Job Discussion Forums

[pepino]

Hi everyone !

This is my first post. From the shades, I've always been reading the posts on this great forum and learning a lot in the process. I think that finally time has arrived for me to contribute...with a question !!

I am 31 years old, I absolutely love teaching and saving lots of money is not a priority of mine. I am interested in eventually teaching at a university somewhere in the tropics (except the middle-east) by the time I'll be 40.

My background includes a B.Sc. (Computer Science) from Canada and 2 years teaching English experience (1 year in public school in Korea and 1 year in a language school in Taiwan). Also possibly relevant, I speak French and Portuguese fluently, however, I'm not yet well versed at writing academic-quality papers in those languages.

Given my background, what are possible ways to attain this objective ? I am willing and determined to consider all courses of action, except going back to Canada or anywhere else outside the tropics, even temporarily.

What sort of degrees are generally needed to teach in the tropics (MATESOL, MEd, any Masters, Phd, diplomas etc) ? Would a Masters or Phd conferred in the tropics be recognized somewhere else in the tropics ? Has anyone else done this ? How did you get started ? What are some of the difficulties ? What should be my next step ?

Any information whatsoever would be highly appreciated !! I'm looking forward to it !

All the best,
Pepino

P.S. By the way, my definition of "tropics" is anywhere between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn - give or take 200 km.

[Sherri]

Hi Pepino
I know that you are aware that "the tropics" is not a country. Each country located within your designated area has its own needs and requirements. Perhaps if you zone in on a couple of countries that you would like to go to, people could answer your questions.

For example, I doubt you would be able to teach in Hawaii where I am, because you are (I think) a Canadian citizen. I don't think you could get a visa, no matter how well qualified and experienced you were.

Sherri

[pepino]

Sherri, you are right. I think that I mislead everyone (including myself) when I said "tropics". I realized this when you told me about Hawaii. Hawaii doesn't qualify in MY definition of the tropics.

When I say tropics I mean "developing" nations which are located in the tropics.

Maybe it would be easier to tell you about the teaching job that I desire...
I desire to teach in university in a "developing" (I don't know what other term to use) nation.
I desire a simple, but comfortable (read frugal with only occasional excesses) life.
I desire a warm climate, with the temperature preferably never below 15 degrees Celsius.
I desire to contribute (to the life of my students and others).
I desire to save about 200-300$/month - if possible.

As far as naming specific countries, I don't wish too. If it has all the above, I'll like it. So any suggestions are welcome !!

Sherri, thanks, you made me question a bunch of things and it did me good

[John Hall]

I think that Costa Rica might be an option for you. To work directly in the English Department of a university, you would need to get legal residency first though, which I doubt would be easy for you to get. However, there are two private universities here, ULatina and Universidad Interamericana, that have private language institutes operating in their classrooms. Most of the students are university students. ULatina's is called English Speaking Center, and Interamericana's is called English Learning Centers (a second one is supposed to exist in Panama City). You could probably get hired by one of them.

Also, ULatina offers a Master's in Teaching English. Most of the students are Costa Rican, but some foreign teachers have taken it before. In addition to this, ULACIT and the University of Costa Rica (the best in the country) also offer these degrees.

I should also mention that the fact that you speak French and Portuguese would be well-received here. Many international companies are setting up call centers here, and since they usually cover all of the Americas, a serious demand for Portuguese and French speakers (in addition to English speakers) has arisen here. Thus, teachers of these languages are in demand too.

Finally, I should mention that a Canadian friend of mine works here at a French high school. You might want to consider that as well.

[Stephen Jones]

[sidjameson]

You could get a job in Thailand straight away. PLenty of uni work available. Would have to do some extra classes to save though it still wouldnt be a too damanding schedule.

[pepino]

John,

Thanks. That was very good info !

I've looked up the 3 universities that you've told me about - ULatina, ULACIT and University of Costa Rica.
They do offer Masters in Teaching English, but they are all in Spanish. This might pose a little bit of a problem for two reasons.

Firstly, I don't speak Spanish and I'm sure basic Spanish wouldn't get me very far in a Spanish speaking Masters program. I am sure I could be ready after 1 year of intensive Spanish. But I'm not sure it would be worth the trouble...it all depends on the following question...

