Job Discussion Forums

[nessa]

hi! i am a complete newbie comtemplating taking the plunge. i've got a ba in english and a ma in asian studies. might get a ma in education in a few years if i find teaching is my call. meanwhile i'd like to do esl around asia and the middle east for the next who knows how many years. where do i start???

shall i get a certificate first? which kind? should i go for a prestigious university training program or an average short certificate course? or should i just go to the country where i want to start my first teaching experience and see what i can get?

i am asian american. will that be a problem in locating jobs in certain countries? (i.e. they all want blond blue-eyed "real foreign devils")

being 28, am i too old to begin this game?

[Glenski]

28 is fairly young to get into this game. Don't fret.

Being Asian American is a minor problem in some cases, but as long as you only refer to yourself as American, you will reduce the confusion, and as long as you extoll the fact that you are a native English speaker, you will do fine in most instances (in Japan anyway; I don't know about other countries).

You don't need certification in Japan to get started. You can get any conversation school (eikaiwa) job, or if you'd rather have a taste of what public schools are like, you could try to land an ALT position with the JET programme or Earlham College's program.

[denise]

Do you have any teaching experience? I would assume that your BA involved a practicum. Any ESL teaching experience? If not, and since your degrees were not in ESL (education of course applies, but teaching content subjects is not the same as teaching a language), I'd recommend a TEFL certificate just for your own peace of mind and preparation--regardless of whether you need one to get a job.

The standard course is one month, 100 or more hours, with supervised practice teaching.

Good luck!
d

[tedkarma]

Most of Asia doesn't understand hyphenated nationalities. Glenski is right - just refer to yourself as an American and you will most likely do fine.

While teaching in Korea the last few years - I saw far more Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, African-Americans than I did during my previous tenure there in 92-95. Korea at least is coming to realize that a native speaker does not have to have blond hair and blue eyes.

With your degrees - and a little experience university positions would not be difficult to come by in Korea.

www.TEFLDaddy.com was written with the total Newbie in mind - you might check it out for a start.

TEFL Certification is not required for most of Asia - but it doesn't hurt and will help you know what to do - and give you much more confidence.

Welcome!

[nessa]

thanks a bunch for all your advice. very encouraging. i'm all ready to go!

i think i will get a certificate. i have no esl teaching experience at all. a course would better prepare me, and boost my confidence (i will really need that!).

i am interested in teaching (1) elementary schools, and (2) university level or adult classes. what kind of certificate(s) should i get then?

i'd think i've already missed the recruiting period for the fall semester. are spring openings hard to come by? when should i get out there and starting knocking on doors?

[tedkarma]

Most TEFL Certificates will do you just fine for kids and adults - they will/should have components for both.

School starts back up in September or a little before. Most recruiting has already been done - you are right - but there is always a little bump in recruiting right after school starts when some people don't show up or new people quit because they don't like their situation.

Better university jobs will be recruiting for the March semester - about November. Elementary schools don't generally plan that far ahead.

Spring openings are actually easier to come by - as March is the beginning of the academic year.