Job Discussion Forums

katuuuz

Hi,

My name is Mike, and I'm currently a barber in my hometown in central Connecticut. I've recently become interested in the field of teaching. I am enrolled in a community college part time at night, and currently only have a few credits to my name. All in all, I'd quickly welcome the opportunity to travel to foreign countries and teach English as a second language. Help people, see the world, make a little money; you can't beat that.

I've been browsing the forum here for a few days now, and have absorbed some pretty helpful information. My goal is to get my BA in education and then possibly take a TEFL class. This seems to be the safest route, for when I return to the states, I can teach and make decent money.

But then there is the side of me that just wants to get up and go A.S.A.P. Take the TEFL, get a job in China, teach until my travel bug is cured, and then return home to being a barber and making decent money as well. Granted the job opportunities over seas will be far less with only a TEFL, but as I said, a part of me just wants to do this without having to wait years to get a BA. I risk losing clientele at the barber shop as well, so the money wouldn't be the same right away when I return home.

Another positive to getting the BA, is when I return home as a teacher, those two month summer breaks would be a great amount of time to travel as well. I don't know, I'm a bit confused, and don't want to jump the gun. Maybe just looking for someone with some experience to help me outweigh my options, or perhaps encourage me to just go now.

Thanks in advance,
Mike

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

If you don't have a degree now, there is only a limited number of countries that allow you to work legally.

If you think a BA in education plus a course in TEFL lets you teach back home, you may want to look more carefully at the necessary credentials. Where had you planned to teach -- junior college, high school, university?

Don't rush things. If you are serious, get a degree first.

katuuuz · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 12:34 am Post subject:

Thanks for the reply Glenski.

I forgot to mention that I would go for my MA upon returning from my stint (if I were to return). I'm most interested in a year contract in Shenzhen, in the Guangdong province of China for starters. From what I've seen, a high school diploma and a TEFL certificate would be all I need to do this. I have no particular preference as to what age group I would teach.

I agree with not rushing, but I also can't see waiting the 6+ years it would take me to complete my college courses, as I'm a part-time night student only capable of taking about 3 credited courses per semester. Though, the idea of having a BA and being able to practically teach anywhere in the world is enticing.

Even if I did a year in China and it turned out to be something I didn't enjoy, I could always come back to Connecticut and get back into the barber scene. I've also though about applying to barber shops on U.S. Air Force bases around the world as a means of traveling. Teaching would be more satisfying at the end of the day though.

Just snowballing ideas around, anyone with two cents to chip in, please do.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

katuuuz · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:55 am Post subject:

I don't mind at all. I'm 26 years old. I guess it would seem I am in a rush. No one particular reason I guess -- it's a combination of things at best. Plus, I've always been a 'fly by the seat of my pants' kind of guy.

I'm sick of my career for starters. Not much pride in being a barber. Shoot s*^# with a guy while you give him a haircut, then he leaves you to continue his seemingly more important life. It's like I'm stuck in that purgatorial space everyone else walks in and out of twice a month. I partied high school away with no real regard for the future... Becoming a barber was the easy way out for my then immature mind. My recent go at English 101 at the community college resulted in an A and left my teacher asking me why I had traded an academic talent for a pair of shears and a comb in the first place.

I currently don't have any baggage either. No girlfriend and I'm spending far less time with my friends since I've thrown in the towel on the party scene.

Sorry for the autobiography glenski, but I'm hoping it will help in gauging any advice you have to offer someone in my particular situation. Not really trying to run away - just start a new life. I've exhausted all that is here for me, and my only real reason for going back to school would be to get out of Dodge.

P.S. after sifting through the China forums, it's becoming more and more distasteful as I read on... especially in terms of medicine. I've become increasingly interested in Japan, and have noticed you are there right now. Unfortunately, from what I've found, it's near impossible landing a job there without at least a BA, and even more so a few years experience in the teaching field. Would you say there is no chance at all for someone with only a TEFL to get work there?

Thanks for your time, it's sincerely appreciated. Waiting for any advice you have, though I'm assuming it will be "You are still young, finish college."
-Mike

runthegauntlet

runthegauntlet · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 11:14 am Post subject:

I don't know if you've looked into this, but your idea about China coupled with finishing a degree that you can only do a bit of a time got me thinking about online courses.

