Job Discussion Forums

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

[johntpartee]

You can have a felony expunged from your record by petitioning the state in which your conviction occurred; however, "felonies are forever" in that the conviction will be accessible to anyone willing to look hard enough to find it. Having the conviction set aside (pardon/ clemency) is USUALLY enough for most employers. The OP's conviction was not violent (I'm assuming), therefore most Asian countries will probably allow him entry.

[krissock]

Thanks so much for the advice folks. I really do appreciate it and I will take it all into consideration.

I committed a federal offense (wire fraud). It can only be expunged by order of the President of the United States, and that's just not going to happen.

I have been able to get tourist visas to visit China even though my record is known, though I doubt it's the same as acquiring a work visa.

I am going to look at Central and South America, China and possibly Cambodia.

I've heard conflicting reports on Cambodia, but the general census seems to be that if you show up, you can find work... with or without certification. Any concrete information on that?

To the person who asked me about university teaching methods: Yes, it's largely what I expected, but I guess I was fooled by all the talk that colleges in the US offer an entirely different environment of "intellectual freedom," etc. In my experience, it's more like a certification factory where all the worst aspects of high school and society at large are magnified.

[zandos]

I am in the same boat as you, I commited fraud almost 2 years ago and have just been released from prison in the uk after a 5 month sentence, I am not permitted to leave the country until Oct 2011 but plan on doing the full distance learning tefl course and volunteer to teach in my area.

The one good thing knowing I can't leave the UK for 14/15 months is that it gives me plenty of time to research and also if I get the chance then I will consider doing a degree by distance learning, I have a HND which is the equivelent of 1/2 a degree and know I can top that up to a degree but I will have to look into that as I completed it 10 years ago.

Anyway, good luck in getting work, I keep my fingers crossed for you

[johnslat]

Dear krissock,

"I guess I was fooled by all the talk that colleges in the US offer an entirely different environment of "intellectual freedom," etc. In my experience, it's more like a certification factory where all the worst aspects of high school and society at large are magnified."

Ah, but there's the rub - in your experience. In my experience, that hasn't been the case at all.

So, if we were both to generalize based on our (likely) limited experience, I suppose we'd both be guilty of hasty generalization.

Regards,
John

[MrMrLuckyKhan]

[MrMrLuckyKhan]

double posted, and don't seem to be able to delete it..... sorry.... feel free to help me delete THIS one mods.....

[MrMrLuckyKhan]

[MrMrLuckyKhan]

[MrMrLuckyKhan]

I forgot to add.....

Your criminal record will be of no concern to EFL schools here in Cambodia. Even if they did a background check they wouldn't be looking for white collared crimes.....

[Big Poppa Pump]

iirc Federal crimes don't show up on local police background checks. Try getting a city or state check and see what shows up?

Personally, as a school manager, I'd be hesitant to employ you with your lack of qualifications and criminal record. However, you are in luck, chances are my school owner would take one look at your photo and scream, "Handsome boy," and demand that I get busy processing your visa documents that same day. We have a full staff this semester, sorry
about that.

My suggestion to you is to not make too much light of your past history with the law. No one really needs to know about it and it won't do much for improving your chances of getting a job and keeping a job should you start talking about it once you start work.

Imagine a language school as a leaky sieve of gossip. Most native language teachers yap away constantly about their coworkers in their native language. All it will take is you mentioning it in passing that you spent time in jail before the entire office knows and within 3 minutes after that every single student in the school will know.

For example, embarrassing moment for me, I found a mouse in a trash can that couldn't climb out. I used a pair of chopsticks to fish him out and I started carrying it to the front door to give it the heave ho. Halfway there the thing got loose and bit me. I, a bit startled, gave the entire front desk staff my grand performance titled, "Foreign Teacher dances like a spazzed out chicken whilst shrieking about a killer mouse as he flails about with a pair of chopsticks trying to catch the thing again."

Within ten minutes of the incident at least half of the native teachers were howling with laughter and regaling each other with the juicy details of the incident in their native language. Later on that weekend a couple high level students asked me how my hand was doing.

Humorous yes, but a good case in point that you'll be able to contain a secret like doing time in the durance vile, no.

What I suggest doing is first getting a decent TEFL certification. Given your felony record you probably won't be able to apply for student loans. This puts a serious crimp in you getting a Bachelor's degree. However, you can consider finding a decently priced online program that will allow you to work abroad in a language school and do your coursework at the same time.

I don't know much about this place, but it seems like it is a brick and mortar school with a strong online component: Fort Hays State University. Big selling points, it is accredited and cheap.

Last I heard China isn't requesting background checks either.

[kotoko]

Nothing like a whitey to liven up the workplace

[khmerhit]

Cambodia seems to have become more organized since the mid-90s when only the brave (read uncertified) ventured in. However, the demand still far outstrips supply, so an enterprising native speaker is sure to find a niche there. You might ask in the classroom section of Khmer440, although there is no guarantee they will help you; it really is the kind of place where you have to be there to make it happen. Good luck. v interesting thread! Paulo Freire rocks!








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[Chancellor]

[Chancellor]