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jcarroll
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 9
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 Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 7:40 am Post subject: Good JET-like programs for trying out TESL? |
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Hi there!
I'm going into my senior year of university this fall and I'm really interested in trying out teaching English as a career. My degree doesn't relate to education and I don't have any experience tutoring or teaching.
ESL sounds like something that I would really enjoy, and I think I would be passionate about teaching English to learners, but I'd really like to try it first hand before I invest in a degree in TESL. I understand that there are certifications you can get from institutions other than universities, but from what I've heard they are redundant for someone wishing to obtain a graduate degree in TESL, so I thought it would be best to avoid that.
Something like the JET Program sounds perfect, something requiring nothing more than a BA that wouldn't force me to teach by myself. I also think it's great how it's a really structured program where everything is sort of laid out for you.
So my question is: are there any other highly organized starter programs you can recommend similar to JET that I can consider in case I don't get accepted to the JET Program? I would especially love something in Japan, Israel, France, or Canada, but I'm interested in hearing about any ideas you might have.
Thanks! |
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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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| Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 3:02 am Post subject: Re: Good JET-like programs for trying out TESL? |
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| jcarroll wrote: |
Hi there!
I'm going into my senior year of university this fall and I'm really interested in trying out teaching English as a career. My degree doesn't relate to education and I don't have any experience tutoring or teaching.
ESL sounds like something that I would really enjoy, and I think I would be passionate about teaching English to learners, but I'd really like to try it first hand before I invest in a degree in TESL. I understand that there are certifications you can get from institutions other than universities, but from what I've heard they are redundant for someone wishing to obtain a graduate degree in TESL, so I thought it would be best to avoid that.
Something like the JET Program sounds perfect, something requiring nothing more than a BA that wouldn't force me to teach by myself. I also think it's great how it's a really structured program where everything is sort of laid out for you.
So my question is: are there any other highly organized starter programs you can recommend similar to JET that I can consider in case I don't get accepted to the JET Program? I would especially love something in Japan, Israel, France, or Canada, but I'm interested in hearing about any ideas you might have.
Thanks! |
The main programs I'm aware of are the NET program in Hong Kong which is very competitive and EPIK in Korea which is not so much. But, why limit yourself to these types of programs? You can get a lot of experience and sometimes have an even better situation in certain language institutes. Just because a program is organized by a respective country's government, that doesn't mean that it's well organized.
Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/ |
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Serious_Fun
Joined: 28 Jun 2005
Posts: 1171
Location: terra incognita
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| Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 3:17 am Post subject: Re: Good JET-like programs for trying out TESL? |
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| Sadebugo wrote: |
| jcarroll wrote: |
Something like the JET Program sounds perfect, something requiring nothing more than a BA that wouldn't force me to teach by myself. I also think it's great how it's a really structured program where everything is sort of laid out for you.
So my question is: are there any other highly organized starter programs you can recommend similar to JET that I can consider in case I don't get accepted to the JET Program?
Thanks! |
The main programs I'm aware of are the NET program in Hong Kong which is very competitive and EPIK in Korea which is not so much. |
as Sadebugo indicates, Hong Kong's NET scheme is very competitive, but he should not have listed it since it seems as if you are asking for an entry-level slot which would not require much effort on your part. The NET scheme requires much more than just showing up to school in the morning where "everything is sort of laid out for you".  Sadebugo's comment regarding language schools/institutes is a good one: many of them have developed their own methods and have set frameworks and materials for you to use.
I suggest that you do some tutoring at your university or at a local library, literacy council, etc. It is vital that one discover if teaching if what they like (or love!) doing before relocating, and before wasting the time and efforts of other persons who assist with visas, housing, etc.
I also suggest that you add some courses in education or linguistics whilc you are still enrolled at uni. so that you can earn a 'minor' that will really help you and your students. Is that possible?
good luck! |
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jcarroll
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you both for the advice!
