Job Discussion Forums

[elixa]

Hi everyone, I have a few questions I was hoping someone could help me with. I am a little premature in asking, but am trying to do my research now so I can be well prepared before applying for positions. Perhaps I can take a course on the language of the particular country before I apply there since I'm preparing this early.
I am currently finishing my BA in International Studies and Politics. I will also have my TESL certification through Oxford seminars as of this summer. I have trained staff at my current job. (not ESL training) But no official ESL teaching experience.
I have no particular preference where I teach but my issue is being a single mom with a 4 year old I would want be to find a position where my son could attend the school I teach at. Either that or perhaps a country/area that would be affordable for me to have a nanny or sitter for him while I work.
As I mentioned before I'm not fussy as to where I go as long as I can gain a bit of savings. Since we havn't been out of North America any country would be a great experience my son and I. He's a very adaptable child and I'm sure he'd do well in any culture.
I was interested to know what the experiences have been for anyone that is a single parent teaching overseas. Any advice and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks to everyone,
Charlene (Elixa)

[Super Mario]

Double post.

[Super Mario]

Ideally you need a job at an English language international school. These generally provide free schooling for teachers' children.
Competition can be stiff. Joining an agency like ECIS [or its USA equivalent] helps your chances.
The trick is, you'd probably be teaching expat Native English speaking kids, though wealthier locals often put their kids into these schools and they require EFL.
Your son's at an age where he'll pick up a new language quickly, if enrolling at the local school is the road you decide to take. Still traumatic stuff though.
Been there and done that, before the professional "no" sayers get onto this thread. Have they done it?

[sojourner]

Elixa,

"Super Mario"has just referred to the "professional no sayers". Yes, there are a lot of negative people who contribute to these fora. Recently, there was a thread from a lady in Australia in a similar postion to your own. It's worth browsing through : http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=30679&highlight=

Many of the points made are in relation to the situation in China, but a lot would probably be applicable to other countries. It's a good idea to be familar with some of the problems that you COULD face if re-locating o'seas. However, some ESL people, with kids, have succeeded.

On the question of China, a thread appeared on the China (Jobs Related) Forum today, entitled "Wanna Job ?" A private school has a couple of jobs, to commence in January 2006. With such a school, you might be able to negotiate to have your son attend classes. Check out the thread, if interested.

Good luck.

Peter

[elixa]

I checked out the thread by the lady from Australia as soon as you mentioned it. Thank you for pointing the thread out to me. The few threads I found involving single parents in most cases dealt with parents who had older children. I feel lucky in the sense that he's at the age where he can adjust easier and not have to leave friends and loved ones behind. That's why I'm anxious to start now so before he gets older. Technically he's 3 now but will be 4 when we leave.

How much experience is normally needed to teach at an international school? Again I have no preference where it's located but in general. What areas have the greatest number of those types of schools?
Also would anyone know of an organization like the one SuperMario mentioned that would be in Canada? The people at Oxford seminars said they'd find me something to fit my requirements but i've read good and bad about their placement program from different threads on here so i'm not willing to leave it up to them solely.

What else could I do to increase my chances of getting placed teaching in an international school? I still have 10 months before I would like to leave so I still have some time to add to my resume.

[sojourner]

Elixa,

From what I've heard, at the top "international schools" in the major cities, that cater for the kids of expat corporate types, diplomats, and the local business elite, a prospective teacher is expected to be a qualified teacher, meaning that he/she should have a primary/secondary teaching qualification from a Western country (eg PGCE, B.Ed, Grad.Dip. in Education or Teaching), as well as a generalist degree. Possibly, experience teaching in a primary/secondary school in the West may be required. In such schools, you may be required to prepare the students for foreign examinations, or to follow something like the International Baccaulareate (sp?) syllabus. In other words, you would be required to teach a number of subjects, not merely ESL !

However, there could well be other schools that call themselves "international schools", but whose requirements re teacher qualifications may not be as stringent as those that the more elitist schools (above) demand. As someone mentioned in the Australian lady's thread, some of these schools might be a bit crummy. Possibly, at these places, you would also be required to teach a number of subjects.

In the Australian lady's thread, someone mentioned the "international schools" in Kunming. As it would appear that most of the parents there are teachers, themselves, at various other schools in the area, I would not expect that the "international school", there, would charge the sorts of fees that the elitist "international schools" in, say, Shanghai would impose.

As you mentioned that you'll be heading off in 10 months time, you wan't be able to apply for the school mentioned in the thread "Wanna Job ? ". Yet, it might be a good idea to take note of that school, now. In 10 months time they may, again, have vacancies. Keep an eye out for other private (as well as "international" schools) - as I mentioned earlier, as a prospective teacher, you might be able to negotiate for your son to attend classes for reduced fees (or, even no fees !). Also, keep an eye out for those private schools that call themselves "experimental schools". Often, the facilities are much better than those found in many other schools.

Peter

[tedkarma]

Real "international" schools will require you to have been an experienced public school teacher in your own country. Typically, 2-3 years experience is a minimum.

This means you would need to have the education and certifications required to teach in the schools where you are right now - and to have done so.

[elixa]

So an "international" school would basically be out for us, so i'll focus on private elementry and kindergardens. So is there certain countries that would be best suited for us?

[Guy Courchesne]

You can *probably* rule out most of Latin America...you likely wouldn't be able to earn enough here to support two...sorry. Hope that helps at least shorten the list.

[Super Mario]

Elixa, look for a kindergarten job where they may give your son a free place. Try the classifieds on www.shanghaiexpat.com
My wife was offered a position with this bonus.
He's way too young for school in China anyway.

[elixa]

So would S. Korea be a bad choice to take a child or is China basically better all around for a western child to be?

And thank you for the link to the web site Super Mario. I browsed the site earlier but am planning on taking a solid look at it tonight while at work.

[Justin Trullinger]

Private elementary and high schools would be the only option in Ecuador. I wouldn't say it's financially impossible to raise a child on a TEFL teacher's salary- I know a few TEFL teachers with stay at home spouses and kids.

But the hours are the thing. I'm writing this five minutes before my last class, at five to seven. As a single parent, the demands of a well paid TEFL job means so many hours that you'd never lay eyes on the little tyke. And would spend heavily for someone else to watch him.

But a regular school schedule could work well.

Regards,
Justin

[Glenski]