Job Discussion Forums

Kevin in SF · Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 8

Lets' say, hypothetically:

1. That I'm a US male, age 50, with a BA in English and no teaching experience.

Where should I start looking for work, if my goal is to use teaching ESL as part of a long-term strategy to get out of the US and stay out?

My tenetive plan is to get work in Beijing first, for at least a year, then maybe Ho Chi Minh City for a comparable period of time, and then go for South America.

So, tell me what kind of fool I am with this.

Thanks,

Kevin in SF

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

You're not a fool. While lots of people get into EFL in their 20s, it certainly doesn't mean that the field is not open to older newbies.

If you want to make this a long-term job/career, I suggest getting, at the very least, a TEFL certificate. Yes, there are countries/schools that don't require one, and if you country-hop in those places you can probably keep yourself occupied for at least a few years, but a basic certificate really is the industry standard for minimum qualifications.

d

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

There are a decent number of countries you could go and work in right now, especially as your undergrad is in English: China, Thailand, Cambodia, Korea and Japan to name a few. In addition there are places like Turkey where a lot of people work illegally. All the jobs I've seen advertised in Vietnam require a TEFL certificate, and I've heard they are getting quite a bit stricter there about teaching visas, so you might want to forget about there for now.

The previous poster is definitely right; you should get a TEFL certificate, and none of those mickey-mouse online/weekend ones that most employers dismiss automatically. Ideally, get a CELTA or Trinity TESOL as they are the most widely recognised.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Kevin in SF · Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 8

Thanks very much to all three of you for the feedback. I definitely want to get a CELTA certificate, but at this point it's going to be a struggle to come up with the airfair and survival funds to tide me over until I begin working wherever.

For China it appears -- again, perhaps based on my own ignorance here -- to be fairly standard to find work via the internet before departing the US. How about Thailand and Cambodia? Do people think that applies to both to Thailand and Cambodia as well?

And if you were to choose four cities in South America that you felt were the easiest for someone as marginally qualified as me, which four cities would they be?

I don't want to sound more down in the mouth about this than I really am; as they say, optimism is a "force multiplier." But I want to be realistic as well.

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

When you say get out and stay out (of the U.S.), how literally do you mean it? If you plan on finishing things up all the way through the retirement and pushing-up-daisies stages, you're going to need to be someplace where you can get permanent residency. There are a host of other issues that come with trying to retire abroad, including health care, saving enough money, and not having any relatives nearby, but that's another thread.

Mainland China would be a very viable place for you to get started, but you won't be getting permanent residency. Hong Kong is the opposite: Permanent residency is doable if you work there for seven years, but the barriers to entry are greater. Others can give you more information, but I believe a teaching certificate, like you would use to teach in U.S. public schools, is recommended.

I don't know much about Thailand, but I think it does have some kind of retirement visa, so you might be OK there. I know nothing about South America.

Kevin in SF · Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 8

I'm not ready to retire yet -- I'd have to get a job first! Brrrrrr! As a life-long lazy bohemian, that's the final frontier around here.

I'm definitely not thinking of spending the rest of my life in the PRC. At this point, my goals are more like, China, then perhaps somewhere else is SE Asia, then forward to Buenos Aires. Really, I want to live in Buenos Aires, but BA sounds like a mighty daunting place to try to have a good life while teaching ESL under the very best of circumstances.

Also, short of a CELTA course, which always seems to average out at around $2500 (USD) can more knowledgeable people recommend some kind of intro. course so that I can give the impression of knowing what I'm doing the first time I find myself standing in front of a class of eager learners?

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

The CELTA (or equivalent) is an intro course. Serious career teachers move on to higher qualifications--"more knowledgeable" people will likely say the same thing.

Want a quickie, or a cheaper alternative? Sure, they are out there, and some schools will still hire you. But you get what you pay for.

d

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

khmerhit · Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 12:44 am Post subject:

I did the Celta after teaching in CAMBODIA, which was ass about tit as they say, and it was expensive. You might consider doing it in another country than Beatland San Francisco--such as Egypt or Vietnam where it cost a lot less. Good luck!!

Kevin in SF · Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 8

How expensive is expensive in Cambodia? Again, its about $2500 in SF and only a little less than that in Buenos Aires.

s10czar · Joined: 20 Feb 2010 Posts: 60

I'll be doing the CELTA in Vietnam next month and the cost is $1400 if you register early.

Like you I'm a bit older than the usual newbie. My understanding is work can be found in SE Asia for us as long as we can get certified. From what I've read I'd say Korea is no-go based on all the kids looking for work there.

It's also my understanding that if you marry a local (my plan) you can get permanent residency.

"force-multiplier" -are you ex-military?