Job Discussion Forums

[italihurr]

I recently read a thread on this site about looking for an English-teaching job after age 60. Pertinent for me, since I passed that milestone last month and perhaps pertinent for a number of others.


From 1974 to September 1997, when my last contract ended, I had a solid employment record. Since then, I've done two stretches of IELTS teaching (about four months each time; same Institute; also, until a couple of years ago, was an IELTS examiner for many years), and from 1997 to the end of 2003 was English-language copy editor for journals published by a local university department. Since January 2004, I haven't worked.


I have an MA in Applied Linguistics, a university Diploma in TEFL, an RSA Diploma, and an LCCI Business English qualification (also another MA in a non-related field, obtained since my last contract ended).


I would like to work again, and the options I have in mind include a short-term contract (or contracts) anywhere intersting, for perhaps three or four months; UK pre-sessional courses (which I taught on for several years, in the eighties); some other interesting option which I came across.


With regard to looking for a job, my concerns are my age (a British cv normally includes this, I believe; an omission might look like an attempt to hide it); the gaps in my recent employment; whether to include on a cv my non-related MA. Please advise me, and also suggest whether -and where- I could look for a decent ELT job.

[Super Mario]

Sixty has ceased to be"old", particularly in teaching. If all the 60 and overs retired in Australia tomorrow, there would be a lot of teacherless classrooms.
You have the opportunity to work short hours with a comfortable lifestyle; you are far more qualified and experienced than the average TEFLer.
True, some institutions, and even countries, will see your age as a barrier, but there's tens of 1000's of jobs out there.

I'm assuming you've looked through the International Jobs section here. www.tefl.com also has a comprehensive listing. Many of the jobs will specify an age limit, should they have one. A university in one of the larger Chinese cities would supply you with on campus furnished housing, 12-16 hours a week teaching, and a salary that would see you living comfortably.
I'm assuming you're healthy, adaptable, and with no major financial commitments.
Good luck!