Secondly, do you think this Masters would be recognized (and carry some weight, hopefully) somewhere like Asia (Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, Emirates etc) where some of the better jobs require a Masters degree ? How about in other Latin American countries (Brazil, Panama etc) ?

I can't wait to see your reply to this last one !

Sid,

Thanks for your reply as well.

A Masters is not needed to teach uni in Thailand ? Wow !! Sign me up ! Where are these positions usually posted ? I've looked
on ajarn a few times, but I couldn't find any. Do you think these are easy to find if I go to Bangkok and knock at some doors ?

Pepino

[naturegirl321]

Here in Peru, you could try the University of Piura, look at the LA job list for more info. Otherwise, most unis here require you to have a legal visa first. The visa is usually more important than the degree (usually)

I know that in Venezuela, they have something called VENUSA, also on the LA job list, which places you in unis in Venzuela and they get you a visa.

[globalnomad2]

Another option...get one of the free MA degrees in ESL/EFL in the US first (teaching assistantship pays full tuition plus a stipend of $800 or so a month). I just met a British lady who had done that--got her free MA at Iowa State U. I did mine at Southern Illinois. Then you have a lot more options. I would not recommend subordinating financial rewards. Malaysia, for example, offers university jobs for about $2300 or more per month. I worked there for SUNY Buffalo and had the best time of my life.

[John Hall]

Pepino,

Program descriptions and course titles may be written in Spanish, but at ULACIT (Costa Rica's only bilingual university) at the least, English is used in the classroom. I believe the same is true for ULatina.

It might be an advantage actually to have a non-Spanish speaker in the classroom, because these universities discourage the use of Spanish in the classroom as much as is possible for these types of classes.

Wrt your second question, I would assume that most universities are going to treat a Master's degree as a Master's degree, regardless of where it was obtained. However, some universities might frown upon a Master's in Teaching English from a Spanish-speaking country. Really though, I don't know how such a Costa Rican degree would be looked upon in other countries. I would recommend that you check with some posters here such as dmb, naturegirl321, or Justin Trullinger, who have to hire other teachers as part of their jobs.

[MELEE]

You could work in Mexico. There are unis that would hire you with just you're B.A. Getting an MA would open up more, higher paying opportunitites. There is at least one English medium MA in Applied Linguistics at the Universidad de Las Americas (UDLA) in Cholula, Puebla. BUT it ain't cheap. You'd be better off investigating the option of doing one in the US with an assitant ship to help you fund it.

If you are interested in the Eastern Hemisphere, look into the VSO. Especially since you speak Portuguese and French!! I know a Scottish women who went to Mozambique with VSO and liked it so much she stayed on working at a university (She has an MA in Linguistics) after her time with VSO was up. She was there for 6 years total. Returned to the UK only because she became a grandma and wanted to dedicate herself to that instead.

[pepino]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Some very useful info was tossed around !

Globalnomad2, I loved the idea of doing an MA supported by teaching assistantship. I will look into this and I hopefully I'll be admitted somewhere in the US.

MELEE, about VSO I have thought many times, however, I think it would be better to obtain an MA first, and also to aquire more experience before I get involved with such organizations.

Now, all this Masters talk made me wonder - what would be better for my situation: MA TESOL, MA Linguistics, M.Ed. or some other related Masters ?

Thanks,
Pepino

[globalnomad2]

Pepino...Applied Linguistics or ESL/EFL master's. A theoretical linguistics degree offers fewer teaching options, in my opinion...but that's not to say no options. Mine is actually in English as a Foreign Language--that's what the degree says (not ESL). The great thing about these assistantships is that you usually have to teach only about 6 hours a week, maybe less after the first semester. Some ESL/EFL master's programs are in English departments, others are in Linguistics departments; still others in Education departments. Generally speaking, the most generous programs in terms of assistantship support are in the Midwest. In case you don't know the web site, go to www.gradschools.com and choose ESL under options and then choose by region (Southwest, Midwest, etc.). They give you little capsule summaries, then you can go to the university web sites for further info. Always look for "financial aid--assistantships." and of course if they don't offer assistantships or if they offer them only to SOME students, skip that school and go on to the next, because so many colleges do offer them. In fact, they are required at some university EFL master's programs as part of your degree requirements. Very nice to have a stipend and full tuition paid. I really enjoyed my classmates, and the $800 in today's dollars is enough in the Midwest to share a half-decent two-bedroom apartment with one person, and to eat and keep your old car running.