I suppose it doesn't have to be a completely foolproof program like JET. The main thing is I don't want to be expected to teach alone, since I'd be completely unprepared for that. I'd like something where I can basically be a teacher's assistant, and it doesn't matter that much where it is.
Also, what do you guys mean by "language institutes"? That sounds promising but I don't know what that would entail.
I'm also looking around for tutoring/literacy things, like you said. I wonder if it's possible to find a paid position doing that, because I'd love to stay in Canada to do that, but I can only stay if I have a job that will get me a visa. 
Thanks! |
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Serious_Fun
Joined: 28 Jun 2005
Posts: 1171
Location: terra incognita
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 3:38 am Post subject: |
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I'm not sure who would pay for English language tutoring within Canada when it is essentially free to all; neither would I expect the government to issue a visa for that!  Just do it for free to get experience.
It seems as if you have another year in Canada as a student, so take this opportunity to tutor in your university's ESL lab. Approach professors working in the English Dept. and ask them for assistance.
Do it; trust me. It will give you the edge when looking for an entry-level position, plus confidence when in the classroom on the first day!
| jcarroll wrote: |
Also, what do you guys mean by "language institutes"? |
Below are the URLs for two of these types of language teaching businesses, both of which would be decent places to begin a career, and both of which provide their own teaching frameworks and classroom materials:
 Hess http://www.hess.com.tw/
Wall Street http://www.wallstreetinstitute.com/ |
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GambateBingBangBOOM
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
Posts: 2021
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 7:09 am Post subject: |
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| jcarroll wrote: |
I'm also looking around for tutoring/literacy things, like you said. I wonder if it's possible to find a paid position doing that, because I'd love to stay in Canada to do that, but I can only stay if I have a job that will get me a visa.
Thanks! |
English language teaching is a high need area in Canada- one that there are more than a few training options for. But it is very difficult to make a career out of it unless you teach at universities or colleges (or start your own language institute, if it doesn't go bust in the first year or so). It is a high need area for which there are more than enough people trained to do the job, but nobody will pay them to teach, and so the people who need to learn English very often don't. That's why there are so many trained Canadian teachers overseas. There are so many untrained people teaching English overseas because there are so few other jobs, either- especially for people who've just finished their degree and have very little experience other than the part-time stuff they did through school [usually retail, and sometimes construction related]. People DO get paid to teach English in Canada, though. English language tutoring is not 'essentially free to all'.
Basically, to get a work visa for Canada, you need to be able to do a job that no other Canadian is available to do.Teaching English isn't really that kind of thing- hundreds of people graduate from university and college one-year programs in TESOL every year in Ontario alone (look up TESL Ontario. Other provinces don't seem to have this type of program). Then there are all the programs that you can do through private language schools (aka language institutes) [CELTA etc] that are approved by TESL Canada.
I think you might want to get in contact with an immigration lawyer to see what you're options are. It's often easier to get permanent residence in Canada than it is a work visa (except for seasonal farm workers and stuff like that). That said, most people in Canada to do university cannot qualify for permanent residence either because they have no experience and so cannot get enough points to qualify.
For experience in it without actually getting training, your best bet may be to try to get a camp councillor type of job for summer language camps. Without any training in ESOL, you probably won't be able to get a job teaching, but the language institutes that run camps often hire councillors who bring the ESL students to tourist places after class. That would give you experience working with ESL learners. But the government isn't going to issue a visa for you to do that type of job.
Along the lines of the previous poster, you can ask the university to pair you up with an ESL conversation partner. They most likely won't allow you to volunteer in the ESL language labs- most of the people in the labs are people with masters degrees in TESOL, and they're paid. Or, they are people DOING masters degrees in TESOL and it is either volunteer (for experience) or it's possible that people could do it as part or a practicum (depending on what they are actually doing).
ETA, if you are applying to the JET program, I assume you know that you cannot do that through Canada if you are not a Canadian citizen. You would have to apply through your own country (assuming that your country participates in the JET program) and probably go there for the interviews etc. |
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