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capnjasbo
Joined: 24 Dec 2010
Posts: 5
Location: Colorado
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 Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 8:46 pm Post subject: !?Advice for ESL Teacher VIRGIN/N00B PLZ&THX |
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I was going through some of the other posts on this forum and it seems they are specific to the poster's life. For example, the person wanting to get out of China. Most of the threads tend to end in discussions of the corruptness of the governments.
But since I'm a n00b and need some real basic advice, I figured I'd just post my own topic. So, forgive me if some of my questions have already been answered. In that case, just send me a link to the other topics where it is answered. Please & thank you! :>
I am a paraprofessional teacher's assistant at an elementary with a heavy Spanish speaking population. I absolutely love it and it comes natural bla bla bla. BUT I only have 1 year in college so I don't qualify for TEFL because
"In order to stand eligible as a TESOL trainee, all you need to be is above the age of 21, a native English speaker with a degree as qualification."
Before I sign up for CELTA I just wanted some advice on what program is the best for an ESL virgin and how much money I should worry about saving before I leave. I'm hoping to leave this upcoming August, but might only have enough money for the program itself.
Any suggestions on how much money I should save, where in Thailand I should teach, etc?
Thank you in advance for any replies which I'm sure are very repetitive for all you ESL veterans. |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 11:44 pm Post subject: Re: !?Advice for ESL Teacher VIRGIN/N00B PLZ&THX |
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| capnjasbo wrote: |
I was going through some of the other posts on this forum and it seems they are specific to the poster's life. For example, the person wanting to get out of China. Most of the threads tend to end in discussions of the corruptness of the governments.
But since I'm a n00b and need some real basic advice, I figured I'd just post my own topic. So, forgive me if some of my questions have already been answered. In that case, just send me a link to the other topics where it is answered. Please & thank you! :>
I am a paraprofessional teacher's assistant at an elementary with a heavy Spanish speaking population. I absolutely love it and it comes natural bla bla bla. BUT I only have 1 year in college so I don't qualify for TEFL because
"In order to stand eligible as a TESOL trainee, all you need to be is above the age of 21, a native English speaker with a degree as qualification."
Before I sign up for CELTA I just wanted some advice on what program is the best for an ESL virgin and how much money I should worry about saving before I leave. I'm hoping to leave this upcoming August, but might only have enough money for the program itself.
Any suggestions on how much money I should save, where in Thailand I should teach, etc?
Thank you in advance for any replies which I'm sure are very repetitive for all you ESL veterans. |
You will need $2000 for your CELTA course.
You should have another $2000 to cover you through till you find a job and get paid (could take a while for a newbie with no degree!).
You will need another $1000 for airfare from CO to Thailand.
Where to teach is a non-issue. Without a degree you will be virtually limited to a job in a rural location where they can't get someone with a degree and they are able to get around the requirement for a degree in order to get you a work permit and "B" visa.
Other options would be to get your CELTA in Thailand and then look to places like Indonesia where a degree is not a requirement for the work permit/work visa. Costs will be about the same.
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capnjasbo
Joined: 24 Dec 2010
Posts: 5
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 11:52 pm Post subject: |
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WOW!
That's a lot more than I expected. I had heard of CELTA courses that included job placement and websites that give students/teachers mad discounts.
Also, I am a minimalist and most likely will be able to stay with a friend in Thailand. If nothing else, I was planning on staying on a WWOOF farm until I found a job.
With all things considered and after I find discounts do you think I could get by with saving $3,000?
Thanks for the feedback btw! :> |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 1:16 am Post subject: |
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| capnjasbo wrote: |
WOW!
That's a lot more than I expected. I had heard of CELTA courses that included job placement and websites that give students/teachers mad discounts.
Also, I am a minimalist and most likely will be able to stay with a friend in Thailand. If nothing else, I was planning on staying on a WWOOF farm until I found a job.
With all things considered and after I find discounts do you think I could get by with saving $3,000?
Thanks for the feedback btw! :> |
Do you perhaps mean a TESOL/TESL certification and not CELTA? I don't think the CELTA training centers offer confirmed job placements. There are still no guarantees of legal employment (until you get your degree).
With no degree you will realistically be looking at 1 month to do your CELTA, another 1-2 months AFTER you get your CELTA and BEFORE you get a job and another month before you get paid (so 3-4 months AFTER you land in BKK before you see a paycheck).
Add in the costs of your visa (b2000), extensions (b2000 every time to walk into the immigration office), border run (b2000-3000) and work permit (after you find an employer willing to go through the hoops to sponsor you without a degree). All in, up to $500 all in for the combined visa related costs over several months.
So you are looking at $2000 for the CELTA, $2000 for rent, food, apartment deposit, utilities, visa costs. etc, PLUS airfare.
