Job Discussion Forums

[jonnycake]

Hello!

Get prepared..this is going to be another "am I qualified?" post. Sorry.

I have been lurking in the boards for some time now, and I have to admit that I am slightly more confused, and a little apprehensive, about pursuing a career in ESL after reading all of the information. There is so much to sift through!

I have an MA in English (or will have in May 07), some teaching experience on the college level (teach my own first-year comp courses as a graduate), loads of tutoring experience, and some summer work as an instructor in some high school programs teaching English. And this summer I will be teaching at Tsinghua in Beijing for a month with my school.

Ideally, I would also have a degree in ESL, state certification, and 2-3 years of "real" teaching experience. But, what can I say? I am not the perfect candidate.

I would love to teach on the university-level or in an international school, preferably in Europe (I know that isn't going to happen--not even close to being an EU citizen). As an African-American, 24 yr old woman, I am not to keen on Asia, but I am willing to be open and try almost anywhere..almost..city environments..the UAE, maybe?



I have already posted my resume here and on joyjobs.com. Just hoping for the best...

What else can I do to make the most of my job search? Any other good jobs sites out there? Is there such a thing as too much exposure?

With my current credentials, what are my chances of finding a relatively decent-paying job with a reputable school? Or is it basically a crapshoot?

Thanks for your help!

[Glenski]

[denise]

Another comment about posting your resume online: other forum members here have apparently been offered jobs that seem to be thinly-veiled scams. You've got to be careful. Have you tried tefl.com? You can create your CV and save it, and then you send it only to jobs that you're interested in.

If the UAE is on your list, would you also consider Oman? I'm there now, and while it can be difficult for young, single women, it is safe and comfortable (in terms of creature comforts--it's getting HOT now!!), with decent salaries and benefits. The general stereotype of the Gulf was that it required an MA with years of experience, but jobs are opening up to younger candidates.

d

[spiral78]

To add to the excellent advice above, I can speak for the European job market in general.

The 'older' EU member states (such as France, Italy, and Spain) have very tight visa restrictions and, you're right, it's nearly impossible to get work permission regardless of qualifcations. The universities that I am aware of in these regions require an MA in TESL/TEFL (or possibly applied linguistics) - an MA in English won't be competitive in most places.

North Americans can legally work in most of the 'newer' EU member states (Poland, Czech Rep, Hungary) and you might land a university position in one of these places, with your qualifications + a TEFL certification. But you should be aware that the pay in these regions is subsistence-level. If you wanted to go for the experience, that can be great, but not if you need to pay back debt at home or want to start building your future. It's really for those who can afford to take a few years off to enjoy the lifestyle, regions, and people.

International schools are great, but openings are rare and competition pretty intense. It takes some luck (and often, connections) to land such a job in western Europe.

Overall, I think you're wise to consider other options. You might be able to find something great in Europe, but it usually takes a high degree of commitment to an area and serious time spent there, developing local language skills, contacts, and references. Not a quick process!!

[jonnycake]

Thanx! for the advice.

I understand that securing a job on the postsecondary level is going to be difficult without the TEFL/TESL degree and the experience. Oh well...

There seems to be plenty of jobs teaching elementary/middle/high schools, but I don't care for young children very much so I was just trying to do them and myself a favor (nothing could possibly be worse than American freshmen college students with a sense of entitlement).

But I am open to trying new things and compromising to gain the experience. I am a grad student; I am used to starting at the bottom and staying there for long periods of time.

Another question...How do you judge a school contract? I have received several offers and I don't know how to tackle evaluating them.

Most offers are from Korea: 2 million WON (is that right?)/ 10-20 vacation days/ 20 work hours per week/ accommodation and flight. Some offer health and medical benefits.

Are these too good to be true or is it the standard in Korea?

Still not leaning towards Asian countries for personal reasons but they may be my strongest options.

thanx again..sorry for the barrage of questions.

[mlomker]