Job Discussion Forums

[wotsit2004]

hi

im 22 years old and have just graduated in psychology (BSc). im about to start a trinity certificate TESOL course. i have 2 months of teaching experience in cambodia. is it likely that i will be able to find a reasonable job teaching english as a foreign language? im worried that because of my age and lack of experience, i will struggle.

i know its hard to answer this sort of question but perhaps those with experience could give some insight.

thanks

[mimi_intheworld]

Short answer: yes. There are always London language schools on Tottenham Court Road & the like, but there are people with more experience who are willing to take those jobs...so your lack of experience will definitely be working against you.

That said, I have friends without any experience, even without a college degree, who managed spectacular interviews and landed jobs. Sometimes it's just a matter of luck. And all you can do is try.

[Gusss]

I dont think you will have any trouble at all though the "summer season" is winding up now so there will be less jobs. I know people who are employed with no tefl teaching English. However you will have to be willing to stay in one place long term - that matters more to many employers than exprience. Though to be honest its hard to get by on a TEFL teachers wage in the UK these days for many jobs - youd be better off going abroad or doing a masters or a PHD in psychology perhaps ?

[scot47]

Teaching EFL in the UK is a guaranteed path to poverty. Either go and do it where there is real money to be earned or look for a different career-path.

[Enchilada Potosina]

[scot47]

Get some training for a real job that pays a living wage. FORGET about EFL in London - or anywhere in Ukania.

[Valaki]

[mimi_intheworld]

Maybe (maybe) you could teach at an actual comprehensive school, rather than a language school. English would of course be the most reasonable given your degrees, but IF you can get a place, you might teach something vaguely related (citizenship, geography, drama, media studies, etc, etc, ad infinitum). Be warned, teacher pay - especially at first-year pay, which is what you would probably be offered - is almost as bad as TEFL pay. You might be able to actually pay rent on a qualified teacher salary, though.

A school that would hire you without an actual teacher qualification, though, is a school in dire straits. Which means it will (probably) be kind of horrible. It could be great, but you'd have to be able to stick out a couple of years in a dreadful post in order to get your quals and move on to someplace at least a step up from bog standard.

Outside the world of education, I don't know much. You might be able to turn your qualifications and experience into a career in the Third Sector (non-profit), but with the current trend in government and economics, that direction could be as dire as TEFLing in the UK.

[scot47]

I recommend bus driving as a fulfilling vocation.

[Valaki]

I've heard that light industrial work pays well too.