Job Discussion Forums

geneieve · Joined: 08 Jan 2007 Posts: 5 Location: nova scotia, canada

My name's Geneieve and I am a high school graduate. Besides getting my TESL certificate from Saint Mary's University in July, I dont have anything else besides my cheerful personnality to get me a job overseas.
I want to know what chances I got, if any, and if anyone can think of some course I can take that would help me in my desire to teach english overseas. I'd love to go to Japan, but I see you need an undergradute degree to go. Other places I would like to go to would be Russia, anywhere around Italy, Jordan or Taiwan. I got my heart set on going overseas to teach, just dont want to get the certificate and not be able to go anywhere. Please help!

Thanks,
Gen

EverReady · Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 48 Location: Nobody Cares

Basically, your choices are big swathes of Latin America, SouthEast Asia, and Russia/ former Soviet Bloc Countries. Look around through the individual countries forums to get a better idea of what you need and what your prospects are.

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

Certainly you'd meet minimum criteria for employment by many of the chain schools [eg, EF] operating in China: not that I'm recommending them. It's just without a degree, you really are limited. Look on this site as well as:
http://www.tefl.com/jobs amongst many others.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 7:05 pm Post subject:

Italy might work, if there's anyway you can lay your hands on a passport from an EU country. Maybe through a grandparent? Or marry somebody? Employers in the south of Italy, where I once worked, are notoriously lenient about education and qualifications. ALso extremely exploitative, but what are you gonna do?

Most of Latin America might work, but if you're young, and young looking, you may have trouble finding work with a reputable organisation. Students generally pay professional prices, and expect professional services- they have a hard time believing a 19 year old is a trained professional. (You say you're a high school graduate, but don't say when...)

I don't know Saint Mary's- what kind of a cert is it?

Best,
Justin

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Canadians between 18 and 30 can be eligible for a working holiday visa, which would allow you to work in Japan for two 6-month stints even without a degree. After that, you'd have to go home, though.

If you are planning to make some sort of career out of TEFL, why not get a degree and make yourself marketable? Lots of people you will compete with will have a master's degree!

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

If you want to do it short time, you should be able to find programmes, might have to pay a bit. THough like posters said before, if you want to make a career of it you-ll need at least a BA.

geneieve · Joined: 08 Jan 2007 Posts: 5 Location: nova scotia, canada

So you guys are sayin I dont really have much of a chance, specially against someone with a BA or such.
Maybe I'll just go to Saint MAry's and get a degree in linguistics, I was always interested in that.
Better idea Question

EverReady · Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 48 Location: Nobody Cares

I would not say that you have no chance, but you will probably be stuck at the lower end of the totem pole. Better to go to school, I think.

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

Get a teaching degree first, then some post grad linguistics. then, with some experience, the world becomes your oyster. You're still young.

ps If you want a taste first, what i said about china still holds.

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

Besides getting my TESL certificate from Saint Mary's University in July, I dont have anything else besides my cheerful personnality to get me a job overseas.

The traggedy is that it may be more than enough for many employers in EFL. But you don't want to have anything to do with them.

sallycat · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 303 Location: behind you. BOO!

why not go to japan for a working holiday to see if you like it, then go back and do the degree in linguistics if you do?

geneieve · Joined: 08 Jan 2007 Posts: 5 Location: nova scotia, canada

how much would that be? the working hoiday I mean.
I didnt really feel like being 32 thousand dollars in the hole because of
student loans, which is why I didnt get into university yet.
But, as I've said before, I dont want to go over and be living in a box.
Linguistics, minor anthro should be fine???

sallycat · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 303 Location: behind you. BOO!

sorry, what do you mean when you ask "how much would that be?" ? are you asking how much a working holiday costs? basically, you pay for your airfare, come over and work part-time (although i'm not sure that working part-time is still a requirement. you may be able to work full-time).
as for living in a box, well, that may be inevitable at any salary.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Some places, such as BUNAC, charge a bit, I think maybe 1000 USD to get working holiday visas, other places might be less or free.

Jizzo T. Clown · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:48 pm Post subject: