Job Discussion Forums

gcruz · Joined: 30 Sep 2010 Posts: 8 Location: Knoxville

Hellos everyone I'm currently a college student majoring in Linguistics and I need help with figuring out my plans for the future.

I want to become an TEFL teacher out of the country first to gain some experience by the time I come back to the states so I can become an ESL teacher. I already speak Spanish fluently and right now I am studying Chinese but it is really hard to master with the characters but with a little hard work I think I can learn it. My question is what other languages should be vital to learn? I am thinking of Portuguese and French.

Is Portugal a nice place to work? I've seen that it is a little bit easier for non-EU passport holders and they pay really well but I am not too sure does anyone know? also When I come back to the states I really want to become an ESL teacher somewhere in the east side such as NYC (preferbly Washington Heights),NJ,Boston,Philly or somewhere in the west like Seattle or California. Am I thnking on the right track?

Sorry for so much info.. Its just Im worried!

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

If you want to work in the US, look into MAs (after teaching for a year or two first, to make sure that you like it). You'll be much better off--you'll still have a hard time finding full-time, salaried work, but you'll be eligible for many more jobs.

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

s Portugal a nice place to work? I've seen that it is a little bit easier for non-EU passport holders and they pay really well

This info's outdated - Portugal is not at all easy for a non-EU passport holder and their economy is in the toilet. Pay is barely enough to live on, if you can 1. go there legally 2. find a job.

gcruz · Joined: 30 Sep 2010 Posts: 8 Location: Knoxville

gcruz · Joined: 30 Sep 2010 Posts: 8 Location: Knoxville

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

Probably not Europe.

What Denise meant about the MA is that the job market in the States is very tight and even with experience and advanced quals it's difficult to land real full-time contracts.

TeresaLopez · Joined: 18 Apr 2010 Posts: 601 Location: Mexico City

Except you overlooked one very important thing - the OP already speaks Spanish, and there are lots of jobs teaching ESL in Bi-lingual programs all over the country, at the elementary/middle school level, but you need to be a certified teacher to do that. I got begging letters for two years after I left a public school system to return because they cannot find enough bi-lingual Spanish teachers. I have even seen some school systems recruiting here in Mexico for bi-lingual teachers. So that might be something else for the OP to consider. Also, if you want to teach in public school systems you might price yourself out of some markets if you get a doctorate. Pay scales are dictated by your education, and some schools won�t hire you because they don�t want to pay more. Seems counter-intuitive, doesn�t it?

TeresaLopez · Joined: 18 Apr 2010 Posts: 601 Location: Mexico City

Except you overlooked one very important thing - the OP already speaks Spanish, and there are lots of jobs teaching ESL in Bi-lingual programs all over the country, at the elementary/middle school level, but you need to be a certified teacher to do that. I got begging letters for two years after I left a public school system to return because they cannot find enough bi-lingual Spanish teachers. I have even seen some school systems recruiting here in Mexico for bi-lingual teachers. So that might be something else for the OP to consider. Also, if you want to teach in public school systems you might price yourself out of some markets if you get a doctorate. Pay scales are dictated by your education, and some schools won�t hire you because they don�t want to pay more. Seems counter-intuitive, doesn�t it?