Job Discussion Forums

Calimom78 · Joined: 22 Jul 2010 Posts: 7

I will be getting my TEFL certification in November through Oxford Seminars. I know, i know I should do CELTA, but it is not offered in my area and I am unable to do full time for one month.

Anyways, I am going to narrow my research down to three countries to research so once I complete my TEFL I can be prepared where to apply and what to expect.

So here is my scenario and you can suggest to me what countries you think would be best. I am in my early thirties and married. We have a 16 month old son who will be coming with us. My husband will start look for work a couple of months after we arrive wherever we are moving because he is going to take a small break. He works as a business analyst and has a masters in engineering as well. So I am confident he can find a decent job. My qualifications are that I have a BA in social work and I will have my TEFL. I also have many years of experience working with kids in daycares, afterschool programs, tutoring, ect.

I would LOVE to live in Europe or Australia, but I know these jobs are scarce. So my first choice would be Chech Republic (preferably Prague) My other two choices I don't know yet. I guess the main criteria need to be that it is a safe country with decent and affordable healthcare and daycare.

Any POSITIVE feedback would be appreciated. THANKS!

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

I don't think other people can tell you what country you should go to. You mentioned your scenario, and a few requirements such as safety, good day care, good health care. But you didn't state what exactly it is that you are looking for, why you want to go abroad. What is it you seek?

Another thing ... how much money do you need to make? Do you need to fully support yourself on earnings, or do you have savings? Do you need to save while working? You don't have to share that info, but it's an important consideration since all countries are not created equal in that regard.

Sounds like you are into Europe. Maybe Spain would work? I would avoid developing countries. The local ladies will do their level best to steal your husband. That pretty much leaves Europe, but not Eastern Europe. Or maybe the Middle East, but that's not most people's idea of a good time. Same for Korea. So you would stick to Spain, France, Italy, Germany, etc. Not sure which of those offer realistic job possibilities. Spain more so than the others, I believe.

Calimom78 · Joined: 22 Jul 2010 Posts: 7

We want to live abroad. My husband is from India ( I am american) and we are interested in living abroad to explore other cultures and also, once my son is school age we would like him to have a better education than he can get in America.

Obviously money is an issue. But not a huge one. I know what I will make will be minimal and barely enough to live on. But my husband should make enough to suppliment this once he starts working.

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

The Czech Rep is a European country. Americans can still get work permits there. HOWEVER, check the Czech forum below. The job market is tight. Prague is a hotbed of CELTA-equivalent courses - our Oxford cert puts you at a significant disadvantage on this job market.

What will your husband do? Non-teaching jobs will require a functional level of Czech. Does he speak the language?

Schools: do you want your son to go to local schools (in Czech?). If you expect to put him in international schools, that's wildly expensive.

Overall, newbie level salaries in the CR are subsistence level. Buying a pair of jeans takes planning and a bicycle is a major investment. You will not be able to support a family.

I'm afraid this is unrealistic from the start.

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

I think you would do better to have your husband search for a job first. He may come up with someone that pays pretty well and perhaps pays relocation expenses. Also, I believe Australia and the U.K., maybe New Zealand as well, offer points-based immigration schemes. Given his master's in a technical area, you guys may qualify for that. Of course, then you would still have to find jobs. But you wouldn't need to worry about work visas and all that.

PelemPelem · Joined: 16 Aug 2009 Posts: 18

Subject to immigration requirements and your qualifications, there are ESL jobs available in Australia, especially in teaching English and numeracy to migrants and refugees. Contracts were allocated to teaching organisations a couple of months ago and there was a lot of advertising which has died down a bit, but there are still jobs available.

http://www.seek.com.au/

http://www.seek.com.au/jobsearch/index.ascx?DateRange=31&catnation=3000&Keywords=tesol&searchfrom=quick

You do need (as a minimum) a Bachelor�s degree and a Certificate IV in Teaching English as a Second Language (I had a Cambridge CTEFL from the 1995, and a relevant teaching degree if you opt to teach numeracy). Due to new regulations you may also need a TAA004 (Certificate 4 in Training and Assessment) but many of the government employers provide this training to their permanent staff.

www.ntis.gov.au/Default.aspx?/trainingpackage/TAA04

MrMrLuckyKhan · Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 6:21 am Post subject:

Calimom78 · Joined: 22 Jul 2010 Posts: 7

Calimom78 · Joined: 22 Jul 2010 Posts: 7

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

I agree with the poster who said that a better plan would be for you husband to find work abroad and then you try to find language teaching work in the same place. I'm not entirely sure why you are confident that your husband will be able to find work, unless you are in an area where he speaks the local language to at least business level.

With a BA and a (sort of sub-par) newbie certificate, then you will be competing for entry level jobs with everyone else- in your situation, that is not ideal. If you don't need a lot of savings, then maybe a plan may be to go to a country where a lot of native teachers don't have a degree already- like maybe somewhere in South America. Some possible benefits: 1. Spanish is nowhere near as difficult to learn as something like Japanese, Chinese or Korean. 2. With a degree and newbie certificate, you would be a much more competitive candidate for the better jobs than in a country where that would make you the same as everyone else (and many of the entry level jobs at language schools and otherwise care far too much about things like age) 3. Your husband would be much more likely to be able to find a job. Your husband's qualifications aren't exactly uncommon in countries like Japan- except that most of the foreigners doing that kind of job are ALSO fluent in Japanese language and business culture. Honestly, if your husband showed up in Tokyo, he'd probably be steered towards teaching business English, as well as working as an ALT at a high school, unless his Japanese was really very good. Of course another possibility is to go to a country like Malaysia where the language of business is English, so your husband would be able to easily find work, and then you could look for teaching work. You would have to investigate what the requirements for teaching English are in Malaysia, though. They may require something more than an Oxford certificate.

I think people are surprised that you want to leave the US to find better education for your son. Many people who teach overseas RETURN to the US because of the education systems in other countries (unless they live somewhere in Scandinavia or Canada or something). Expensive international schools in your overseas location (wherever that ends up being) are always a possibility, though.

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

Since the OP specifically asked about the Czech Rep and Prague, I did try to tailor my reply to this country/city.

To re-iterate I think that it is unrealistic to expect a minimally-qualified teacher with an online cert to be very employable there, where 90% of the newbies have CELTA or equivalent, and the job market is tight.

And the husband would definitely need good Czech language skills to get a well-paid job. Further, there is some discrimination in the region against anyone who may appear to be 'roma.' I am not defending prejudice in any way, but it's a reality that an Indian in the Czech Rep may face discrimination.

I suggest that there must be better places to consider.

MrMrLuckyKhan · Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 1:35 pm Post subject:

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

To the OP: While I won't sit here and try to say that the American education system is without faults, to say it among the worst is hyperbole.
I can say that the American education system is in pretty good condition compared to nearly every country I've been to (a couple of western European countries and Canada notwithstanding).
Anyway, you have your opinion. So that's that.

Back to your original premise. I'm afraid I have to agree with most others on here when I say it'll be tough to find what you're looking for. However, if your husband is Indian, why not go to India? You could find a position with a call center and he can use his Master's. So he gets good work, you can get good work, and your child can get the education you desire...problem solved!