Job Discussion Forums

[sls1365]

Hello all.

I am a recently CELTAd teacher, with 8 years pre-qual teaching experience, at home and in Africa. I have taken the CELTA partly because of the fact that my daughter and I want to move away from the UK again.

Can anyone with a family offer advise to a single mum who wants to teach EFL and educate her daughter at the same time?

All advice would be gratefully received! (Including which countries and schools to avoid!)

Sarah

[tttompatz]

[denise]

[sls1365]

Sorry, I didn't give you much info about me. Yes, I have a BA and I have 10 years teaching experience (but no PGCE, although I have taught in state schools) 3 years of which were gained in Botswana. I have a CELTA and am currently running a Young Learners course in Dorset.

Where do we want to go? Well, I don't particularly want to stay in Europe and I am not keen on Japan (although I have no good reason for that!). Russia isn't particularly high on my list either.... I think that India, Far East apart from Japan and Sub Saharan Africa are top of my list, but I am quite interested in South America too.

I actually have 2 daughters, but one is on a full scholarship at a UK boarding school and will remain there for the 4 years that are left of her school career. So, I'll need to get her to whereever we are for hols etc (although the maintenance payments I get will cover that).

Is that enough info?

[Glenski]

Think about getting hired at an international school. They may offer reduced tuition for your child (who is how old?).

[sls1365]

[Guy Courchesne]

I'd scratch South America off your list...very very difficult to have a job that will allow you to cover education expenses for the 9 year old. You could possibly luck out and have her attend the school you work at, but I think your chances are better elsewhere.

[Perilla]

I reckon without QTS you're going to find this a struggle, unless you've got some serious financial backup. Most of the places that pay reasonably well and where jobs are reasonably easy to come by for someone without QTS are also very foreign places for your young daughter (e.g. Korea, Japan and some other Asian countries). On the other hand, places more easy to adapt to (Europe and North America basically) generally pay poorly outside the state or international schools (QTS required!) sector.

You mention sub-Saharan Africa and India as favourites, but not sure these are realistic for you - generally very poor pay outside of the big international schools - and again, a big culture shock for your daughter to contend with. Ditto South America.

As you probably know, with your experience and quals you will easily find a PGCE place in the UK and you get an automatic grant to go with it (which is unheard of in most countries). My advice is to get your PGCE and then you can apply for well paid international or state school jobs with travel and schooling benefits. Admittedly this means another two years in the UK (a year for the course and another for your professional qualifying year) but it's more realistic.

If you go down the TEFL route things might be too much of a struggle for you and your daughter. Good luck.

[scot47]

No QTS will make it impossible to get a job at a reputable international school. I cannot think of any other employer in the Gulf who would cover the educational costs or pay an educational allowance. Maybe Prince Mohammed Uni in Eastern Province, KSA. BUT read all the posts here first !

[sls1365]

[Kiels]

As far as I am aware, training in a primary PGCE or drama/ english secondary would entitle you to a �4000 non repayable grant which would cover the course fees (roughly �3250) for the year. Universities also generally offer a �500 bursary each year to students and with dependents you can often apply to the welfare office for extra funding which you don't have to pay back. They have a hardship fund and they can offer termly allocations from their funds if you meet the requirements. You can inquire about this and apply for it as soon as you start the course.

It's also possible to do a Scitt course in which you train and work in a school throughout the course ... organised and led by a uni but a very hands on experience and you get the $4000 non repayable grant.

Another option is to do the GTP . Info here at http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/thetrainingprocess/typesofcourse/employmentbased/gtp.aspx. Doing it this way you get a salary of about �15000 a year whilst working there for the year in which you gain QTS. All in one school.

Good luck. I think it's definitely doable if you really wanted to.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

There are call center jobs in India that pay rather good money (for India). You might want to look into them. However, not sure if you'd make enough to be able to afford an International School there...

[Perilla]

[sls1365]

The bottom line is - I enjoy TEFL teaching and I want to have a career in it. Am I correct in summising that this is not possible? Especially not with a child?

Sarah

[DoubleDutch]

It is definitely possible. You can get TEFL jobs just fine with what you have (BA + CELTA + teaching experience). The problem will likely be that you won't make enough money to put your kid through an international school. But if a local school is acceptable, then you have more possibilities.

An English friend of mine here in China just got a job with an international kindergarten (without PGCE) and she'll be making 10,000 RMB a month, which is about 1000 pounds. This is comfortable enough to live on. You could conceivably negotiate a deal to put your kid in an affiliated school. I'd say it's worth looking into.