposed the going anywhere in the world. Just get me out of the cubical!!!

I appreciate all input, advice, and help you can provide.

Steve

[AsiaTraveller]

The very natural extension of your skills into the English-teaching field is the teaching of "Technical Writing" classes on-site in software companies in Asia.

Companies in the U.S. are currently outsourcing thousands of technical writing projects to India, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. (Eastern Europe is also receiving significant work.) In addition, hundreds of local Asian software companies in these and other countries are doing their own technical writing.

Professional tech writers in Asia have very little training available to them. They typically have technical expertise and no writing background. (Rarely, it's the other way 'round.) Most of the training they get is in the major authoring tools (FrameMaker, RoboHelp, XML, etc.), with precious little time spent on actual writing.

You'd be a natural to become a trainer or consultant for IT companies in Asia that have large tech writing departments. You can teach them the basics of document planning, information architecture, organization/structure, U.S. tech writing style and conventions, and a lot more. In India, Singapore, and the Philippines, of course, the level of English is superb, so you could spend time on really useful topics (and never worry about having a classroom of 50 six-year-olds!).

PM me for more info.

[slas7713]

Thanks Asia Traveller,

I'll begin my research into the area right away. If you have any specific contacts or leads I'd be grateful. After I do some research I'd like to pick you brain and talk with you more.

Steve

[AsiaTraveller]

Sure... Any time!