Job Discussion Forums

[Chancellor]

[english_tutor]

Oxford Seminars is an ok certificate to start with. However, you may find your opportunities limited with this certificate alone. You will find lots of good and bad advise on the job boards. Do your homework and detailed research about the jobs and the contract details. Also read the Oxford Seminars reference guide to finding jobs overseas from cover to cover. Then you may want to contact Oxford Seminars and activate their job search service you paid for.

Also take a look at TESL certified courses like the Vancouver Community College (VCC) TESOL Diploma program. It is TESL Canada certified and is recognized for professional certification (level 2) by TESL Canada. There is also a fast track for someone wanting to complete the diploma in a year and a distance learning component. It has a solid practicum and evaluated observations.

VCC link:
http://www.vcc.bc.ca/programs-courses/detail.cfm?div_id=8&prog_id=212#program_description

TESL Canada:
http://www.tesl.ca/Secondary_Navigation/TESL_Canada_Recognized_Teacher_Training_Programs.htm

If your not concerned about the money you may want to consider jobs in
Thailand, checkout Arjarn.com

http://www.ajarn.com/

Good luck.

[m2slo]

Hey All,

I originally posted something pretty generic stating what I'm interested in, but after reading more threads on this site, apparently to get specifics, I need to give more details.
Here goes:

I have a BA in Liberal Studies which I intended to use to become a Kindergarten teacher, but after graduating, (in 2005) I didn't feel like teaching 30 five year olds for 8 hours a day was the right fit for me. I've been working in the corporate world for the past 4 years, and was recently laid off from an admin job at a commercial real estate company. I've decided that I want to do something completely different now while I have no major obligations in my life; e.g. a mortgage, kids/family.

I took Spanish for 10 years in school so I speak, read and write fairly well, (I'm a bit rusty but that's easy enough to fix) and have always enjoyed the language and Latin culture, (yes, I do know the culture varies from country to country). I've been to Mexico, (lived and took a month-long Spanish class in Cuernavaca when I was 17) and Cuba. I've been wanting for a long time to go back down to Latin America, (I've heard that Costa Rica is beautiful) live as close to the beach as possible, immerse myself in a new culture, and be able to support myself. I figure I'd finally take advantage of my Spanish-speaking abilities and finally get back on the teaching path.

At this point in my life I don't have any plans to make a career out of TESL so I've been looking at shorter-term programs like Oxford Seminars, but I've read some not-so-great things about it on this site. Other than the length of the program, what appealed to me about Oxford Seminars is the cost, i.e. money is a consideration. I plan to work part-time while getting TESL certified to try and save up a little bit of money before embarking overseas.

Are there other certification programs anyone can recommend to me that might give me a little bit more of a leg up on getting a good teaching gig in a country like Costa Rica or Mexico? I live in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Hopefully this is enough information for anyone able and willing to take the time to pass on some advice.

Thanks much!

P.S. I've done a bunch of research but would really rather get a recommendation from someone who's actually out there teaching.

[Chancellor]

[m2slo]

Thanks for the info. I've been combing these discussion boards a bit and am getting some great advice.

[QueenJane]

I just finished a 3 weekend intensive with Oxford, and while it may be better than nothing, in my opinion it just is not adequate for someone just learning how to teach. I certainly don't feel ready to get in front of a classroom, and wish I could spend my $925US on a more extensive program with some real teaching experience. It's not that the material is bad - it's just that it takes more time than 60 hours to develop a real level of competence.

[Chancellor]

[Prof.Gringo]