Job Discussion Forums

[bernabe3]

Hello all,

I am currently a senior and will be graduating in May.

I have decided that I'm going to take at least a year off and teach (or possibly even work) abroad somewhere. I am great with people and have excellent English skills.

I am very open to location but would prefer somewhere in Europe, Australia, or New Zealand.

I have been looking at an online teaching certification and have come to the conclusion that some school accept the online degree while others do not.

I would really really like to go with at least a small group of other people (hopefully around my age) and maybe live with them out there.

If anyone has went on a teach abroad (or work abroad) trip where they were put with a group of people (hopefully college aged kids) please let me know the program and any suggestions you can make.

If anyone knows anything about an accredited online program also that would be great !

[santi84]

What country are you from and/or what citizenship do you have? Will your degree be a Bachelor of Education/TESOL/something similar?

[bernabe3]

I am American and will have a material engineering degree from michigan state university - no teaching degree. i have done a study abroad and some traveling in Italy.

I am looking at the online degree but don't want to get ripped off

all help wil be greatly appreciated

[jpvanderwerf2001]

It will be exceedingly difficult to get work in Australia, New Zealand, and western Europe as an American.
If I were you, I would look into Poland, Ukraine, or western Russia; an online teaching cert should be enough in all three of those countries.
Good luck!

[spiral78]

Second that. It's near-impossible to get work as a US citizen in Western Europe at the newbie level. You might want to check out the Italy forum below for more info on this aspect. Lots of competition in Australia and NZ, of course.

Central/Eastern Europe is more feasible. However, it might be a better idea to get certified in the country where you want to start working.

Training in-country offers you a chance to get your feet wet in the country/culture while you still have a support system � training centres usually arrange for your housing during the course, airport pickup, and local orientation. Your practice teaching students will really be representative of those you�ll be working with when you start. You can be sure that your certification will be recognized by local employers, and a training centre can give you invaluable contacts and advice regarding reputable local employers.
Your fellow trainees can also be the nucleus of your social contacts, giving you friends fast

Keep in mind that European jobs rarely pay for flights and set-up costs (rent, etc). Jobs in this region are not often found from abroad - you usually have to come on over and start the job search here on the ground before an employer will give you a first thought. There is a considerable investment in time, energy, and commitment up front - though the results can be really great if you plan well and realistically.

[idiggs]

In regards to teaching abroad (you said you was open about location), by you coming out with a Bachelor's degree; you can work in Indonesia. You can actually live pretty good in Indonesia (very low cost of living). A TEFL certificate wouldn't be necessarily required because they provide you with in-house training. However, it would be good to get one if you decide to teach in other countries.

Indonesia (and some parts of northern China) are places that you can start without having any teaching experience or TEFL certificate.

[coledavis]