Job Discussion Forums

[Cyna]

Hello all!
I live in the United States and I am really interested in teaching in anther country. I will have my B.A. by the end of this summer but do not have any formal teacher training. I have heard that Asian countries are where I should go since I have not taught English before. What do you think. Also, I am married and my husband wants to come along and teach as well. Please give me some info.


Thanks

[M.K.]

Cyna,
A word of warning: Really broad, general questions like yours can get you flamed in a big way. I suggest you provide more background info, like what countries you're interested in, and what kind of teaching qualifications you have. I don't think anyone here would suggest you attempt teaching anywhere without some kind of training.

A good place to start if you have no idea where you'd like to teach is the Job Information Journals. Pick a country or area you're interested in (like Asia) and read about others' experiences there. Above all, research research research, and don't jump into anything because of anonymous advice given by perfect strangers on an Internet forum!
Melissa

[Cyna]

Thanks. About getting "flamed" hey I need to start asking questions somewhere and I was informed that this was the place to do so. Of course even a job journal is going to give me information from strangers like yourself. I have no choice but to ask strangers' opinions because I don't know anyone that has left the United States. When I said anywhere, yea I meant exactly that. I can refine my options once I have obtained enough information but until then anywhere is a possibility. Trust me if you lived in downtown Chicago for your entire life you too would get frustrated with the every day urban American life.

[cheryl]

Cnya,

from what i've read on this board you don't need any formal training to teach in China or Korea, or Japan. I've had friends who've taught in all three countries with only a degree and nothing else, not even volunteer work. Personally, I think it's always a good idea to be somewhat knowledgeable of any job one might take. So, read up on methods, or lesson plans etc from the net. It's a great resource.

In regards to "flaming", i've noticed that it happens a lot in Dave's Cafe.
Any question a "seasoned teacher" deems "stupid" is up for grabs. Gosh, can you remember the time teachers used to say, "there are no stupid questions..."?

Cheryl

[Cyna]

thank you cheryl

[bnix]

The questions you (and your husband) should ask yourselves before going anywhere overseas to teach:
1.Do I really want to do this,or do I just see teaching overseas as an"easy out"?(it isn't!).
2.Do I have better options than teaching overseas?
3.Do I know what I am getting myself into(teaching overseas is usually not like having a nice stable teaching job in your home country).TESOL is by and large an unstable profession,replete with scams,crooks,and many pitfalls.It is easy for someone to get burned,especially a newbie.Do not take that personally.Most of us in this profession have been burned,at least once.

Yes,if you have a degree(any bachelors) you can legally teach in Korea and many other places.The majority of people teaching TESOL in Asia have no specialized training. Also,large numbers of them wind up getting ripped off,especially by private "schools"
These are some things you might want to think about before making a final decision to teach overseas.

[Roger]

It is hard to repress my urge to flame you, C!
I have spent half of my life "abroad", whatever 'abroad' means. I do not really know what country is my "home country", there is one where I was born, there is another where I spent some of my childhood, and there are several where I lived, lived and worked and many more where I merely transited or travelled.

What have you got to offer the world, other people, people who are NOT Usanians? Think first of that before you offer them your services, if services they are! You might not be welcome or suitable.
Why don't you cut your teeth in America?
It is well-known that the USA has more than its fair share in education troubles. Why not rectify the situation there before adding American woes to Asian education?

This is not unfriendly advice!

[Cyna]

Very mature Roger.

You claim to be an educator but who do you educate? Do you merely stand in front of your students and discourage them to tackle the world? The mentality you have expressed is similar to that of the American teacher and people with your views are the reasons why our education system has failed millions. I do not have to explain myself to you or anyone. You are probably far more older than I but obviously I am the more educated one because I have a heart, I have strength and the need and motivation to teach children not only overseas but in my country as well. I will not be discourged by such a negative, bitter, and sad person.

[ESL Guru]

There are two schools of thought and I will express my position, knowing full well that Roger and others hotly disagree.

Very simply, if you are a high school graduate looking for travel and a good time in China and think that teaching ESL is a way to finance your working vacation, STAY HOME!

China has enough ESL teachers who know absolutely nothing about pedogogy or methodology. Enough party animals. Enough backpackers. No - I am wrong - there are far too many already.

