Job Discussion Forums

[mjfaina123]

Hi, to everyone. I am brand new to this, 22, finishing up (finally) and receiving BA in english and teacher certification for k-12. I also am TESL/TEFL certified (completed a 100hr) course. I want to teach esl/english abroad. What schools (language schools/international schools) am i qualified to teach in? I will be certified by the state of NJ as a english teacher. I also have been teaching Adult ESL classes in the Bronx as a volunteer for a non profit community impact organization run by Columbia University. I thought perhaps China/HK/JP/Taiwan would be a good place to start. However, as i have been going through the forums i seem to keep reading horror stories about China. I would like to know 1. where is a good place to start in China, a good school, that wont take advantage of me, or violate its contract or have issues with visa, and will provide a comfortable package 2. When should i begin to look for or start applying to jobs and where do i look for them? 3. ANY OTHER advice greatly welcome. please. thanks. - best regards Faina

[kowlooner]

I'm surprised nobody else has commented. Your academic credentials look fine so it's just a matter of practical teaching experience. You could try language schools but you're over qualified for that, and language school teaching might not count as "experience" when later applying for regular school teaching jobs (depends on the school / system). Can't give any advice about schools in China except it may be better to look at universities. In HK, contact the various international schools themselves and see. If you want to do language schools, that should be easy enough in any one of the places you mentioned.

Sorry there's not more to say. Best thing is just to start contacting a bunch of schools that look interesting and see what happens. If there's a bite, that's the time you might want to come back on a forum and see if there has been any feedback on that particular school. Good luck!