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Asinus
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:11 pm Post subject: Newbie Question - What Can I Expect? |
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I have a fifteen year old M.A. in Applied Linguistics, with a couple of TESOL courses mixed in there, and I have one year total in the classroom teaching students of English.
For the last fifteen years I have been working in the computer field, which until very recently had been quite well-paid. But I am sick to death of computers and have somewhat let my skills lapse on the last two jobs, and I was wondering if I could land an ESL position in the Gulf, which seems to pay better than other parts of the world.
How hard is it to get a teaching certificate? It looks like that is the Holy Grail for most of the foreign 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: Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:19 pm Post subject: Re: Newbie Question - What Can I Expect? |
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| Asinus wrote: |
I have a fifteen year old M.A. in Applied Linguistics, with a couple of TESOL courses mixed in there, and I have one year total in the classroom teaching students of English.
For the last fifteen years I have been working in the computer field, which until very recently had been quite well-paid. But I am sick to death of computers and have somewhat let my skills lapse on the last two jobs, and I was wondering if I could land an ESL position in the Gulf, which seems to pay better than other parts of the world.
How hard is it to get a teaching certificate? It looks like that is the Holy Grail for most of the foreign schools. |
The certificate is significantly less than an MA in Applied Linguistics.
Pick a job opening and apply. Play up the MA degree in your CV. Are you hoping to teach adults or children? If children, consider getting a government teaching certification and applying at international schools. The certificates we so often talk about here are for entry-level positions teaching adults. They're generally four-week courses with six or so hours of supervised teaching practice - significantly less than a Master's in Applied Linguistics (which is one of the degrees people who make a career in ESL often go on to). I'd say that, at best, getting one of those entry-level CELTA (or other TEFL) certificates might help you brush up on your teaching skills but if you're hoping to go beyond mere entry-level teaching you'll want to play up the master's degree.
Check out the Middle East forums. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:07 pm Post subject: Re: Newbie Question - What Can I Expect? |
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| Asinus wrote: |
| For the last fifteen years I have been working in the computer field, which until very recently had been quite well-paid. But I am sick to death of computers and have somewhat let my skills lapse |
That might be a problem if you end up in a job that involves an LL room or CALL room technology. |
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anyway
Joined: 03 Sep 2007
Posts: 109
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 4:50 am Post subject: |
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An MA is an MA, no matter the age, for many countries. The one year of teaching experience might be more of an issue. How recent was it?
I am currently in Oman, which has a chronic shortage of teachers. The pay is not the best in the ME, but it has a good balance of all the variables. I think it would be no problem for you to get a job here. In fact, I know of one fellow who started as an English teacher, but because he had a bachelor's in computer science was asked to teach computer skills at the college he worked for. Another fellow I know got to teach undergrad courses in Applied Linguistics (his graduate field) as well as English. It just boils down to right place, right time.
With your MA and professional experience, you can find university jobs teaching computer science/skills in a number of countries, but those are the plums. Much easier to find ESL/EFL jobs and the pay would probably be the same. |
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tlyfly
Joined: 27 Oct 2009
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the interesting answers! |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 10:16 pm Post subject: Re: Newbie Question - What Can I Expect? |
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| Asinus wrote: |
| How hard is it to get a teaching certificate? It looks like that is the Holy Grail for most of the foreign schools. |
Where are you looking for work other than the Gulf? Not every place requires a certificate to teach. |
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Asinus
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 3:11 pm Post subject: Peru |
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Eventually, I want to relocate to Peru, my wife's country, but first I need to make some money.
I can live like a monk. In fact, I prefer it. With them in Peru and me in the Gulf for a couple of years, I believe we could get out of our current difficulties, purchase a house, start a business, etc. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:31 pm Post subject: Re: Peru |
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| Asinus wrote: |
Eventually, I want to relocate to Peru, my wife's country, but first I need to make some money.
I can live like a monk. In fact, I prefer it. With them in Peru and me in the Gulf for a couple of years, I believe we could get out of our current difficulties, purchase a house, start a business, etc. |
I'm in Peru, if you have questions, you can email me. |
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