They make it hard for the committed ESL teachers to demand respect and just make a very bad impression of what their native land is like.

If you do not have a BA , B Ed or BS degree in something meaningful or a teaching certification, stay out of China. End up at my school and you will truly wish you had taken my advice.

[Cyna]

Actually I am not a high school student. I graduated with honors with a B.A. in journalism. I am just waiting for the degree to post. I have also been accepted into a graduate study program.

[ESL Guru]

If they are teaching but don't know how, what are they teaching?

China is not one big baby teething ring where newbies can cut their first teaching teeth! The students in China are entitled to better than that.

Just imagine, born in China! Just one of 1.3 billion. Everyone struggling to survive.

Learning English is perceived to be the economic key to personal growth and economic prosperity, the way out of dismal poverty.

Along comes this teeny bopping high school grad who is going to teach you English. First question: Which of the 7 standard Englishes or 35 regional Englishes will you teach? Oh! You did not know about this? You were just gonna let em know how ya'all talk back home?

Second question: What pedogogy will you follow? Ok I will wait while you look up pedogogy in your dictionary. What? You do not have a dictionary? Thought you claimed to want to teach English but you are gonna JUST DO IT without a dictionary?

Third question: What methodology will you use? Oh, you thought your employer would handle all of this for you? And exactly why do you think they give you the title "foreign expert"?

Fourth question: What teaching materials will you bring with you? Your scout knife? OK!

There is an 18 year old Russian lad with no degree who "speaks" English as a second language posing as a 21 year old American currently teaching "Ruslish" (or is that rubbish) in Shanghai at a major private school. Maybe you would like your child's future ruined by him?

Wake up people! China needs real teachers who can provide real assisatnce to a very needy people. These people need and deserve better!! Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

[ESL Guru]

Cyba -

My prior two posts were not suggesting that you were a high school student. They are pasted from another thread just to let you know how serious your original post can be taken and why Roger is in fact a gentleman whom we all respect. He has been around almost as long as I have. Everyone looks to him for sound advice, when they are not first satisfied with MINE! That is a cheap egotistical joke.

[Cyna]

If you would like to talk to me do so in a respectful manner; otherwise I will cease reading any further responses from you or anyone else who refuses to have an adult conversation.

thank you

[woza17]

Hi Cyna,
I know for a fact there is a shortage of teachers in Dongguan and that the summer camps are going to be filled with people how should I say far below your qualifications and enthusiasm. I feel the numbers speak for themselves, if you are no good you won't last long, not in our company.
If you need any information , please feel free to post me.
Good luck

[Roger]

Well, Guru, you made the first blunder that I am aware of - "I know that ROger hotly disagrees..."

I HOTLY AGREE WITH YOU in that post!

Cynthia,

I never called myself an 'educator', you did! This is an HONOUR. Thanks! Even if you disqualify me by insinuating I have no heart.
Let me tell you why I think you err.
It is because I would not be teaching if I had no heart. It would simply be physiiologically impossible to do my job. I mean it! You think a teacher's job is to stand, stand and stand some more all the time? Pretty stressful for a human heart, no thanks! I am very lively and active, doing PE with kids as part of their immersion in English culture. I can't imagine teaching a language without some activities, motion, dancing, calisthenics. I teach at kindergarten level, and I speak NOT a word of the kids' first language (well, hardly ever!) so as to give them the fullest benefit of acquiring my language! Gosh, do they love it! Because they love their teacher more than they love their local teachers - you can ask each and every child in my 6 classes! I have been doing this for two years now, plus another 6 years teaching adults, college students and primary students. I have learnt a lot on the job, possiblymore than while studying to become a teacher!
Now some good soul suggested you find a job in Dongguan, China. OK, I will be polite. I know Dongguan, it's some 60 kms from my base. It is one of those up-and coming, wild-west, lawless and rapidly overpopulating developing towns in southern China, with a sizeable Taiwanese population. These Taiwanese are into many things, including a lot of illicit and illegal activities.
In such a place, there are always vacancies because the last expat teacher has been fleeced, exploited, kicked out, starved to death, you name it, you get it. Few of them get a legal job offer! F}or me this means 'no, thanks'! Go for it as so many newbies do - the crooks heartily welcome you and your husband!
So, C., do I still seem to you to hasve no heart now that I have offered you an honest piece of opinion geared to protecting you???