Job Discussion Forums

pollitatica · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 82

Okay. Here's my situation:

I am a college graduate with a Bachelors of Arts in Communication and Spanish. I took a SLA graduate class at my college my last semester. I teach adult ESL classes currently.
I want to go abroad and probably volunteer teach ... somewhere that gives me room and board and a small stipend. Im looking in Latin America, and I have found several schools that I am interested in.
I will most likely get my Masters in TESOL eventually. I'm looking to go abroad and year and do one or two years in Americrps first.
Is it a waste of my time/money to do a 4 week intensive TEFL course? I'm not sure that I will learn anything that I haven't already learned by the grad class and my own teaching experience. Since I'm going to get my Masters, I'm not sure if doing this class will in the end, be a waste of money. Especially since I'm not really looking to make money by volunteer learning. Just to not go completely broke.

What do you all think?

Pollux · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 224 Location: PL

You're right on. You don't a TEFL course to volunteer.

I think you'll do just fine. Must be nice to have choice. You have to understand that most of us must work for a living, so we are jealous.

Malsol · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1976 Location: Lanzhou

Seriously, come to China and teach for one year, then decide.

Girl Scout · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 525 Location: Inbetween worlds

You don't need a TESFL cert. You also don't need to volunteer. There are plenty of jobs that pay a liveable wage. While many of these jobs many not include housing, the salary they pay will be more then enough to cover your expanses.

dajiang · Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 663 Location: Guilin!

Agreed with above.
Don't do the TEFL unless you're sure you really need it. Lot of money to spend after all. If you like the lifestyle, you could always decide to get one later.

So how are you going about volunteering?
Joining a short term project with an agency somewhere? Or joining VSO or something like that?

For lots of volunteer projects need you to pay money, instead of them giving you a small stipend. Nothing wrong with that I think, as long as the fees are reasonable, but if you don't mind being less idealistic you can also just go for a paid job like Girl Scout said.

There was a couple I worked with that used to visit the nearby orphanage every now and then, outside of their regular teaching position. This is also a good way to combine both.

Dajiang

pollitatica · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 82

a lot of bilingual schools themselves take volunteer english teachers, and provide them with room and board and sometimes a stipend for a year long contract. I'm definitely not going through a program, because i think they are a big rip off.

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

In some places the stipend and benefits such as accomodation ends up as being better than what the "employed" TEFLers get.

Super Mario · Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 8:15 pm Post subject:

China will give you airfare, housing, enough $ to live comfortably and save, as well as short hours, if in a public school.

pollitatica · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 82

where do/did you teach in china?

dajiang · Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 663 Location: Guilin!

Hey there.

I see you've studied Spanish as well. Can you teach it you think?

In many places in China they're not just looking for English teachers, but also Japanese, Russian, French, and Spanish teachers. Probably more in the major cities. Pays okay money, and like Super Mario says the secondary benefits are pretty good.

China is great and I love it there. It's really something else from South-America though.

Dajiang

pollitatica · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 82

I definitely think I could teach Spanish. I've even thought about that for the future, when I'm back in the US. I tutored Spanish in college. I'll have to look into that.

snorklequeen

"China is great and I love it there. It's really something else from South-America though. Dajiang"

details! details! details!

how are they different, D? what are the things you really love about China and working there? being there?

thanks,

Queenie

dajiang · Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 663 Location: Guilin!

Heya,

There's a lot that I like in China. But to paraphrase it all I'd say it's the entire lifestyle that does it for me.

"Working" a few hours a week, dining out all the time, eating fabulous meals, the scenery is stunning, the language is cool, got a beautiful girlfriend there (lucky she doesn't read this forum... she wouldn't like being on the 6th place in this list Smile

), the weather is okay, there are not that many other foreigners around so that makes it more interesting too, everything's dirt cheap, and you are free to do whatever you want (as a foreigner).

I like the way every day is completely new, and never the same as the one before. I feel like China is a land of possibilities. It's a feeling that I haven't had in most other countries that I've visited (of course I know this is different from how most Chinese experience this). Of course there are drawbacks too, but I don't see most of them that way. They're just a part of what makes life in China more interesting. Things like spitting and hoiking, smoking during dinner, squat toilets, I love it all. One thing that some people find bothersome is the fact that you have to be careful not to spout your opinion about sensitive topics everywhere. I don't have a problem with that. If you don't either, then China's the place to go.

I'd like to hear of some people in South-America about 'their' part of the world too. Curious to hear which things are the most prominent differences and similarities.

Take it easy,

Dajiang