Job Discussion Forums

[workingnomad]

Am I right in thinking that volunteering for a while in teaching English before getting a CELTA and making the move to the destination country might be a sensible thing to do.

I am not entirely sure whether I am cut out for teaching, for instance kids tend to annoy me, but I have always fancied teaching adults and ultimately would like to teach business English.

I figure that by volunteering for a while I should get a feel for whether I will like it.

Or should I just take the plunge?

Does anyone have any recommendations for volunteering orgs that don't charge the earth as well. I am flexible on location. Thanks.

[saint57]

Volunteering is like a crrash course in the kind of exploitation you'll face in the world of TEFL. Go for it. Future employers might also read "sucker" on you resume. That only ups your appeal in this industry.

[Glenski]

So, you're thinking that just by volunteering without any sort of training, someone will be willing to take you on? Perhaps in a private lesson situation, but a practical student will want to know if you've done it before.

[ls650]

My observation is that volunteers mean well, but unless they have previous teaching experience and/or training, they don't really know what they're doing.

Take a CELTA-type course. You'll learn a little of what is required for the job, and you'll get some experience along the way.

[nickpellatt]

I know it is often frowned upon on here....but I took the exact route you describe...I did three months volunteer work here, and whilst here found a paid position which started in March.

I know its not for everyone...and it can be costly, but it was good for me. In honesty, if I hadnt done it...I woudnt be here now.

As far as training or experience....many people here are qualified teachers and can work in very demanding roles...many or also just conversational teachers...and to some degree, in some roles, are just to entertain students and to be a token white face to attract school fee's.

My students have seperate classes with Chinese teachers to cover English grammar, writing etc...my role is basically to encourage dialogue and speaking....

I had a one month orientation period with my volunteer company...this gave me plenty of time to meet local teachers, sit in their classes, and meet their students for English Corner activities and get a feel for my role here.

If you can do a course...do...but for me, with the work I do, many of the skills learned would possibly NOT be used in my classrooms...I have materials and books to use here, and I feel for me...the 100 hours volunteer work in class I did, was more suited to my role here than the course would be.

Now I am not professing to be the finished article by any means...and I will do more training as I am looking long term in this field...When I move on from being a simple foreign monkey needed as an entertainer, I will need more qualifications, and I am working toward those now.

Many volunteers may arrive under-prepared or unqualified...but in fairness, many degree holders (often in an unrelated field) may also have only their observed practice on their TEFL course as experience. That may only be 6 hours of classroom experience...which isnt a lot when you get your first timetable and you have 16 classes to nervously stumble through in your first week...

Im not experienced enough to say for sure...but from the little experience I do have...i think a lot of the learning is done "in class" when you are here on you own and left to it..

[workingnomad]

[fancynan]

I have been researching and considering the move to TEFL for quite a while. I have things in motion but I will not be ready to leave and take my course until January 2008. In the meantime, I have been volunteeringsince last September.

I started as a tutor with refugees and found I did not like one on one teaching due to the frequent cancellations, which mirrors real life from the posts here. When the new semester started in January, I switched to a classroom setting (adults) with a set curriculum, but with freedom to present as I liked. I found I really love it.

I have been training volunteers for almost 10 years, including training them to give presentations. I also went through training with the refugee organization and the school, albeit so slight as to be merely a token training. Nevertheless, I did learn some things. I have also read forums like this one and searched the internet for lesson ideas.

I had planned not to return for the fall semester as I will be in the final stages of leaving my job, making arrangements for my house and possessions, selling my car and figuring out how to take everything I want to take in 2 suitcases! But I have changed my mind because I really lost my heart to these students! So, I will be back, volunteering with them until 2 weeks before I embark on my adventure.

Bottom line - YES!!! VOLUNTEER! Make sure this is what you want to do before turning your life upside down. If you are just starting out, it is easier to make such a decision. I am 7 years away from retirement in a very well paying job, but have decided that this life journey is ready for a major change.
Good luck.

[workingnomad]

Thanks fancynan for the inspiration...

I have been searching for volunteer English teaching positions on the web and I am a little dismayed that some companies are asking up to �700 for 4 weeks, and thats not including flights or accomm!

Can you volunteer without having to pay so much?

[Glenski]

[workingnomad]

I made it clear I would volunteer before training and then moving on to look for work. I don't understand why you are so confused.

I am sure there must be places that are crying out for some voluntary English teaching help. Japan has never interested me in any capacity. Too expensive and not cosmopolitan enough (based on 99% of the pop. being Japanese).

My feeling is that volunteer opportunities would be more plentiful in developing countries.

I don't see why visas would be an issue either as a 3 month tourist visa would be available in many countries and would be more than enough time for volunteering.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

It may not be hard to find volunteer OBSERVATION in your community. Then you could take a programme with a practicum. That way, you are volunteering as part of your training (so it doesn't scream 'sucker' to employers), and you will get feedback on what was good and what was not so good.

Of course many people finish their degree, and then head on over to work in an eikaiwa chain in Japan or a hogwan in Korea etc to get an idea of what it's like and get paid at the same time (the JET programme is great for this, but if you don't like kids then you won't enjoy it). Then if they like it, they can do training.

[leosmith]

I was like you when thinking about joining the Peace Corps, wondering if I would even like teaching. So I volunteered a few hours a week teaching high school drop-outs math at a local charity. I found out right away that I liked teaching, and had a great time.

Sounds like a good idea. Can you find a local place to volunteer?

[che2007]

I'm doing it the other way... I'm plunging into a CELTA course without having taught before in my life!!! I just have a 'feeling' that I will like it! Sounds crazy huh? Well i'm like that! What do you guys think???

[tedkarma]

Try to volunteer in your home country - train in your desired location and take a paying job in the country of your choice.

While many people won't tell you, they really don't like you working for free in the only area in which they have skills to sell.

Even when I was a volunteer in Africa - local people told me they were using the volunteers to force wages down and limit demand in their country. I felt the same way to some extent - when missionaries showed up where I was teaching (in a university) and started offering "free" English classes.

If you have a decent education or any experience in the business world - who won't have to teach kids - depending on the market where you go. Many large cities need people to teach adults. I haven't taught kids since 1992 - it can be done. And, generally speaking, adults won't want a volunteer as they won't want to waste their time with an amateur. Kids on the other hand are happy to be exposed to a "foreign monkey" (in much of Asia) if it is free and you don't mind be slotted in that catagory.

Get a CELTA if you intend to work in Europe - but shoot for a TEFL Cert if you think Asia is your destination - either one is fine in S. America.

My opinion is that it that TEFL is a profession and should be treated as such - not something for a passing-through backpacker. The professionals have to clean up all the cr*ap taught by those folks.

[JZer]