Job Discussion Forums

balatro · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 33

My name is David, I live in North Carolina, USA. I'm caught between wanting to goto college and travel the world to teach English and pickup on foreign languages.

My Latin teacher in HS was a TEFL teacher for over 20 years; he had lived in China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Laos. All in all he says he's visited over 50 countries and can speak fluently in over 15 languages. He could definitely translate in all 15 ... he'd frequently let us find texts in certain languages and he would provide accurate translations 100% of the time. His rationale "Some collect baseball cards, others cars, some money ... I collect the greatest one of them all, human languages!"

He's since moved on to another school and I no longer have contact with him. However he has served as an incredible influence to me.

I know full well the value of a college education but as St. Augustine once said "The world is a great book, of which they who never stir from home read only a page." but I also want to travel and work several TEFL jobs.

Is it possible to do both at once? Are there TEFL programs that provide assistance to people wanting to get their BA/BS?

If not, what I was also thinking was that I could goto school and during my Summers, which would be 2-3 months in length that I could use that time to teach - say in Asia or Europe.

Would that be possible? Are there programs that would permit me to work 2-3 months during my Summer to gain a basic understanding of it all? It would be done 4 times, so ultimately it'd roughly be a year's worth of work over a 4 year period -- if it was a reputable program and one that I enjoyed doing, I'd even consider a contract promising to do the full 2-3 month times all 4 years at the same place.

What do you guys think about that? Maybe there are some DOS on this board who would be willing to give some strong advice or even consider me --- I have a varied resume with plenty of tutor experience in various subjects during HS.

Also, what are some particular programs that you guys prefer for TEFL training? I'd prefer one where I trained onsite, so as to get the teaching practice.

I've heard nothing but good things about the Caledonian School in Prague, any experience?

As far as teaching preference if this is of any need:

I would prefer to teach in Eastern Europe/Russia -- i.e. Prague, Romania, Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg). Though I would gladly consider choosing places in China, Korea, Thailand, etc within the Asian continent. I've heard mixed reports about the Middle East -- but if I had a reliable source and areas to do research on the area as far as TEFL goes, I'd consider that area. My #1 preference is in Prague however -- my father took me there as a young teenager and I've fallen in love with it. I still claim that I intend to move to Prague and live!

Once again, any help would be beneficial!!

I thank you all in advance.

~David G.

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

Go to college. Get a degree (you could major in Linguistics and/or Modern Languages- those will help with teaching English enormously). Preferably followed by some real Teacher Training. Then go overseas.

Employment prospects for people who don't have a degree are much more limited than for those who do.

The Czech Republic is now a part of the EU, so getting a job there without an EU member country's passport may be difficult, especially without a degree.

balatro · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 33

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

balatro · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 33

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

Try looking at www.tefl.com

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

balatro · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 33

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

EFL jobs are usually contracts for at least a year. So you wouldn't have summers off to do school. Even if you could, going back to the US and paying rent and tuition would cost more than you would likely be able to save at a job in China (one of the most popular destinations for people who have no degree). For Eastern Europe, the Czech Republic etc, you would probably find that there is a lot of competition for jobs from people with degrees, teacher certificates AND experience.

University terms are usually September~December/ January~April or Early May/ Summer session is occasionally divided into two double speed terms or else it's just one term from May ~ August. So if you happen to go to a school that allows for double speed summer sesions (you need to research this yourself) you might be able to take one or two courses during the summer (when there are often very few courses available because professors take the summer off, so fulfilling requirements would be very VERY difficult), but that would mean spending up to a decade to get a four year degree.

You might be able to get a job teaching ESL locally during summers and going to school during the year.

Or you might be able to do a part time degree (one or two courses a term) or get a distance degree, if you currently work full time and cannot leave your job.

oh, also I edited my first post to include,

The Czech Republic is now a part of the EU, so getting a job there without an EU member country's passport may be difficult, especially without a degree.

balatro · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 33

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

There are occasionally summer positions listed in the International Jobs and Korean Jobs (and somebody mentioned TEFL.com). However, a degree is very often a requirement of these positons (and a lot actually want you to be in-country at the time as well).

You may be able to teach ESL in your home country during the summers, especially since you already have some tutoring experience. However, don't put all your eggs in one basket, there are a LOT of people who want to teach summer camps for language schools, so you may be hampered by a lack of a degree, and experience etc. Most university students, (and a huge number of university graduates, too) don't work at a store in the mall, or Starbucks or whatever out of choice.

Really, your best bet if you want a career teaching EFL then you should do a degree (in something relevant- Linguistics, modern languages, English) while keeping your debts low (travelling abroad during the summer is NOT a way to do this) by having a part time job on weekends, not spending ridiculous amounts of money on booze etc. And volunteer as a conversation partner for foreign students taking ESL classes in your university and helping out at the writing centre, if they take volunteers.

tedkarma · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 5:50 am Post subject:

You might also want to carefully examine any job that is for such a short duration. Few employers will want to go through the hassle of making you legal - getting you the correct visa and/or work permit. They will be happy to have you work illegally - and assume all the risk that situation entails.

I'll bet that the teacher who influenced you so much - did most if not all of his teaching AFTER his BA/BS - and - worked legally.

Get your education - then spend a full lifetime in the better EFL jobs - travel the world and live well.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Get the degree. And at the same time you could do volunteer teaching to get some experience

balatro · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 33

EnglishBrian · Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 189

TEFL has changed a lot in the last 10 years, never mind the last 20 or 30. I think your experiences are going to be very different from your mentor's. Remember it's much more of a business than perhaps it was in his day, and you will be teaching some serious people spending serious money and working for a serious boss. Can still be fun mind.

I wouldn't at this point get your mind absolutely made up that you are going to travel AND teach AND learn languages. If you are into your late 20s or over with some work behind you I might suggest getting a TEFL certificate and trying your luck in places where you don't need a degree just to get the work permit, but if you're in your late teens early 20s I'd agree with everyone else about getting a degree first and some part time/summer TEFL practice to start off - either at home or on some sort of volunteer basis overseas (but don't be sucked into programmes where you pay them a fortune for the privillege). You will almost certainly find once you are in college that you have access to, and information about all kinds of good volunteer/travel schemes - students generally do.

After that get into the real teaching and travelling. You may go far, or not, travel for years or just a few months. You may learn lots of languages or end up like one guy I knew who after 5 years still didn't have the accent right enough to order a beer - didn't stop him drinking enough of the stuff tho'.

It sounds like you've got itchy feet already but I'd still go for the degree first (or nip down to the chemist's for some Travocourt).

All the best, and have fun