Job Discussion Forums

Tamzi-Kins · Joined: 03 Jan 2011 Posts: 3 Location: South Africa

Hi there

Im a 3d year education student who is looking to teach overseas next year and Im wondering if there is any advice one would recomend to somebody on where to look and what opportunities to go for?

I also wanted to enquire about If I have my teaching degree would I still need to do a TEFL course? Would it be required of me to have done the course or would it be more beneficial?

If there is anyone with advice I would really appreciate it..
Thank you
Tamz

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

A very great deal depends where you think you want to go.

The very general answer is that, the more desirable the location, the more qualifications you will need to get started.

For EFL teaching, certification is usually required in the better locations. Language teaching and learning has some parallels with general education, but it's not at all an exact match - the approaches and methods used for language are not necessarily at all the same as those applied in general education.

International schools are an option for certified teachers, but you usually have to have two years of experience in your home country before applying, and openings are not numerous in most places.

Assuming that you are South African and do not have a passport from the UK or another EU member country, most of the EU will be off limits legally, regardless of quals - this may help you to narrow your options a bit.

tttompatz · Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 11:54 pm Post subject: Re: Advice please ??

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

Tamzi-Kins · Joined: 03 Jan 2011 Posts: 3 Location: South Africa

Thanks for all the advice Smile

I am a EU passport holder if that helps at all? At this moment in time I really am wanting to go over and travel while I am over there. I dont have any specific requirements about where to go. Would however prefer it to be safe to travel and live there. Just trying to find out as much as I can so that by the end of the year I feel enlightened and am able to make an educated decision on where to go and where to apply. Im sure that since I am directly out of varisty without experience that it would be more difficult.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

China, Korea and Mexico are good places for newbies to start. They usually arrange flights, visas, and housing.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 4:44 pm Post subject:

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Isla Guapa · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 6:12 pm Post subject:

mimi_intheworld · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 167 Location: UAE

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

No, mimi, I'd totally agree that your quals definitely trump a CELTA. But I am quite sure from being around since 1998 that most newbies don't have quals like yours.

I'll expand a bit, though. Content teachers who have been teaching other subjects in English to native speakers don't normally know much about the approaches and methods used to teach language to non-native speakers. It really is a different animal (I also have a BEd). On basic training courses, teachers with experience in other fields often struggle with the gear-shifts required to teach language - and a CELTA or other qualification really does make a huge difference in both their marketability in the TEFL/TESL field - and in their performance once they land a job.

Further, I should note that this is for teachers shifting fields to language teaching. For those who want to teach their core subject in an international school, obviously a TEFL cert is not needed.

mimi_intheworld · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 167 Location: UAE

Ah. Thanks, spiral, for clarifying. I have been growing increasingly frustrated by what I saw as somewhat misleading advice, conveniently forgetting that not all teachers intending to go into TEFL as a career were English or other language teachers in their home country. I appreciate your taking the time to further explain. Or explain further. Whatever.

Cheers.

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

No sweat. I'm really not anti-newbies to the field, whether the prospective newb has zero related experience or quals like yours.

As someone who's worked as a teacher trainer on and off over the years, I'm generally a strong believer in training, even for those who are experienced in teaching other subjects. Further, I've spent the past three years working on an in-service professionalisation project; working with practicing teachers of modern languages.

I've seen quite a few teachers of other subjects struggle to teach non-native speakers a language (impacting the atmosphere in their classrooms in very negative ways in the process).

I recall one retired third-grade teacher who was hired to teach businesspeople English, with sadly predictable results (she treated them like third graders). And an MA English holder who knew English grammar (and Olde English) inside-out, but was unable to convey it in a positive way to students (they called her the Grammar Nazi and dreaded landing in her class). Or the well-meant British history instructor who made each class a lesson in pantomime as he tried desperately to demonstrate the linguistic concepts his students needed through body language.

Those many teachers (even practicing language teachers) who are tightly wedded to traditional (lecturing) teaching methods - making an effort to call on each student once in the course of a class is a big step for them. Just not that effective in a speaking/listening course, when 90% of the classes focus on listening only.

Well, I've obviously got too much time on my hands this morning, and I'll give it a break. It's all pretty self-evident in any case!

Thanks for your patience, mimi - the standard advice definitely doesn't necessarily apply to everyone, and your quals and experience are - again- outside the common range. For those like you who are already well into the field, different standards should and do apply!

Tamzi-Kins · Joined: 03 Jan 2011 Posts: 3 Location: South Africa

Hi..
Ive been reading your replies between mimi and spiral and found it really interesting..
I am a newbie with no experience behind me other than my b.ed degree and the practicals we do in the course. I want to do my TEFL too in order for me to be more knowledgeable about teaching to foreign language speakers. I also do have an EU passport to my name and am looking on the forum boards at jobs that are arising. My main concern at the moment is to be up to date with how one goes about applying and which jobs one should preferably look at in order to make sure its certified and safe. I also understand that I am in no way as qualified or experienced as others but am I hoping for the best.