Job Discussion Forums

[superturbo]

I've been following this forum for about a week now and have just had my account activated today! I've found your posts really interesting and they remind me of my own travels in the past (the good things and the bad things) and I've found some enlightening information about getting a job abroad as an ELT.

A bit about myself first - I'm a single guy nearing 30 and somehow still living with parents (how sad!) I work but somehow my job has come under threat and it seems I'm going through the motions here, staying at the family home to keep mom happy and just living day to day trying to stay bright and happy.

In the past, quite recently infact, I've gone travelling and it's something I always wanted to do. The experiences were amazing, I learnt so much about myself and also others, I met a host of new faces and went to places I can only now dream about. It seems amazing that I was even there!

I have friends who are ELT's and so have 2nd-hand experience of this all and I relish 'teaching' in terms of imparting some knowledge to others, helping them find the answers and genuinely motivating and encouraging them. This is what brings me here...

I have decided to take a month long CELTA course somewhere in Eastern Europe and if I find it stimulating then I will consider taking up a job somewhere there. I don't have a degree but have accounting qualifications and hope these would add some extra weight to my application along with a CELTA pass.

I've been to Eastern Europe before and found it accomodating and would have no problem with working there since I'm already in the EU. (I'm British). Of course I cannot expect to know everything about whichever place takes my fancy but I intend to study and find somewhere that will let me have the experience to at least develop as a teacher and then later move on - I have been to China and seen teaching there and I have family in Asia so again it wouldn't be a huge step for me.

Overall, I would love to hear your words, stories, tips and advice about planning such a move. The alternative for me would be to stay here with the folks and hope I find a permanent job in the UK and then save up for a house (and hope to find a partner too). All in all, it doesn't appeal to me as much as being an ELT teacher - of course I may be looking at the situation in a Romantic way: meeting new people and places, decent amounts of free time during holidays, chance for progression each year, and never being tied down.

For the time being - where do you think I could go in Eastern Europe where I could get an acceptable teaching post which will help me gain experience for a possible move up the following year? I understand jobs may be very thin on the ground, or the market may be saturated, so that's why I'm asking this...

Finally, I hope to get to know some of you better and hear your stories and tales about life in foreign climates, dealing with things back home and teaching in general. It's a great gift we have - being native speakers of a language which is so important to others - and I hope to learn loads more to become an excellent teacher and live a well rounded life with good experiences!

[naturegirl321]

Welcome to the boards. the fact that you're British will help with legalities, not having a degree might be a bit of a problem, but you could overcome it.

As far as money and benefits go, I found Asia to be good, that and the Middle east. I'm in Lima, peru, so could tell you about that. But personally I'm hoping to go back to China in Sept.

Don't over Romanticise it, because money can be an issue. Also, there seems to be a glass ceiling and in Peru, it's too low for my tastes.

see my PM to you

[rmcdougall]

I think you can do it!

You have the right attitude and spirit.

[superturbo]

Thanks for the posts both of you! It's nice to hear some encouraging words from people who've already taken the steps I'm only starting in..

[father Mackenzie]

I became an ESL teacher after working for 16 years in the UK and I have no regrets. This is the best thing I have ever done. I have an excellent school, great teachers and support from all those around me.
It was hard to start with but if you get to a school where everyone wants you suceed then you will find it very rewarding.
Any more information feel free to PM me.

I wish you luck