Job Discussion Forums

[drmweaver2]

Hello all.

Allow me to introduce myself. After a career in the military and a detour into academia as a respit from "actually working", I find myself working on a doctorate in Communications (yes, just that as far as the title on the degree diploma will read) and it seems that that field is declining in terms of faculty hires in the near term.

Thus, in searching for a way to feed myself post-university, a TEFL career came up in a discussion. As I now have some experience in teaching at the university level in America, I know that this is a general field I can at least survive in if not truly enjoy on most days. Partly to my amazement, I have found that I have had to teach English to native speakers even as they have taken courses that I have taught in General Communications and Public Speaking. So, teaching English is not completely foreign to me.

I have also lived overseas for some 12 years - Europe and the Far East. So, the mere experience of going overseas is not the draw for me.

My question for the forum is what types of general or specific advice - other than reading the various forums and threads here (which I have already spent considerable time wading through) - any of you might have for someone with the following "quals"/non-quals.
1... no current TEFL cert, but I could get one in the summer
2. A Master of Arts in Liberal Arts (essentially a graduate level "general studies" degree)
3. A Bachelor of General Studies
4. Sex-Male
5. Age-let's say mid-late 40s and leave it there
6. Family status- Single
7. Areas interested - anywhere except Africa or the Americas
8. Age preference - anything over age 12 (young kids are simply not my forte).

Finally, as the PhD I would be receiving has nothing directly relevant to a TEFL career, is it even worth completing? I could finish my coursework and the dissertation within the year.

I appreciate any suggestions and advice... realizing that this is a wide open post that may get flamed for being too general - or for being too specific.

Thanks in advance

[Glenski]

My answers will be focused on Japan jobs.

1... no current TEFL cert, but I could get one in the summer

If you are in the market to do this long term, get it.
If you are totally inexperienced, get it.

2. A Master of Arts in Liberal Arts (essentially a graduate level "general studies" degree)

Not much better than #3. In some cases, it will get your foot in the door of high schools and similar institutes more easily than people with bachelor's degrees. It's usually not enough to get a university position. Those require specific fields of study and refereed publications as a bare minimum.

3. A Bachelor of General Studies

This serves you no better than to be among the legion of "clones" of language school teachers. No better, no worse.

4. Sex-Male

Counterproductive in many situations that involve the younger children. Not always.

5. Age-let's say mid-late 40s and leave it there

Many language schools cap their teacher ages around 35. Those are usually the larger schools that advertise with posters of their teachers, and even those have exceptions.

6. Family status- Single

Helpful in some cases. Single teachers don't drag along spouses and children (usually), and that relieves the employers from the burden of providing suitable housing and the potential for a second visa.

7. Areas interested - anywhere except Africa or the Americas

Some places offer good wages; others not. Same for standard of living.

8. Age preference - anything over age 12 (young kids are simply not my forte).

Limits you in some cases of language schools.

[shmooj]

[Glenski]

If I may just add a few things to my earlier post...

7. Areas interested - anywhere except Africa or the Americas

Some Asian countries (like Japan and China) are noted for having the shyest students because of their culture and design of education. Others (like Thailand) are quite open and friendly. Some (Japan, Korea) are notorious for their xenophobia, and you will have to contend with that in many ways.

[drmweaver2]

I appreciate the detailed replies thus far.

I probably also ought to say that previous experience while being stationed in Japan had pretty much convinved me that employment there, without the PhD, is highly unlikely for me - unless I got hired to teach something other than TEFL.

You replies have confirmed that conclusion - which still leaves an awful lot of the world as an area for potential employment.

As for understanding the difficulties of second language teaching, well, all I can say is that I have more experience on the acquisition side than on the teaching side. But, with over two years university level teaching experience, I am comfortable in the classroom.

So, I understand about lesson planning and such already - getting the specific experience of teaching EFL/ESL is simply a matter of time/experience. I am sure that I'll do fine if I get hired - it's a question of where, when and how.

[Trojan Horse]

You've already invested so much in your degree, why not go ahead and finish it? PhDs confer a certain status - and who knows where you'll be jobwise 5-10 years from now, you may need it. What other interesting options are around for you if academia doesn't work out?

Generally TEFL pays poorly and offers little security. There are good, secure, well-paying jobs but your background isn't ideal. You need a Masters in Applied Linguistics and 2 years experience teaching EFL to get in the door. If you do go into TEFL, you may quickly become dissatisfied with the financial side of it If so, where would you go from there?

In any case you can do a CELTA course in 4 weeks and it isn't a huge financial investment. It would give you an idea of whether this work suits you. You could also teach the odd class at a language school near you, just to get the feel for it.

It all boils down to : where do you want to be 5-6 years from now?

[Trojan Horse]

You've already invested so much in your degree, why not go ahead and finish it? PhDs confer a certain status - and who knows where you'll be jobwise 5-10 years from now, you may need it. What other interesting options are around for you if academia doesn't work out?

Generally TEFL pays poorly and offers little security. There are good, secure, well-paying jobs but your background isn't ideal. You need a Masters in Applied Linguistics and 2 years experience teaching EFL to get in the door. If you do go into TEFL, you may quickly become dissatisfied with the financial side of it If so, where would you go from there?

In any case you can do a CELTA course in 4 weeks and it isn't a huge financial investment. It would give you an idea of whether this work suits you. You could also teach the odd class at a language school near you, just to get the feel for it.

It all boils down to : where do you want to be 5-6 years from now?