Job Discussion Forums

Twelvetongue · Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Posts: 14 Location: Sacramento, CA

What is the best country to teach in with just an A.A. in Liberal Arts and a CELTA, not just money-wise but in terms of possible continuing education.

Sgt Killjoy · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 438

I would have said that Thailand would be a good option for just starting out, but not anymore. With new changes, even a generic BA and Celta won't be enough.

When you talk about continuing education, what do you mean?

I would put Mexico on any list as the possible place.

Twelvetongue · Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Posts: 14 Location: Sacramento, CA

I forgot my other major skill,

Foreign Languages. Especially Spanish....

Mexico eh?

I already have family in Mexico, and when I lived in L.A. I made a trip to Tijuana at least every 3 months just to get out of America and get cheap Tequila, Dental Work, Jewelry, Leather, etc.

I was waiting for someone to say Vietnam but I'm glad they didn't.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

squirrel2go · Joined: 26 Nov 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Las Vegas Nevada

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

There are TEFL course certificate providers in each of those Latin American countries. I'd say you'd be best served by taking the course in one of them. CELTA is represented in LA, but not widely. That's not to say it's inappropriate for the region, just not nearly as known.

I disagree with Ben on what could be earned in Mexico on an AA liberal arts and a TEFL or CELTA course. You wouldn't find decent pay everywhere, but you could find it in a few of the larger cities, where you'd also find good access to additional courses (assuming here you mean courses in Mexico). Check out UNAM for Mexico City (google it!).

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

I see nothing wrong with an intro course like CELTA and an AA degree. Those would qualify you for some entry level teaching jobs with entry level wages. I think on those wages in Mexico, it would be difficult to afford continuing-education courses, however. In my opinion, it would be wise to complete your BA before going abroad to teach EFL. Once you added some teaching experience to a CELTA, it would be a whole lot easier to move up to better jobs if you had a BA rather than an AA.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

On that, I completely agree.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

What's an AA? To a Scot AA means Alcoholic Anon.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Thanks Tim. Sounds a bit like an HND/HNC... and to go totally off-topic, that's not enough to be legal in Turkey.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Outside of the US, an "associate's degree" isn't recognized as a degree - it's two years of college.
You can get an entry EFL job in a few countries: I believe Indonesia still doesn't require a degree if you have a TEFL certificate, and in much of Latin America you could find entry jobs.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I had never heard of an associate's degree, most people would call it a diploma. It would not get you into Japan.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan