Job Discussion Forums

[MrCAPiTUL]

Hey Gang,

This is something that generally isn't discussed much on here, which I realized after somebody made a recent post about changing from adult students to younger learners. I did a search just to test the waters (changing careers) and the information was not really consolidated.

So I thought that it would be good to start a discussion with tips for people who would like to change careers from a different occupation into the world of teaching English to foreign learners - especially when facing competition from younger talent. I think it would be good for those who may be thinking about such a move, tips how to sell themselves, personal stories, etc.

[Glenski]

I made such a change (at 41).

I felt that even though my English skills were pretty good, I should still see what it was all about by getting a TESL certificate (no TEFL where I lived). Took 8 courses (some intensive, some at night) for about 6 months. It wasn't 100% applicable (nothing is), but it did give me a nice foundation in theory and some applications. I recommend doing something similar, especially if there is an inkling that one will end up doing TEFL long-term.

I also made the change in 1998. Not much in the way of Internet resources then, but I made the most of them. Spent 6 months scouring the (few) boards then, lurking at first and then contributing and collecting information. It was only after that time that I sent out my first application letter. I also therefore recommend doing a lot of research first. That means lurking without asking questions at first, if for no other reason than to see who appears to know what they are talking about. It also means reading the FAQs wherever you go.

Learn the market where you are going. It may not be as stable as you prefer, or at least it gives you the heads-up to know what you face.

Learn a foreign language, preferably one where you are headed. Any foreign language experience, though, will give you a rough idea of what your students are going to face.

Know something about the culture where you are going. I mean business culture as well as social. Leave your country's morals on hold and don't judge based solely on them.

Learn how to write a resume and cover letter (customized for each job). Learn and practice how to interview (including a demo lesson).

Brush up on your English grammar if you are weak in it.

Realize that the change in career will come with a lot of trepidation and doubt from your friends and family. Take it in stride, but don't automatically assume you are going to succeed. Have a backup plan, or at least look a couple of years down the road so you can say that if you back out of TEFL then, you know where you can go with a 2-year gap on your resume.

Never go to a country without enough money to leave it.

[MrCAPiTUL]

Good reply~

Can you give more details on how you positioned yourself with your CV?
And also, what companies did you target?
And, how did you apply, get through for an interview, etc.?

[Glenski]

How about your own experiences first?

Essentially, I did what I tell most people to do as a newcomer, and then adjusted my job hunting as I acquired experience.

[cormac]

I went to China 3 years ago in an attempt to change my career. Did Kinder teaching for a year, and found that I enjoyed the job, even if it was extremely high energy work. I'm 33.

I had a Diploma (3yr Associate Degree) in Business, and a few certifications in NLP, and the like. Deciding that this was going to be my future, I went home after wards and completed a Honors BA in Business, and got my Tefl (120 hrs). Still deciding if to complete my Celta (got halfway but had to postpone due to family issues). Cost is an issue, since there's very little work in Ireland atm, so I'm on welfare, and saving for the costs of relocation again.

A few thoughts.

1. Get your Tesol/Tefl first before going anywhere. Its not so much having certification for more pay or position, but simply it removes a lot of the stress you get from learning the job firsthand. In-Job Training is rarely all that useful, so a basic grounding is superb for giving confidence.

2. Don't assume your english is wonderful. I worked primarily in positions where use of clear and understandable english was a must. Most of my jobs had a grounding where psychology and the use of excellent language created better results. So I though my english was wonderful. Well, its not bad, but not wonderful. But MOST importantly I could not explain many constructs in English... Better to avoid telling students its right simply because it "sounds" better.

3. As said before, do your research, and don't get too hung up on one area of teaching unless you have more than the required qualifications. Be prepared to teach children, kids, teens, and adults. Be flexible. And consider each opportunity a great way to get experience for those future jobs which pay the best.

Changing careers has given me a new lease for life and fun. I don't know if the future will work out, with my Efl plans. Ultimately I'd like to get experience in China & Japan, and then after a decade or two return to Europe to teach in University. Maybe it will work, and maybe it won't. But I'm a lot happier than I have been for years, and frankly thats worth quite a bit.

[aviator1x1]

Here is what I am currently doing:

Working full time while taking classes part time at a California State University for a MA in English with a TESOL focus. I still have 1.5 years to go for a total of 3 years. Pretty good deal for CA residents and you also get a tax credit (American Hope Credit). I always encourage my friends and coworkers to take advantage of your local college tuition and tax breaks for education. Studying also helps keep my sanity while I am on the road.

Current Occupation: Pilot
Age: 40

My Japanese Background:
A half born in Japan, lived there for 10 years in Tokyo.
I went to an international school as a kid.
Now just a visitor every 3 to 5 years, visiting family on my wife's side.

Work Experience:
Coporate desk jobs at Japanese companies in the USA for most of my 20s, various flying jobs in my 30s. Yes, this will be a second career change for me. As for the aviation industry, there are thousands of furloughed pilots in the USA. No career progression or hiring for the next 2 to 3 years. Even our company dismissed 20 percent of our pilots with no recalls in sight. At the same time I am just burned out and miserable being always on the road.

The only teaching experience I had was about ten years ago as a flight instructor. I taught ab initio airline trainees for major Japanese, Taiwanese, and European airlines. No ESL teaching experience, thus I wanted to learn some of the theories behind linguistics and second language acquisition through a TESOL program.

My approach after obtaining my MA is to start at the bottom to gain at least 2 to 3 years experience. Small eikaiwa, ESP, or perhaps a private school. Maybe get my teaching credentials and experience for a position at an international school. I am still researching the job market, networking, and trying to organize my career plans. I may start teaching part time at first. If Japan's job market still looks bad in two years, I may look elsewhere.

Anyways, just my input.
Good day.

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

Sorry...really...but I can't help asking...

"A half born in Japan"...

And, the other half?

NCTBA (Sorry...really!)

[aviator1x1]

No prob, half white American on my dad's side.

[Bread]

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

Ahhh...

NCTBA

[Okonomiyaki]

....if you aren't too old. Japan is VERY age-ist, and they may assume you're set in your ways if you're over 30, and downright unemployable if you're over 45.

....if your former career has any bearing on your English teaching position. For example, if you plan to teach English to Japanese businessmen, and you have a background in business/office life in the West, you'll be far more attractive than the young kids fresh out of college and still wearing T-shirts and nose rings. Of course, it's better still if the old business is related to your new students' business: car making, computers, sales in the West, etc. or if you can offer office skills. (Check GaijinPot.com for non-teaching and semi-teaching office jobs in Japan, like working in a Japanese automobile office or a book publisher's office.)

....if your English skills are up to it. Frankly, I've seen some schools *koffkoffNOVAkoffkoff* who seemed to prefer the stupid over the brilliant, but these are the exception. I had a friend (slightly fat British male, 30, master's degree in early childhood education) who was turned down by Nova, while Nova instead hired an attractive female 24-year-old with an irrelevant degree and NO IDEA WHAT A VERB IS. Again--that's the exception, and it's somewhat understandable if one takes into account that English teachers in Japan are 17:1 male:female, so all schools are willing to lower their standards if it means getting some desperately needed gender diversity.
The point is, unless you're a sexy young gal applying to one of the chain schools with very low standards, expect that hiring WILL be based on your accent and ability to dissect grammar.

I, for example, am a computer nerd from New York City originally, and the school that hired me wouldn't commit until they'd spoken to me on the phone and heard a plain suburban "Baywatch" accent instead of a "Fonzie from Flatbush, 'ey, yo, fuhgeddaboudit" accent.

As a self-test for grammar, try reading through this forum. You'll inevitably see some grammar or spelling mistakes, and can test yourself by trying to explain to a hypothetical student what those mistakes are (in a general sense). For example, if I type "I am a safety driver. I never make traffic accidents", can you a) spot the mistake(s), b) describe how to fix it/them, and most importantly c) present the student with general rules so he can avoid the mistake(s) in future similar-but-not-identical sentences?

If not, pick up a copy of
a) Harcourt-Brace-Jovanovich's grammar book, AND
b) the Chicago Book of Style, or
c) the Associated Press style book.
Read'em, know'em, love'em.