Job Discussion Forums

helloworld · Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 5

I been told that most of the teaching jobs now require you to have a 4-years degree. I only have a 2 years University Diploma, can you guys give me some options?? beside spending another 2years getting that degree.

PM me

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

Have you done a search on this?

1) It gets asked about once a month.

2) The answer depends on your nationality sometimes.

3) The answer also depends on what country you plan to visit.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

The answer also sometimes depends on your personal degree of professionalism and ability to actually teach the subject. Sorry to be nit-picking, but your original post doesn't demonstrate an ability to write English well, helloworld....

movinaround · Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 202

Sometimes people just really aren't very helpful on this site. Anyway, Glenski is right in saying that we need more info.

Where do you want to work?
Do you have an EU passport?
What nationality are you?
Are you tall, blond and blue eyed (anyone who thinks this isn't valid hasn't been in the industry long enough Wink

)...

On a side note,
I do suggest for your future, if you have the money or ability to, to finish getting your degree, even if after teaching abroad for awhile. The extra two years will really pay off, especially in the future. That's just my opinion though.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Yeah, sorry, I didn't want to seem unhelpful.

Here's the better feedback: there are countries that do not require a four year degree to teach in. If you're from the EU, you can consider Europe - you should be able to get newbie positions, assuming that you take a good introductory certification course.

If you're not from the EU, you could try some of the 'new' EU member countries, like Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, or the Czech Rep. There are no laws mandating 4 year degrees. Again, you'd need a good certification course under your belt, preferably one taken in-country.

However, relevant to my previous post, you DO need to present yourself as a professional, with both the language and business skills to make yourself attractive as a representative of whatever language school. So, sloppy language would, in fact, be a negative.

bigbadsuzie · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 1:20 pm Post subject:

Of course there is another angle to this,that is why should we help someone who is not going to be a ggod representive of their country or bring the already falling standards of this esteemed industry down even further ?

movinaround · Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 202

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

My essential point is that the OP starts out at a disadvantage, because even in those countries where a four year degree is not required, most newbie candidates will have one.
With this disadvantage already against him/her, this is a person who really would need to have every other possible advantage to get a decent position - including clear demonstration of 'good' (standard) language usage.

That's why I picked on his/her original post.

NathanRahl · Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 509

You picked to show their inferior and your "superior" usage of english, but thats beside the point.

Let's all be real, typing ability in a short thread means very little, I would need to hear this persons spoken english, as well as see more of their written, to know how good hir overl english ability really is.

Let's also be more clear, not everyone is a good writer. This does not mean they are not good orators, and vice versa. Not everyone who is a good writer is a good speaker, thats reality, so lets stop all the ultra finite knit picking that is really just something most of the folks here do to make themselves look big at someone elses expense, eh.

Most oral english jobs are just that, grammer often does not even enter into it. The ability to teach does though, and, given someone who is better at english but can not teach, and someone who can teach but is not as good at english, who do you think I will pick? The two are not related, except for the fact of what you will be teaching, and if your a good teacher, and a native speaker, you should be able to teach it, simple. As for ones writing ability, thats another story entirely. Amazes me people are clueless as to the distinction between spoken and written, *shrug* oh well.

bigbadsuzie · Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 11:50 am Post subject:

İt strikes me as odd when a lot of people on this forum bang on about the need for professionalism and working in a teaching position with as many bits of relevant paper you can lay your hands on .Then someone says lets help anyone who wants to teach regardless of their ability or experience or qualies .Seems a bit of a contradiction .
Moving around ,so I wasn't helpful, no apoligies for that perhaps I feel someone who is worthy of the title "teacher " is a better representive of his/her country and will do more good in the long run unless he/she is only here for the usual one year round trip .I just get a bit fed up with having to undo all the foulups these twats make . And now you wanna help them .

movinaround · Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 202

bigbadsuzie · Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 2:13 pm Post subject:

I know nothing about this guy and you it would appear know even less,at least I'm not stupid enough to help him .
How will you feel if he turns up at your place and with your help and a bit of b.s. gets it and makes a mess of it ? Esp if you are naive enough to endorse his employment .If you are not prepared to do that then send him back with a flea in his ear to go and finish his degree .There are enough cowboys in this game do we really need any more ?

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

by definition, we can say teaching is a 'profession' as it normally requires a certain amount of education, academic achievement or extensive training.

However, I feel that sometimes someone who is qualified in a 'profession', may not always approach their profession in a professional manner?

Isnt that the most important thing? I have met people qualified to be in the 'profession', but who never behave in a professional manner...I think the difference between the two needs to be mentioned sometime

movinaround · Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 202

bigbadsuzie, sorry, you are wrong, but I like to debate with adults, and not get into shouting matches using insults. Anyway, anyone who suggests that someone write their own reference letters should not be lecturing anyone on professionalism.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=48318

Good day.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 12:04 am Post subject:

Boy you guys are sure friendly.

In response to the OP- a lot of latin america would be open for entry level positions, although it's less likely that you'd get a good stable position without a degree. It can happen, but...

I'd honestly say finish your degree now. It's easy to think "I'll come back and do it later," but harder to do. I know this from experience, and it set me back in many ways. It can be overcome, but two years isn't much- I'd do it.

BUt as far as entry level teaching, a lot of places in Latin America won't even look at whether you have a degree.

I would look into a good entry level cert, though. It may help your employability. (Would with me.) In other cases, it may not. (Some employers don't give a rat's ass.) But in either case, if you work hard and get the most out of it, it will help you get as ready as you can to give value to your students. Which will improve your life, and theirs.

Best,
Justin