Job Discussion Forums

lou_la · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 140 Location: Bristol

It's a little vague of me to apply this question to an entire continent, I apologise. I'm considering my next move after Taiwan, just in the process of assessing options.

I have:
a BSc(hons) in Chemistry,
a 65 hour online Tefl cert (not really worth the effort, i know),
will have a year's experience of teaching in Taiwan (kindy and elementary school kids mainly).
My school also will give a TEFL certificate after a year (about 100 hours of training, but mianly specific to the school itself).

Are these enough qualifications to find a job? I'm particularly interested in Argentina, Chile, Ecuador or Mexico, but will consider anywhere.
Will having a CELTA greatly increase my options/have any impact on pay I could expect?

Thanks, Louise

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 4:06 pm Post subject:

You could get work in Ecuador with the quals you have. (Or, to be honest, without them.) But the best schools may be hesitant about you, as your TEFL/TESOL specific training is hard to measure. 100 hours may be good- but I don't know anything about your school. It might have been delivered by the clueless. It's just hard to know. A years experience is good too, but again, how were you teaching? Really teaching? A well thought out sylabus? Or just songs and games to keep the little buggers busy, and therefore nonviolent? Again, it's hard to know.

If I were considering hiring you, these are the untangibles that I'd try to get a feel for in the interview. I'd want to know a lot about your experience, and the ideas about teaching that you'd come to based on it. I'd want to know about where you saw the strengths and weaknesses of the training you'd done.

In short, for a good school, look forward to a long, involved interview.

How long are you thinking about staying? There are plenty of middle of the road schools that would hire you in Quito without a second thought.

All the best,
Justin

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

Peru's also an option, though work visa are difficult you could work under the table.

Katm · Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 16

I also wanted to know about working in Ecuador and qualifications. I will have BA (Hons) in History, 100 hr TEFL qualification and six months volunteer experience teaching/working with children in Ecuador and am a native speaker. From reading the boards it seems it will be enough to get something at least but just wanted people's thoughts as to whether it's worth spending another year in England getting more qualifications before I go?