Even as a minimalist BUT without the certainty of legal employment (since you are sans degree) any less is asking for trouble to jump out and bite you in the ass.
Options:
Do your TESOL cert at home while you are still working or (if you are unemployed already) head for Mexico and get work (easier to get to, cheaper since you are closer to home and no degree is required). It seems you also have experience working with Hispanic students and classroom time as a TA so you have a leg up rather than a foot in a hole.
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capnjasbo
Joined: 24 Dec 2010
Posts: 5
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 2:14 am Post subject: |
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Hmmmmm.
I just emailed TESOL, CELTA, and WWOOF about details and options. My travel plans for Thailand aren't set in stone, but are definitely drying concrete. Just a matter of when.
I love working with Asian students best because of their hard working & humble cultural influences. Plus, I love travel and want to go over seas for sure. I'm not completely opposed to Mexico but the intensity of the drug cartels definitely deter me.
Maybe, I'll look into a work exchange program somewhere else to feed my travel bug until I have a secure amount of money to make the move to Thailand. Oh, and I have a job until May so maybe I'll be able to save $5,000 by August anyway.
In the meantime, I'm gonna' leave this thread open for ANY & ALL advice while I continue doing research. I'll keep you posted(no pun intended har-dee-har).
Thanks again & if you think of anything else please don't hesitate to post. |
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sg259904
Joined: 13 Nov 2010
Posts: 4
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 2:50 am Post subject: |
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Hey! I don't know if this TEFL course may help you out, but as far as I can tell, the only requirements are English-speaking & 18+ years.
www.islandtefl.com
I am taking the course @ Koh Phangan starting January 24th, 2011. I do have my BA and some teaching experience, but if there are still vacancies I don't think you should have a problem enrolling in the course.
Best of luck!!
I didn't see where you were from, but tickets from USA to Thailand are $700-$1000, the big cities and west coast are cheapest.[/url] |
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NigerianWhisper
Joined: 21 Mar 2009
Posts: 176
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| Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 7:53 pm Post subject: |
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| capnjasbo wrote: |
I love working with Asian students best because of their hard working & humble cultural influences. |
Errrrrrrrrr, are you sure it is Thailand you are considering? |
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TeresaLopez
Joined: 18 Apr 2010
Posts: 601
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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| capnjasbo wrote: |
I'm not completely opposed to Mexico but the intensity of the drug cartels definitely deter me.
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Mexico is a big country, there are regions that are quite dangerous, regions that see spotty drug activity, much like many big cities in the US, and regions that have virtually no drug cartel presence at all. |
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capnjasbo
Joined: 24 Dec 2010
Posts: 5
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 6:46 am Post subject: |
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http://www.teflonline.net/
On the online course it doesn't list any requirements of college degree and it is a fraction of the price of any other course. Is it respectable? I see no reason not to do this course.
What do you think??
P.S.
I understand that is a blanket statement of Mexico and Asian culture but both are based on multiple experiences + first hand accounts of Mexican/Asian-Americans. But I do understand that it's never 100% and many cultures are drastically different.
P.P.S. Thanks again for anybody takin' the time to post. |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 8:42 am Post subject: |
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| capnjasbo wrote: |
http://www.teflonline.net/
On the online course it doesn't list any requirements of college degree and it is a fraction of the price of any other course. Is it respectable? I see no reason not to do this course.
What do you think??
P.S.
I understand that is a blanket statement of Mexico and Asian culture but both are based on multiple experiences + first hand accounts of Mexican/Asian-Americans. But I do understand that it's never 100% and many cultures are drastically different.
P.P.S. Thanks again for anybody takin' the time to post. |
Your on-line cert won't be worth the paper it is printed on when you start looking for a job in most countries (including most of Asia).
Without your degree and/or without a RECOGNIZED TESOL cert you will doom yourself to illegal, part-time work at best.
Get one or the other (recognized TESOL cert (Trinity, SIT, CELTA (or other course with 120 hours AND observed practicum))) OR a bachelors degree.
The days of the backpacker/English teacher are fast becoming a long past dream.
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capnjasbo
Joined: 24 Dec 2010
Posts: 5
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 2:11 am Post subject: |
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| tttompatz wrote: |
Without your degree and/or without a RECOGNIZED TESOL cert you will doom yourself to illegal, part-time work at best.
Get one or the other (recognized TESOL cert (Trinity, SIT, CELTA (or other course with 120 hours AND observed practicum))) OR a bachelors degree.
The days of the backpacker/English teacher are fast becoming a long past dream.
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I gotcha'
I am for sure gonna' get a certificate of some sort but that onlinetefl course was $200 or sumthing versus any other TESOL, CELTA, etc. which are $1,000 ish. Cheap price makes me question it's validity. That's what I was inquiring you wise traveler's about.
Thnx
~Mike |
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