Job Discussion Forums

[Dragnic_Daelin]

Hey,

This might seem like a stupid question but what's stopping people who do the TEFL gig, to go:

To a country
Teach there for 2 years (+/-) whilst exploring the country you�re in all you can
Then leave for another country
Rinse and repeat?

I mean you'll never end up with major bucks, but what is that compared to having 1st hand world experience in so many different cultures and countries? And to be frank I am personally going over to China and Russia for pure love of the culture ect.

Granted my options won�t be spectacular with not having a degree, but experience should account for something, especially if it�s 100% TEFL experience??

Any comments or am I just being disillusion?

[smithrn1983]

I've known a few teachers who were doing exactly what you described. As for what's stopping other teachers from doing the same, it's a number of things.

It is possible to find decent jobs with decent pay in many countries, and if you enjoy living there, why not stay?

A number of teachers get married and have children while overseas.

Experience in some countries does not count in others, and moving to another country can put you back on the bottom rung of the ladder.

In your particular situation, getting a degree is the best thing you can do. Not having it will exclude you from getting a visa in many countries. In others, schools will want to see it on your resume. There are exceptions, of course, but in my experience, significant business experience is what employers want to see if you don't have a degree.

[smithrn1983]

Also get a reputable tefl certificate.

[Zero]

[nickpellatt]

That idea is more akin to my plan than the idea of going to one country, staying there, working up the ladder and marrying a local. There is no reason why you cant do it, as long as you accept the limitations you have already acknowledged.

[bulgogiboy]

[denise]

That's sort of what I've done over the past 12ish years. (Damn, I feel old all of a sudden!) 2 years in Europe, 2 years in Japan, a year and a half in South America, 4 years in Oman... Plus 2 years back in the US to get an MA, or some of those jobs wouldn't have been possible.

As others have mentioned, not having a degree will be a big hurdle for you to overcome, as entire countries will be off-limits, and in countries that don't require them you will be competing against job-seekers who have degrees and experience.

And if you're American, much if Europe is off-limits, too.

You can do it indefinitely, in certain countries, as long as you're OK with doing the same ol' entry level jobs. Eventually, though, employers might wonder why you move around so much.

d

[Dragnic_Daelin]

I acknowledge that no degree = Limited options in terms where I'd be able to go, but does real world teaching experience not count for much (in conjunction with a CELTA)?

Granted different countries, different approaches and struggles, but that doesn't subtract from the fact that you (hopefully) broke those barriers in the previous country- thus making the next transition ever so slightly easier.

But then again I'm not doing this for money - would've ventured to Korea then. Nor for the women lol, it's for an experience. To invest in yourself and in the students innit? And yes there's nothing stopping you from settling if one loves a place enough (or women as pointed out) . There are language barriers in my own country (South Africa has 11 official) and after living in a village in Nepal for a few weeks where they only know phrases at most. Nor am I going for the city lights as I'd prefer a more country teaching environments

I'm a buyer in my own country now for 3 odd years having currently just reached national level (again no degree). Won't that count for something?

Once again let me know whether I'm painting castles in the sky Criticism is one of the best learning curves after all[/quote]

[tttompatz]

[naturegirl321]

I had the same plan when I started years ago. Nothing ever goes according to plan. I met a guy 6 months into my second country and stayed for 6 years. NOw back in Asia, I'm hoping to stay here for a while and have kids. YOu want stability and to move up the TEFL ladder. Constantly changing countries often means that you start at the bottom of the ladder again.

[bulgogiboy]

[naturegirl321]

[Zero]

[smithrn1983]

[bulgogiboy]