Job Discussion Forums

[davescotland]

Hi

I am 38 and currently working as a property lawyer i(and part time Uni Tutor) n Scotland. I am not sure with its the current recession or a mid life crisis, but I am seriously looking to change my career and retrain as primary school teacher. Unfortunately the Post Grad course is extremely popular and the earliest I can start would be September 2010 with applications having to submitted in December. To secure a place it will be necessary to demonstrate teaching experience. I am therefore think tha taking a year out to be an ESL would be an ideal opportunity to gain the necessary teaching experience as well as being a great opportunity of travelling and experiencing a different culture.

I have already done as much research as I can online (many thanks to Dave Sperling) and I have narrowed things down to Chiang Mai and Lima. I have visited both cities many times and I have a few friends who could help me settle down which I think is important.

I am also lucky enough to have savings and will have an income of around 600 dollars a month so will not be totally dependent on teaching.

I have decided to sit a full 120 hour TEFL course in the country I intend to work. As I think this gives a better chance of obtainig a job and is a better insight as to wether this is for me. It is quite amazing the number of weekend TEFL courses now being held in Glasgow.

I do however have a few concerns which I hope people can help me with in orfer to make up my mind on whether to go ahead with this and if so which city to head for.

The first main concern I have is as a typical Scotsman I speak fast and have an accent, how would this effect my job opportunities in both Asia and South America ?

Which city has the best TEFL/CELTA programme. As regards Thailand I know that Chiang Mai University has a full TEFL programme, which also offers 1 month voluntary teaching. Does a TEFL from a University carry more kudos. I also notice from this Forum that the American TESOL is doing a course in CM which guarantees a placement after successful completion of the course, does anyone know whether this genuine ?

As regards Peru I can find various courses being held in Cusco and Ecaudor but cannot find much information on reputable courses being held in Lima. Can anyone help.

Which country has the easiest Visa requirements ?

Which country would have the best job opportunities ?

Which country has the cheapest cost of living ? Some people say that 600 dollars be sufficient to live on in Thailand others suggest a minimum if 1,000 dollars. I am not looking to live like a king but at the same time do not want to live as a monk.

I look forward to hearing peoples comments and any hints or tips anyone can offer.

Many thanks.

David

[Monorail Cat]

I'm a qualified primary teacher, currently back in the UK, but not working right now. Regarding the TEFL course, I'll offer you my experience.

Back in 19XX*cough* I did a TEFL International course in Ban Phe, Thailand and worked a while teaching English. I came back to the UK and applied for primary level PGCE places and like you, faced a waiting list. As part of the application process, I included the TEFL cert in my list of qualifications but my university wasn't interested. Why ? Simply put, TEFL Int'l had de-registered with Trinity and my cert wasn't worth diddly-squit in the university's eyes. I was told to my face that had it been a CELTA or Trinity cert then it would have carried some weight (not much, but some).

Applying for primary level meant the TEFL cert wasn't so important anyway but I've always regretted being such a tight wad and not spending that little bit extra getting what is considered by most to be a more "respectable" qualification, one that's truly portable worldwide and carries some weight professionally. It would have probably opened a few more doors for me whilst I was biding my time in Thailand for the PGCE to start. Yes, some training is better than no training and the quality of the TEFL cert trainers is an important point to consider. However, the "brand name" on the cert is important as well.

My point is, don't dismiss paying out a little bit extra to get a CELTA/Trinity cert. Your place on the primary PGCE isn't yet guaranteed, I assume ? Nothing is set in stone. There's also the possibilty that you might end up hating the PGCE course and/or kids you teach and not even finish it. You'd be amazed how many people flunked off my PGCE course before finishing. If the worst comes to the worst, having to fall back on your CELTA/Trinity cert will show you its value compared to these other courses which spring up.

Once you've got your PGCE, fine. The world is your oyster. However. don't count your chickens, as the saying goes. Others will say just get any TEFL cert but my advice is choose wisely.

The one thing which made me stand out in the PGCE application process (I was told) is that I'd come back to the UK a year earlier and was volunteering in a local school. I had a deeper understanding of the UK curriculum and was familiar with the workings of a primary level classroom. Much more valueable to me in the long run compared to teaching EFL in Thailand.

Whatever you decide, good luck.

[davescotland]

Many thanks Monorail Cat it has given me something to think about.

No i do not have a PGCE place yet, all th Scottish Univeristy places are full and have been since January. I have to wait until December to apply. I am limiting myself to the Scottish Unis as it guranetees a year placement after compleition plus the fact you do not have to pay the 4k tution fee.

I got paid off last year and i hate my new job, plus it is only a matter of time before i get laid off. The legal profession in Scotland is not great, several of friends have been jobless since October last year. Thus i am thinking now is good time to think about a change of career before i reach 40.

So what was going through my mind was take a gap year (something i regret not doing when i graduated) do a TEFL course do some teaching and hopefully this would look good on my applictaion to the Unis in December. I am thereforfe thinking that if i am going to go down this route i should do the TEFL at Chiang Mai Univeristy might carry more kodus or do a accredited CELTA.

Although i have visited Lima every yera for the last 4 years and i have visted Thailand and Malaysia more than i care to mention (my favourite city is KL but from what i gather from this forum job opportunity are scarce). I do release that their is a big difference visiting a place as a tourist compared to living especially concerning cost.

That is why i am looking for some reassurance that is possible to have a comfortable life either in Peru or Thailand on 600 dollars a month at leats then i would not be so apprehensive and be so dependent on working as a teacher.

As regards Chiang Mai i think i would probably head off to Laos after doing the course as it appears to be cheaper and more relaxed place to live.