Assuming you could get a job in China, would you be able to do distance courses at the same time? You probably wouldn't get paid that much, but you might be able to save a couple of hundred bucks a month which you could put towards your continuing education. Go for both at once.

Anyway, I agree that you should definitely work on finishing your degree. I don't have near the experience Glenski has and would certainly defer to him/her for practical advice. I'm exceptionally impatient as well, though, and my one year contracts seem like they last forever sometimes. Can't even begin to think 6 years in advance (a serious character flaw of mine, imo.)

So, anyway, a chance to do both?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

katuuuz · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 7:29 pm Post subject:

O.K. you got me. I would be ignorant to disregard the advice of someone with experience. I'd hate to get wherever it is I may go with no credentials, and end up having a poor experience due to being forced to take any crap job I can find. I guess I would be better off with the proper degrees/experience so I can have a greater opportunity in a far better place.

So, back to school in a week and a half.

Let me ask if I may Glenski, not out of doubt, but out of curiosity... What degrees do you hold? Do you care to tell me where you are and how you got there? Will you ever return to your homeland? Looking forward to your back story.

-Mike

ashanmari · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Posts: 22

Katuuz, I am basically in your same position--
I contemplated getting a BA, doing what all of the "successful" people around me were doing and just realized that I despised being on that type of schedule, under immense amount of stress and anxiety and pressures of loans and money and blah blah blah...
Id much rather back my backpack, use my head in my definition of the "real world" travel and see what opportunities arise-- therefore, I finished my AA in Liberal Studies and took my TEFL cert my local community college--
Now granted, I'm not in this for the money, or the status, simply the experience-- I believe experience is what teaches wisdom and that is much more precious to me than the knowledge I may have acquired by staying in school--
this is all my personal opinion and i spent many a wide-awake nights contemplating my decisions-- and really, it doesn't matter what you do, its how you do it and how HAPPY you are doing it--
so if you are not to enthusiastic about your current situation, progress isn't in real reach, then by george, I recommend you make yourself happy! you aren't benefiting anyone and only harming yourself if you are not in complete ecstatic states about what you're doing---

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

While it's all well and good to go and see what happens, the other side of the coin is that in five, ten or fifteen years time you'll have failed miserably with nothing to come back to. I've always considered getting a minimum level of qualifications to make sure that even if I do stumble, I'll be able to get a decent job somewhere. Hence I'm taking an M.A. so that I'll always be one of the most employable at quite a young age. It'll also open a hell of a lot of doors as well.

I really do admire the winging it approach though. I often wish I could do that but I'm more of a planning type. Maybe after I have my masters I can relax.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

katuuuz · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 10:01 pm Post subject:

I too wouldn't be doing it for the money, experience in perspective is what I'm after. The only downside to what I've been reading and hearing is with just a TEFL, you are limited. I'd personally like to teach in Japan, and according to Glenski, it's impossible without the credentials. So much of me wants to say "screw it" and buy a plane ticket, but I'd hate to be hindered by my lack of qualifications (on paper) therefore potentially making it a trip to hell. I would assume a school that will not accept the "wingers" would be professionally structured and would offer the best experience available. Though it sucks having to wait to do things "right", I guess I'll stick it out as long as I can. If it comes down to it at some point, I can see myself jumping a plane with a back pack and a pair of crossed fingers.

Ashanmari:
Very commendable decision. Have you landed a job anywhere yet? Do tell of your experiences.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

katuuuz · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 10:31 pm Post subject:

Glenski has swayed my decision. Here is the new plan:

I will continue to work full-time and school part-time until I receive my Associate's Degree. Having no rent (recently back with mom) and no debt, I should be able to save a ton of money by that time.

If the owner of the shop allows me to work part-time, I will do just that as I transfer to the state school to pursue my BA full-time. If he won't, I will quit with what I calculate to be a handsome sum of money in the bank. I will receive my BA approximately two years from the day I start going full-time, granted nothing goes wrong. I will also have the opportunity to study abroad for a semester with one of the many programs offered by the state schools... we'll call that my half-way taste of the future.

After getting the BA, I will get a TEFL cert., and see what is going on overseas at that particular time. Hopefully I can get to Japan then, or at least gain the two years teaching experience in a country other than the U.S.

All in all, I'm hoping to be BA certified by age 30. Not too bad I guess.

I'll still be hanging out around the forums for sure. This place is a gold mine for anyone interested in this line of work. Thanks again to Glenski.