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lady z
Joined: 28 Sep 2005
Posts: 39
Location: India
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 Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 9:08 am Post subject: hit me with your best shot |
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okay, really the topic is newbie advice, but that sounded
redundant as a subject header....
I've been lurking on this forum for months, saving money, and making plans to try TEFL. I am trying to decide which country to do a tefl certificate in and where try to find a job-- between India, Vietnam, and Korea. The country I would most love to work in is India due to my love of that country, her languages and cultures, and having family and friends there, (I haven't yet been to Vietnam or Korea). I know that there is little chance of working in India teaching english. However, I will be there this fall for several months to have a crack at it, and the very least get some volunteer teaching experience.
Would it be a good idea to get my TEFL certificate while I am in India
because I could have it done sooner and have a better, albeit small, chance of finding employment in India than without a certificate? Or would it be better to wait and do it the certificate in Vietnam or Korea where I would more likely be working? Any recommendations regarding Vietnam vs. Korea? Obviously more money in Korea but there I have zero connections, whereas, I have friends working in Vietnam. Though I do have a student loan payment of $187 per month....
I am a 32 year old american female with a BA in Anthropology
and an MA in Counseling. I have two years experience working with developmentally disabled adults, one year experience as a teacher assistant in a highschool program for students with autism, two years experience in (social) research, and for the past 10 months have been a volunteer english tutor for refugees.
I currently work as a counselor for children and families involved
in the child welfare system and I also teach parenting classes and
do psychoeducational/ groups for children on the topic of sexual abuse.
Would any of this count as relevant education and experience?
Your feedback is appreciated, and thanks for bearing with my
lengthy post.
Zenia aka Lady Z |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 9:19 am Post subject: |
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| Why are you not considering getting the TEFL certification in your home country? It would seem to me to be easier, and if you need it at all, getting it before you go to the foreign land to look for work would seem more reasonable. |
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Kaspar Hauser
Joined: 23 Feb 2005
Posts: 83
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| Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 11:00 am Post subject: |
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Here�s my best shot: It sounds like you�re itching to go overseas ASAP, but why not wait and get an MA in Linguistics before you go. It�ll take you a lot farther if you want to make a career in ESL (which I would strongly advise against) than one of these two-week �certificates�. I know I�m going to be attacked for saying this, but I don�t care: TEFL certificates are worthless for any sort of proper job with a decent salary and no one claiming to be a teacher after two whole weeks of training, however intensive, is taken seriously in this profession. You already have a strong academic background, so you ought to be able to understand that. Could I get very far in your current field with a two-week certificate?
Why not get a linguistics MA in Portland and meanwhile, to get more experience and something to put on your resume, continue with your volunteer work?
As for India, are there jobs there? One hears virtually nothing of ESL opportunities in India. So many people in India speak English already. Is this just a hypothetical hope, or have you really determined that there are ESL jobs there? Do some research into India before you hop on a plane and perhaps have a plan B ready. That�s my advice. |
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TheLongWayHome
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 1016
Location: San Luis Piojosi
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| Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 3:28 pm Post subject: |
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I would get some kind of certificate before you go anywhere. There's nothing worse than arriving, finding the perfect job and not having the certificate you need to get it. In some countries the cert is two-fold--it'll help you get the visa. Check out the requirements for the places you intend to go and whether you need to get it apostilled before you leave.
I agree with Mr Hauser, get an MA in something related if you're planning to stay in it long-term... I wish I had. |
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lady z
Joined: 28 Sep 2005
Posts: 39
Location: India
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| Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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Those are your best shots? I don't think so. Try again!
Let me help by giving you more amunition:
Such as,
I am departing in 6 weeks from now.
Yes, I realize that a two week, (or in this case 4 week) certificate will not qualify me as a teacher but that is where I am going to start. There is no TEFL certificate offered in Portland, that I know of, and even if there was I am working full time up until the time I leave. But from this suggestion I am drawing the conclusion that it is best to get the tefl certificate as soon as possible--so probably do it while I am in India rather than waiting until Korea or Vietnam.
Getting an MA in linguistics is something I will definitely consider if I decide to stay in the teaching field after having tried it.
I have done my research on EFL teaching in India which is why I have little hope of it. Korea or Vietnam are my likely plan B. I am planning ot go to either Korea or Vietnam to work but I will be in India before that for
for many reasons that i won't get into here.
Okay, let me try this again.....
Any sugguestions of one of those those countries over the other from those of you who have had experience working in them? (Vietnam & Korea).
Are there any other things I should list on a resume for education and experience other than BA and a Celta? Should i bother to list that I have a masters in another field (I have read arguments for and against that) and should I bother to list volunteer experience?
thanks,
fire away!
Z |
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Kaspar Hauser
Joined: 23 Feb 2005
Posts: 83
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| Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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| lady z wrote: |
| Are there any other things I should list on a resume for education and experience other than BA and a Celta? Should i bother to list that I have a masters in another field (I have read arguments for and against that) and should I bother to list volunteer experiene? |
I can't imagine why you wouldn't list your master's. It may be in an unrelated field, but the fact that you have a master's in anything says a lot about you. The jobs you're going to be applying for aren't the type that you find in the Chronicle of Higher Education anyway. No one is going to object that your training is in the wrong field. The fact that you have a pulse, are presumably semi-literate since you have a master�s degree in something and are willing to work for a bowl of rice a day is all the qualification you need.
And why on earth wouldn't you list your volunteer experience? That's the only experience you have! Otherwise you'll present yourself as someone who has no training or experience in ESL whatsoever. I really can't see why you're even asking this. For one thing, no one needs to know it was volunteer work--they're not going to call--but what if they did? Is there anything wrong with volunteer work? That�s how I got started in ESL. The fact that you were so interested in ESL and so determined to get some experience that you were willing to work for no money is a big plus, not a minus. Be sure you get a good letter of recommendation before you go. Considering you were working for nothing, it's the least they can do.
Last edited by Kaspar Hauser on Sun Jul 16, 2006 1:19 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Henry_Cowell
Joined: 27 May 2005
Posts: 3352
Location: Berkeley
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