Job Discussion Forums

[silvertonguedcavalier]

Hey everyone,

ELT is something I've been considering doing on and off for years, but I could never convince myself to take the plunge, because if I hated it, I would likely be stuck for a year.

But I recently came across an article about volunteering as an ELT, and it seems to be a good way for me to determine if this is something I want to persue. Also, it would provide new experinces, something I can never get enough of.

I realize, of course, that it would be more prudent to volunteer locally, but if I'm going to do this, it is of utmost importance to me to do it outside my home country.

After that, if I do decide to persue this, I intend to get my CELTA either here or in the country I intend to teach in. After that, I want to get a degree without going into debt for thousands of dollars. Either by:

1) Getting one in a country that offers post-secondary education at little cost.

2) Volunteering in exchange for free admission (or admission at reduced cost)

3) Becoming a citizen in a country that offers free post-secondary education

I have no idea how feasible (if at all) any of these ideas are, as my research has been focused on what it's like to teach English abroad, and learning about different countries to select an ideal one to start my journey in.

Speaking of that, I'd like to list the things I'm looking for, so as to allow people to help me narrow my choices down. Keep in mind I don't expect to find everything I'm looking for in one place, but the more, the better:

1) A place where Spanish is the most widely spoken language, and where a CELTA certified person with no degree can find a job, and, you know, be allowed to stay in the country.

2) A place that offers a laid back lifestyle/culture.

3) A place where cost of living is low, and where I can earn enough (preferably without commuting all over the place) to live comfortably. I don't care about money, as long as I have a decent apartment, enough food, and a little bit of leisure money, I'm happy.

4) A good climate would be nice, but not necessary. (I'm Canadian, I can handle anything). I would prefer to avoid very hot and humid areas, although I will tolerate it if I must.

5) Access to quality martial arts schools. I would like to study Judo, Boxing, and Fencing. (Judo is most important to me).

Based on the criteria I have listed, it seems my only choices are Mexico and Peru, but I'm not sure where to go in those countries. Queretaro and Oaxaca in Mexico sound nice, but I need to read up on them more. I'm not sure what Peruvian cities might suit me yet.

So in summary, I want to

a) Find a place that is ideal for me at this time.

b) Volunteer there through a reputable NGO that offers a low cost placement. Or just go to the place of my choice and find my own placement.

c) If I decide to persue this further, get my CELTA.

d) Make teaching English my career while simultaneously earning a degree.

e) Then I'll go from there.

I fully realize that teaching English as a career is not even as remotely glamorous as many starry eyed novices seem to think. I know that it requires a tremendous commitment of time and energy while only offering enough financial compensation to just get by, if that. (When you're in my position at least). I realize that it will be very difficult to find time to explore, and do leisure activities, and that I must adapt to a whole new culture, but I don't care. If it turns out I enjoy this, I am willing to take the bad with the good.

Thank you all for your time, and I welcome all your suggestions.

[spiral78]

I think it will be very difficult to find a situation that would support you in getting a first degree (is this what you mean you want to pursue? or are you talking MA?). Your qualifications will be newbie-level, even with a CELTA, and I can't see how you will find a way to do any first degree + support yourself anywhere...

[silvertonguedcavalier]

No, I just want a degree in something I'm interested in at this point, mostly because it will open up more doors for me, (as in, I'll be able to work in more countries).

Also, I'm aware I won't be able to earn enough to support myself and earn a degree, that's what I'm trying to get around:

[spiral78]

Ok, I have 2 citizenships and work at an international university, so I can address some of the options you have mentioned.

Getting citizenship in a country obviously varies from country to country, however, it's not a simple or straightforward process at all. It generally requires marraige or long-term legal residence and/or significant investment in the country.

At my international university, students from in-country pay relatively little for tuition. The vastly greater fees charged to foreign students subsidize the local ones. As a foreign student at any university, you can expect to pay relatively a lot.

Volunteer positions are generally taken by local students. Further, they require local language skills. What are you going to volunteer to do unless you're fluent in the local language?

Maybe another poster will have a rosier picture of your chances, or some different alternative to offer. II've been teaching for 12 years and I don't know of any way to get a subsidized degree from any reputable university.

[silvertonguedcavalier]

[spiral78]

In many/most international universities, you'd then be competing with the department devoted to English teaching (people like me:)).

Those of us who teach at the university level usually have significant qualifications and experience....definitely true at international universities, where many faculties teach in English to both their domestic and foreign students.

You might find something in a developing country along these lines...but not likely at an international uni, where your courses would be taught in English!!

Are your foreign language skills strong enough to study in an L2?

[nickpellatt]

I have been, and arguably, am still in a situation similar to yours.

I took a belated gap year, and found that I really enjoyed the classroom environment I occasionally worked in on the first part of the gap year, and so then used the second part of my gap year to stay in a classroom. The second trip was a volunteer teach in China program.

At this stage, I was also lacking in pretty much any qualifications.

During the volunteer experience, I hawked myself around the town I was volunteering in, and found myself paid employment for the following term as long as I was able to obtain a TEFL cert.

That was Dec 06, the new job was due to start March 07. I came home to England, completed a much maligned online cert, and readied myself to return to China. I was of course, aware of the fact I didnt have a degree, so with this in mind I enrolled with the UKs Open University, and so by the time I packed to leave for China, I was returning with a TEFL cert, and all the books I needed to complete the first part of my degree.

Summer 07 I took advantage of my long Chinese summer holiday, came home to England, and worked a summer school with EF before returning. The summer neatly coincided with my first Open University exam too. I also had the common sense to enrol on my second OU course during the summer, so I returned to China with a second set of books.

I stayed in China until June 2008, and made sure I returned to the UK with a nice reference covering the 3 terms I was there, and walked back into another summer job, with another summer school, I remembered to pick up a reference from them as well to add to the teaching portfolio.

The summer job ended, and I booked straight onto a Trinity TEFL course, and during this made a contact in a local (to my home) charity that teaches English to refugee's and immigrants, where I now volunteer weekly to keep my hand in, and get another all important reference.

Im still studying with the Open University too. By summer 2009 I will have completed 240 points with them, with 300 giving me the basic degree. I have been wise to collect references that show two years TEFL experience, and I will add the charities reference to this when I start looking for another overseas teaching job too.

If Im honest, I quite often feel terribly depressed at the moment, being back in my home country, struggling on a day to day basis in juggling paid work, study, volunteer teaching, and I wish I was back in China, in a class, living a colourful and exciting life. Im not where I want to be yet, and Im not as experienced or a qualified as some of my peers posting here.

I do feel quite proud of what I have acheived in the last couple of years though, and I have started to make real strides in getting experience and qualifications together. It can be done....Im not quite there yet....but I hope my little story shows it can be done.

Good luck with it, despite some of the negative posts you may read about the world of TEFL sometimes, I think its a wonderful life.

[spiral78]

nick, having been a regular here for 10+ years, I remember your early steps, and I think you've made brilliant strides. You've persevered, and you're going to go far. Congrats!

It wasn't easy for me either. But I also made it.

I truly hope that I don't come across as disparaging or discouraging newbs. I post in hopes of being sure that people understand the realistic limitations of the field.

The best is to see people actually find a realistic way to make as I did, and nick has, and quite a few others.

Sorry if I've come across as less-than-encouraging. It's just that it really needs to be realistic. It's too easy to get in real trouble in a foreign country if you're not.