Job Discussion Forums

Hogarth · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 7

Hi everyone!

I very much wish I knew about these forums earlier, because I went with a TESOL from Oxford Seminars and I don't feel prepared to lead a classroom at all, let alone get paid for it! THEN I searched through the forums-damnit! I have a bachelors degree in art, have lived abroad (I'm Canadian) and tutored people in Italian, and have been taking foreign language classes since I was a wee little thing, so I know what it's like to have someone terrible try and teach you a language! I'm wondering how people feel about being a language assistant? Is it possible to stay alive on that salary? Does that give adequate experience?! Did I just waste $900? Am I below the bottom of the barrel in terms of jobs? At the moment, I can not spend any more on a better cert, and I'm not quite sure this is something I want to do long term, based on the, uh, teaching practicum at Oxford.
So...go directly to unlicensed school in China? Any advice would be most appreciated. Thank you!

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

If you live within your means, you can stay alive.
You DO have a TEFL cert, albeit a bad one. BUt it's still worth applying to jobs. You have experience teaching, Italian, but it's still experience.

You will be on the lower end of the ladder, but will move up with experience and quals.

start sending out your CV and see what happens. You've got nothing to lose

Hogarth · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 7

Thank you! I think I just needed a bit of a push- after reading a lot of these threads, I envisioned myself in a shady language school that just popped up in the mall, teaching 20 hours a day just using my hands! I'd also be in rags. Are ALTs used in a lot of places?

Thank you!

Chancellor · Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 8:07 pm Post subject:

I don't think it would hurt if you, at some point, went out and got better certification, e.g. if you have a four-year degree go get an MA TESOL or MA in Applied Linguistics.

Hogarth · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 7

I would love to get a Masters degree, but circumstances at the moment say no! However, night courses in teaching adults are doable, but that won't give me actual teaching time- it seems very easy to get a job, but what comes after is terrifying me!

Chancellor · Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:23 pm Post subject:

Hogarth · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 7

Oh! Their on-site campus is pretty close to me! Thank you so much, I am looking into this!

RollingStone · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 138

If you go to the TESL Canada website they have a list of schools that provide recognized programs, by province.

Hogarth · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 7

Thanks! I'm looking at that right now- I'm surprised that the program at York U isn't recognized! That saved me some money; I already have to double my original investment Embarassed

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan