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ESL Hobo
Joined: 23 Oct 2008
Posts: 262
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 Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:17 am Post subject: |
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Hi Adam,
The path I took started out in 1981. I went to Indonesia as a volunteer ESL Teacher after my second year of college. I didn't have a degree but we were given a TEFL course, 2 weeks in Japan and 2 weeks in Singapore. Funny thing is they never gave us the certificate! I guess they used it as a way to show the government of Indonesia that we had some kind of certification, and that was good enough back then, perhaps they thought we wouldn't need it later, weird. I never thought to ask for it because I think it was a pretty new thing back then and I guess I just didn't understand the value it would hold later.
Then I went back after one year and finished my BA in an unrelated field. My second job was also as a Volunteer EFL Teacher, but in Thailand.
Then went onto to teaching EFL anywhere I could get a job. Which was a lot easier before Tefling became an Industry.
Finally, two years ago I broke down and got my TEFL certificate even though I had 23 years experience, it has helped me to get jobs that might have been closed to me otherwise.
I also started and completed one term of an online Masters in Applied Linguistics but was not impressed with the service, so I am putting a Masters on hold until I can do one on Campus. Thing is I am so burned out on being in the classroom by the time I get to do my masters degree I will probably opt for one that doesn't involve teaching. |
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GambateBingBangBOOM
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
Posts: 2021
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:10 am Post subject: |
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| ESL Hobo wrote: |
Plus, the Applied Linguistics course I was taking had some basic Linguistic components not as directly related to teaching as a TESOL degree. So there is a difference. |
I understand where you're getting the idea from. But that's really just the program at the university that you were at. The university that I did a program specifically in "Teaching English as a Second Language" also had a required year long survey of theoretical linguistics course. That doesn't mean that it applies to ALL teaching courses for ESL.
If you do an MA TESOL in most North American Universities then you will study very different things than if you do an MA TESOL in an Australian university. In fact, the MA in Applied Linguistics at some universities is actually called an MA Applied Linguistics (TEFL) in Canada.
They are the same thing in some schools, other schools differentiate them slightly- sometimes just based on whether or not you are doing a research component in order to do a doctorate in the future (all coursework degree- MA TESOL, thesis or research paper PLUS coursework- MA Applied Linguistics). A big chunk of the reason comes down to money a lot of the time. If the administration of a university only allows say, 38 students per year to each master's degree in order to ensure very high averages (therefore meaning people will think of it as a great school) then the school can open another program which is almost exactly the same, but they can sell it as having a slightly different purpose. And if you look through degree requirements at universities that have both programs (like Birmingham university), that's often what you'll find. |
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ESL Hobo
Joined: 23 Oct 2008
Posts: 262
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| Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 2:47 pm Post subject: |
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| I don't know a lot about the American program but it sounds like what you are saying rings true. Thanks for your input. |
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AdamtheJohnson
Joined: 10 Nov 2008
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 6:04 am Post subject: |
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Why dont we discuss the countries instead of the jobs for a bit?
The only way to France is to go to school.
Africa is by the Peace Corps
And Asia can be TEFLing.
Which would allow me the most ability to venture out and travel for a few days at a time?
This is just confusing me. I feel like I need to make a decision 6 weeks ago. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
Why dont we discuss the countries instead of the jobs for a bit?
The only way to France is to go to school. |
You can apply to the program I posted. You don't need to study to be in France. People an English teaching assistant for a year but you need to apply now in order to start September 2010.
After that you can join the Peace Corps or go to Asia. My madness behind this is go to Europe while you are still young and can live on 1000 Euros a month. You could also consider a combined M.A. with the Peace Corps after living in France. |
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AdamtheJohnson
Joined: 10 Nov 2008
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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Im going to save up and take a gap period, either touring the states as a photographer or go to China or wherever to teach/volunteer.
I think the only way to figure out what you want to do is to do something else, and it'll just come to you. |
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AdamtheJohnson
Joined: 10 Nov 2008
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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To elaborate, with some retrospection, the next 12 months will be about
- Getting a TEFL certificate, preferably online.
- Securing a new full time job and saving all the money possible & paying off any debts.
Peace Corps is still on the table. Grad school is still on the table. But theyre back burners right now.
I decided on a plan of vagabonding and working. Start in Thailand and head thru Laos, Vietnam, China, India and wherever from there.
I am still researching, but I am HOPING to
A) Get EFL teaching jobs upon arrival &
B) Get visas on arrival. (as often as possible)
in order to offer myself the most flexibility.
ESL Hobo made a VERY interesting comment a while back, and that was about getting my EFL Cert IN Thailand.
I havent researched this one at all, but is it the norm to get a Cert in a foreign land? My other question is, could I go straight from my Cert to working in Thailand, and then moving on and working in Vietnam etc?
It interests me because I could sort of hit the ground running. Get my Cert and already BE in the country I want to teach in, instead of getting here and waiting waiting waiting until I save enough to leave.
If I cant secure a EFL job quickly, I'll have enough from my savings to get me through a country like Laos without any problems. In addition, I could take odd jobs and I'm researching the tourism (and the like) industries to secure some temporary work, via "Work Your Way Around the World."
With any luck, this trip will not be one with an end date. I HOPE to find a place I want to live and a job I want forever. Im not foolish enough to not prepare at all (hence the next 12 months) but part of the fun is definitely the not-knowing.
I'm open to further advice now that Ive narrowed it down considerably. |
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khmerhit
Joined: 31 May 2003
Posts: 1874
Location: Reverse Culture Shock Unit
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| Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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 Peace Corps=CIA!!! read time weiners book legacy of ashes
good luck and dont forgit
C A M B O DI A
try it and see  |
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Chancellor
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
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| Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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| ESL Hobo wrote: |
| I don't know a lot about the American program but it sounds like what you are saying rings true. Thanks for your input. |
There is no such thing as "the American program." Each university is different. Some offer a master's in TESOL, others offer a master's in applied linguistics that emphasizes ESL, still others may offer both an MA TESOL and an MA in applied linguistics, and for some the master's in applied linguistics is more for people who want to teach a foreign language (e.g. Spanish) in American public schools. |
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Chancellor
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
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| Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 1:02 pm Post subject: |
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| AdamtheJohnson wrote: |
Which would allow me the most ability to venture out and travel for a few days at a time?
This is just confusing me. I feel like I need to make a decision 6 weeks ago. |
None. The days of being able to backpack your way around the world paid for by teaching English a few days here, a few days there (or even a few months here and there) are pretty much gone. If you do find such opportunities where you just need to be a native Anglophone, go for it; but don't expect to be taken seriously by anyone should you decide to get serious about TEFL. |
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AdamtheJohnson
Joined: 10 Nov 2008
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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| denise wrote: |
If you just want to teach for a year or so before going to grad school and/or joining the Peace Corps, look into TEFL certificates. A four-week intensive program is the norm, and a certificate + a BA will help you get started in many countries.
d |
A bit of an update.
A lot depends on what happens in the next nine months but Im definitely leaning towards graduate school in the US.
I might take a year off before I begin, or after I apply (if I dont get in).
The only thing I dont like is that I would have to be living in a new state for a full year to avoid non-resident tuition.
Anyway, hopefully I can get my CERT this year. If I dont get in, or want to wait a year, I can teach. |
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