Dave

[PattyFlipper]

I would endorse the previous poster's advice to do a CELTA/TRINITY course, if you want the resulting qualification to have maximum portability and international recognition.

Chiang Mai is a fairly congenial place in which to live, but it is pretty dire in terms of plying your trade as a TEFL teacher. Every farang and his dog who wishes to remain in Thailand, for whatever reason, usually ends up 'teaching' English. This is particularly so in Chiang Mai, where the laws of supply and demand drive rates of remuneration to absolute rock bottom, even by Thailand's parsimonious standards.

Since you are embarking on this course of action with a view to making yourself a more attractive candidate for the PGCE course, you may wish to consider whether teaching and/or obtaining TEFL certification in Thailand will actually be beneficial to your stated goal. Speaking from the lofty-heights of management (tongue-in-cheek), any CV passing across my desk which shows qualifications and teaching experience which have been obtained exclusively in Thailand, goes straight into the bin. And I know I am by no means alone in this negative perception of what laughingly passes for education in the Land of Scams. You may find that association with Thailand actually closes more doors than it opens.

[davescotland]

Many thanks PattyFlipper you have given me alot to think about.

I have all the qualifications to apply for the post grad PGCE, it is just teaching epxerience i am lacking.

I will contact the main Scottish Unis direct to see whether they think teaching experience in Thailand or abroad in general will be of any benefit.

Once again Many Thanks for everyone who has taken the trouble to reply.

Dave

[RebelGirl26]

I took the CELTA at ECC Chaing Mai and would recommend it. It's a good course that will help you get a decent job in Thailand. I'm not sure the CELTA is worth crap once you get home... but like you say - you're looking to have a gap year and get a little teaching experience - a CELTA will help you do that.

As far as your accent, it doesn't matter which country you come from you need to slow it down when you talk to non-native speakers. I was in the teachers room talking to a man from England and we needed a translator for one of our conversations (an American who'd lived in England) because we were both talking kind of fast. So slow it down and try to eliminate slang/idioms. You don't want to fall into the trap of speaking "Teacher English" (super slow and over-enunciated) but do try to be clear.

The money - you have $600 (US? -about 20,000 baht?) a month to live on. That probably won't go too far in a place like Chiang Mai or Bangkok... but in a smaller city you could actually survive at a bare bones level. So that plus part time teaching wouldn't be so bad actually. I think about 30,000 baht a month is about what you'd need to live on... basic food and rent, plus enough to go out and have a little fun (probably not enough for a girlfriend).

I think it's good to know what you expect to get out of this situation. If you're looking for something to pad your resume for future study in the UK... Thailand probably won't help much. If you're looking to save money, again, not Thailand. But if you just want a change of pace, an opportunity to try something new for a while before going back to the rat race... then I highly recommend it.


Good luck!

[Gusss]

I lived in Peru for five years.
DO NOT , I repeat, DO NOT go to live in Lima. If you want to be in Peru , which is a fantastic country by the way, and still make a reasonable living try Trujillo, but Lima - Jesus man no dont do it. When my friends from Lima came to live in Manchester UK they first experience was living in Mosside - which they thought was posh !
Yes theres fortified rich tourist places like Mirraflores in Lima but personally its not my bag,I want to be able to walk around free not just stick to safe areas.
If you want good quality advice on living in Lima after my tirade then I suggest you contact "naturegirl" who is often posting on the Peru forum here on Davesesl cafe- she lives and works there and is a fountain of useful advice.

[sheikxhoni]

A CELTA earned anywhere is perfect if you want to be an ESL teacher. If that is the goal then forget other training. A CELTA earned in Thailand shouldn't be held in disrespect by anyone anywhere.

Vietnam is great for teachers. There are big private schools that hold to a high standard. Get a CELTA there. Look at the ILA ad.

Cambodia is worth consideration for work.

Loas is still a somewhat primative Communist country. Beware. The main city is dreary with little to say going for it. After yhou eat at the Swedish Pizza Restaurant there are only a couple of places left that might be appealing. The discos were a surprise though.

If you have an interest in Spanish culture there are lots of places other than Lima. I taught on the northcoast of the Dominican Republic and like it. But good teaching opportunities throughout the Spanish world are slim, in my opinion.

Beware of the TEFL Internaitonal prpgram. I enjoyed reading the other persons comments on that. And for me their training was simplistic and inflexable. Now they are offering "virtual training" - go figure!

Take a look at Travel and Teach organization. You pay them but they can give you a few weeks training in several countries - two in Thailand, two or three in VN, several in Spanish speaking countries. It's worh a look.

Gotta run - - this blogging stuff is fun but it gets addicting.

[frankly speaking]

I think that Chiang Mai would be the last place anyone would want to go to teach. The jobs pay very low and there aren't many schools with good administration.

However your 600 dollars will go pretty far in CM. Since most teaching jobs in CM pay less than 30,000 baht, I think that you can cover most of your basic life costs without working. Anything that you pick up from working will be for entertainment and enjoyment. If you are looking for a place to unwind for a year and build a little teaching experience, then CM is a good choice. However, if you want to build a teaching background and develop strong teaching skills, I would venture to other locations.

Though I support the efforts of CM TEFL certificate program, I wouldn't advise it if you are looking for a credential that is worldly recognized. They are trying to get more universities that will accept it as transfer credit. If you were to take their course, make sure that your schools in Scotland are on their list of schools that suppor it.

The CELTA is and always would be my first choice and the only program that I recommend for a professional certification. But if you just want any TEFL cert, the CMU is as good as any other.