Job Discussion Forums

[scot47]

For some reason some people have great difficulty in accepting the idea of RULES. When we play any game there are rules, and sometimes a referee. If you do not like the rules, go and play a different game.

[Irish]

Scot and Glenski are right. If anyone wonders why governments have certain requirements in place, contact the nearest embassy in your country and ask. Unfair? Tell it to the people who make the rules. The old hands on the cafe are just trying to tell you how it is.

If you want to work in a particular country but are legally unable to do so, you can do one of three things: get legal, go somewhere else, or roll the dice and work illegally. Just don't expect much help with option three.

Bottom line: If you want to play in their sandbox, you've got to play by their rules or be prepared to deal with the consequences. Sorry, but that's reality.

[D.O.S.]

College dipomas and the
CELTA (ooh, ahhh, oohh)
are a lazy person's out.

Get a degree. A real
4 year degree.

The sad thing is so many
school advertise the CELTA
as the 'easy' path.

We D.O.S.s know the truth!

[scot47]

The DOS with the sharp teeth is right. All the sensible professional advice is the same but some people (particularly NORTEAMERICANOS !) do not want to understand. May God open their eyes.

[Lucy Snow]

Last year I had a long email exchange with a 19-year-old guy from the US who wanted to move to Kyoto to work in a hotel, and perhaps teach a little English on the side. He had about six months of experience working at the front desk of a hotel, and a smattering of Japanese. Oh, and no university degree.

I told him that to the best of my knowledge, he couldn't do legally work in Japan. He was the wrong nationality for the working holiday visa, he didn't have enough Japanese ability to work at a Japanese hotel, and his lack of a degree wouldn't get him a work visa.

His response was that he couldn't believe that there was no way he could legally work in Japan. "But I really want to go," he whined. I asked him why he thought the Immigration authorities should make an exception in his case--what skills, knowledge, experience, etc. could he offer that no one else could? Not that it would help sway Japanese Immigration, but I was interested in what he had to say.

I never heard from him again. I have no idea if he actually went, but as far as I know he's never reappeared on Dave's.

[Irish]

Lucy Snow wrote:

[scot47]

Thanks to those who like me are astonished at the attitude of these adoloscents who think they have a right to go and work anywhere they want. Let them go and be wetbacks !

[Renea Bartlett]

Glenski's question is a thought-provoking one. I've taught in Mexico and in U.S. public schools. The notion that one can get rich teaching anywhere is laughable. More to the point of your query though: I would say that while I'm not sure when/how/where the myth started, it is certainly perpetuated by TEFL cert. schools. No matter what the specifics of the program, we've all seen the ads. Exotic. Glossy. And usually with a few well-placed adjectives, slogans, and too-good to be true promises.
But then again they're just trying to make a buck. My response to people who talk about what they "heard" is that while the field is great, there are very real drawbacks... as with ANY career. And the lifestyle is certainly not for everyone.

[Lynn]

I've been on this forum way too long! I remember someone in my sign language class asked me if she needed any sort of "training" for my teaching job. I was like, "Yeah, duh! A degree! And you should have a TESL cerfifcate as well".