Job Discussion Forums

ahsanirfan · Joined: 04 Sep 2009 Posts: 7

Hey guys,

I just ended a contract with a local telecom company, and now am looking to start working as an ESL teacher.

I acquired my CELTA in February, but have absolutely no experience, save some tutoring experience (in math and physics). I do have a bachelor's degree.

I am not a native speaker, but I have a perfect accent (Canadian) and am a Canadian citizen.

I am married with no children. So wherever I move to, I want my wife to be able to move with me. She will be my dependent, at least initially. If it is relevant, then we do not plan to have any children any time soon.

Since we don't have any extravagant expenses, I am content with a basic salary that covers our basic necessities. Savings are not an issue at this point, either. What I am looking for is experience in the ESL field.

What country would be best to find ESL work in for a beginner like myself?
Is it possible to find ESL work by the end of the Summer?
Will my "non-native" status be a problem? To be tongue-in-cheek about it, I speak like a white guy but have brown skin.

Thanks in advance!

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

Don't say you are a non-native speaker. If you have Canadian citizenship, even by naturalization or adoption, say you are Canadian.

Where would you and your wife like to go? When exactly is "end of summer"? What is your wife's nationality?

jpvanderwerf2001 · Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 1117 Location: New York

Yep, what he Glenski said: Just say you're Canadian and leave it at that.

tttompatz · Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 4:19 am Post subject:

You are Canadian.
You have a Bachelors degree
You have a CELTA.
(I assume you have no entries on your criminal record).

Pick any country in Eastern Europe, Central / South America or Asia.

You qualify for a work visa in all of them and the job market is still effectively in a growth stage for most of Asia and Eastern Europe. (I don't know about the current state of the market for ESL in south America)

Effectively the world is your oyster.

(note that Japan and Korea are somewhat more competitive due to higher benefit packages and lower demand than in the past - coupled with a great influx of recent grads with no job prospects at home).

.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

the job market is still effectively in a growth stage for most of Asia and Eastern Europe.

I think this needs a bit of clarification. Central Europe is not in a growth stage (read the current Czech and Poland boards for more info on tightening job markets). Further East, yes, maybe -

I realise ttonplaz didn't imply that Central Europe is a growing market, but some newbies don't know where the demarcation line is, so I though it worthwhile to clarify this.

ahsanirfan · Joined: 04 Sep 2009 Posts: 7

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Your wife's going to miss out on Italy, most likely. EU hiring laws make it near-impossible for Canadian citizens to work there legally. Ditto most of the rest of the EU.