Job Discussion Forums

clock · Joined: 31 Oct 2005 Posts: 38 Location: Thailand

Hi Guys,

I've just returned home from teaching overseas and am looking for work.

The job market these days is pretty tough. They give you what they term 'Behavioural interviews', where you have to relate your past experience to the job you're trying to get.

Anyhow, I ws wondering if anyone has been in this situation before and how they marketed their ESL experience to non-ESL employers.

Here are a few of the transferable skills which I have come up with from ESL:

Communication skills: obviously it gives you the ability to relate ideas succinctly and concisely.

Teamwork: Almost all ESL jobs require collaboration with other teachers, including foreign staff, so in theory(!), we should be able to work with others.

Flexibility: We've all arrived in at work to find that teacher X has called in with a hangover and you have to do his class without any planning, or you have to take the Cambridge exam class cause mrs 10 years experience is sick and you have never taught CAE before.

Computer skills: I don't know about you but I've improved my ability with powerpoint, Excel (tests and assessment) and of course basic word-processing (lesson plans, worksheets) while I've been teaching.

organisation: juggling everyhting a teacher has to do is valuable experience, the ability to prioritise tasks perhaps?

Can you add some more?

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

Multi-tasking (a good "professional" word).

Training skills - - if you can speak to a class of 50 whose L1 is completely different to yours - - AND MAKE THEM SOMEHOW UNDESTAND - - then surely you can conduct training sessions in such-and-such job back home.

sheeba · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 1123

I think to understand the learning/acquisition process can be transferred to almost any job. Whatever jobs we do we need to learn .

clock · Joined: 31 Oct 2005 Posts: 38 Location: Thailand

Thanks. Both very good, thoughtful points.

Regarding acquisition, I think one thing I've learnt from teaching is (although it might seem common sense) that the best way to learn a skill is to actually do it, and make a few initial mistakes.
ie the best way to teach English is to contextualise the language and/or include useful functions rather than "Today we're going to study the past perfect"
oh and don't be afraid to ask questions. It really annoys me when students don't ask when they blatantly don't get something, but I've been guilty of it myself. Like when I start a new job I'm usually a bit hesitant to ask too many questions

Deicide · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 7:09 am Post subject:

Personally I think EFL is useless outside of EFL...and the longer you are in it, the harder it is to get out... Confused

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

Deicide · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 7:54 am Post subject:

guangho · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 476 Location: in transit

Assuing you have some IT knowledge (i.e. how to use Powerpoint), you can combine that with a teaching background- many companies are looking for corporate trainers.

saint57 · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 9:26 am Post subject:

Deicide, are you surviving Ulsan? That place is the worst. I met some strange foreigners in Korea, but Ulsan's freaks shocked me. I also had my worst hangover in Korea while there. I do remember having a great meal at a place some foreigner opened with his Korean wife.

Deicide · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 9:29 am Post subject:

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

guangho · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 476 Location: in transit

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

Done that and found no ads suitable for TEFLers.

cam · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 124 Location: Maine, USA

Deicide · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:35 am Post subject: