Job Discussion Forums

[bernabe3]

Hello my name is Mike and I will be graduating from Michigan State University in May.
I have decided that before I get a full time job I want to teach (or at least work) somewhere abroad for 3-12 months.
I am looking into the online certification for teaching and don't think that should be a problem. I would like to get paid to help pay for some of the trip.

I really want to go with a group of like minded (maybe similar aged) individuals on some sort of a program.

I would like to go to Australia the most I think but am very open to just about anywhere !!

any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance and I'm excited to be apart of this community!

[spiral78]

I have decided that before I get a full time job I want to teach (or at least work) somewhere abroad for 3-12 months.

There are few gigs around for less than a year.

I am looking into the online certification for teaching and don't think that should be a problem. I would like to get paid to help pay for some of the trip.

Hmmm. Not sure what you mean here. But most online certs aren't considered sufficient in many parts of the world. And I don't know of anyone who will 'help pay for part of the trip.' Please clarify what you expect and/or wish for here.


I would like to go to Australia the most I think but am very open to just about anywhere !!

I guess you realise that most Australians already speak English It's not a big English teaching market - the work is mostly focused on immigrants, and there are lots of qualified Australians to do the work...unlikely anyone will pay for a newbie-level American to come over to do one of the relatively few jobs....

I suggest that you do some research and then come back to us with more realistic questions. Your enthusiasm is definitely a plus and much appreciated, but some additional awareness of what teaching abroad entails will help you to ask more relevant questions - and to get more down-to-earth advice.

[santi84]

Are you eligible for any sort of working holiday visa? You wouldn't be teaching English in Australia (Australia has enough starving qualified ESL instructors), but you might be able to pick up some bar work.

[Glenski]

Americans don't get working holiday visa.

3 months? I'd say forget it. You probably won't even make up your setup costs in that short a time. Try to put in at least a year if you want the experience to count for anything.

[runthegauntlet]

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure Australia doesn't need English teachers.

NZ, perhaps. Fush N Chups...

[Glenski]

Ya learns something new every day. Thanks, gauntlet. Mea culpa.

As for Australia not needing English teachers, why not? They must certainly have a large international population. The US has ESL teachers to handle such, so why not Australia (or Canada, UK, NZ, etc.)?

[santi84]

If I was a recent college graduate with no kids and could take off to Australia for a year, I'd be right on the beach serving drinks!

[nickpellatt]

I would suggest googling companies like realgap and possibly even i-i, who offer short term placements, that often include some teaching training and orientation. Typically, these types of trips tend to attract people of a similar age.

Generally, you wont find many people on the forum who have anything positive to say about these companies though.

There training is often shoddy, and not actually worth anything. It may not even be useful either. Their work placements may also be in places that many teachers wouldnt consider...and if they do offer a salary of sorts...it is often way below market levels....Ive seen programs like this that offer 2000 rmb a month in China, which no one else would take.

They also charge you a hefty fee for using them too. Not really good value, but it sounds more like the type of thing you are seeking.

English speaking countries are not really a likely destination for teaching English though! I couldnt imagine Australia being a possiblity, for the reasons already mentioned.

PS - online courses arent normally worth taking. There may be exception, but they would be few and far between. Again, few people on the forum would say anything positive about them...and many of us are talking from experience. I wasted my time and money on such a course many moons ago.

[itoi]

Hi there,

My name's Honor and I work for i-to-i. Just wanted to clear up a couple of misconceptions about our courses and job placement service.

Firstly, if you're thinking about teaching abroad an online course is