Job Discussion Forums

[Ginawantstotravel]

Hi

I've been thinking of teaching abroad since I completed my degree last year and I've just upped my research a notch as I'm now certain it's something I want to do. I'm not sure I want to pursue a career in TEFL but I'd like to see how teaching goes and I think some time abroad, living within a different culture and pushing my boundaries would be a really good experience for me. My problem is that I feel totally overwhelmed by the number of different options.

Initially I set my heart on doing the Trinity CertTesol at International House in Bristol. This is by far my most expensive option but I felt that, as well as giving myself the best chance of finding work, I want to be as prepared as possible when I walk into the classroom!

I then thought it would be sensible to look at job adverts online to see what employers are actually asking for. I'm not totally decided on where I want to go but one of the main contenders is China so I focused on jobs over there. I was gutted to find that almost all of them were asking for 2 years teaching experience. It now seemed that, even with a well-respected TEFL certificate I would be unlikely to find work with no teaching experience whatsoever.

By chance, a friend sent me a link to 'TEFL heaven' who offer internships in Thailand. They provide you with a 4 week classroom course in Thailand before placing you in a 5-month teaching position. This definitely seems like the easiest option and, given that I'm not necessarily going to pursue TEFL as a career, maybe it makes the most sense. I also wonder if even 5 months teaching experience might improve my chances of getting another job if I choose to carry on.

But I can't see any threads on here about internships and I don't know whether I can trust this type of scheme. I don't know what the training will be like, whether I'll get any choice in where I work afterwards, what the working conditions will be like, etc.

Does anyone have any experience of these types of programs? And, from what I've said, do you think an internship would be the best way to approach it or am I wrong to think you need years of teaching experience to get a job? I want to do the right thing by the students I teach so I don't want to cut corners but at the same time I barely have the means to pay for the Trinity course and it doesn't look like there are any guarantees of a job at the end of it anyway!

I'd really appreciate advice from someone with experience in this field.

Thanks!

Gina

[Glenski]

You do not need "years of experience" to get a teaching job overseas. I'd say skip the idea of an internship. Go for real FT work. Most entry level jobs don't require any experience at all.

Now, what country(ies) were you interested in? Just China? If so, go to the China forum.

[tttompatz]

With a degree and the Trinity cert you will EASILY find a position in China.
You certainly meet the requirements for a work visa and the necessary permits. This is also true for Thailand.

They may ask for 2 years of experience but the truth be told, most will accept anyone with a degree, a pulse and a passport from an English speaking country.

Skip the idea of an internship. If you want a job in china, keep looking and cast a wider net. Job adverts will be picking up soon for the fall term.

If you are also considering Thailand then from now through April is a great time to be looking. Job adverts will be picking up real soon (the term is ending now).

The period from Dec-Feb is usually the quietest time for job adverts and March-May tends to be much busier.

.

[naturegirl321]

[Puffy]

"...With a degree and the Trinity cert you will EASILY find a position in China.
You certainly meet the requirements for a work visa and the necessary permits. ..."

With whatever respect is due to ttompatz, I wonder if he has read the China forum recently?

ie: Z-visa, RP denied because of the lack of 2 years teaching experience

While I agree with his opinion about simply being alive = job somewhere in China, but, the PSB here seems to becoming stricter, at least in the more favorable locations.

[tttompatz]

[naturegirl321]

[nickpellatt]

Definitely do the Trinity or CELTA ahead of the Thailand type program IMO. The Trinity or CELTA will be recognised elsewhere, and the Thailand one might not be, and it would kinda suck if you had to do a recognised course to get employed in some regions later in your teaching career.

You mention Bristol, and I dont know if thats where you live, but its worth checking other places that offer courses. I know my local newspaper in Eastbourne ran an article for the local college and their CELTA grads who had some kind of government contribution towards cost. My local college offers the course part-time too, which may help!

You can also pick up experience with local charities who offer language classes to empower immigrants and equip them with language skills. You could also consider teaching English online with people like TutorABC as a resume builder.

Finally, China. Thats where I have done most of my EFL work, and as mentioned, degree+CELTA/Trinity should certainly be enough to find work. However, there is also a 2 years experience rule, and it would appear from forum posts that some places are starting to enforce that. I actually experienced similar myself in being turned down for work with Wall Street English in Shenzhen for this reason. (I did my degree via distance learning, and although I have more than 2 years experience, it isnt post-graduate!)

My impression and feeling about this is that you may find it hard to secure work with top tier Universities and big name training schools in major cities, but I am pretty sure 100s of places in the rest of China would be open to you. So dont give up!

[Ginawantstotravel]

Hi Everyone

Thank you so much for taking the time and trouble to reply to my post. Your advice and opinions have been really useful and I'm still trying to work it all over in my head.

One thing I would like to ask though is: many of you dismissed the idea of an internship immediately, why is this? Do they have a bad reputation?

I completely see nickpellatt's point about having to re-train later if I want to find work elsewhere but I'm really not sure at this stage if this is a future career for me or a one-time experience.

I really do take on board all of your comments but I think I was secretly hoping someone would have a glowing report of doing (or working with someone that has done) an internship and it would give me a seal of approval to go ahead. My biggest concern about the Trinity course is that it's a huge investment, both of time and money, and I may find that TEFL is just not for me. Whilst a reputable qualification will undoubtedly look good on my CV, it won't give me much of an edge if I later decide to do something completely different!

I hope I don't offend anyone here, I don't want to come across as a tourist in the TEFL world. It's just that this is not a trifling amount of money for me: it means getting a second job and living like a pauper for a long stretch and, to be honest with you, I'm desperate to get out of my current job and into a new chapter of my life as soon as possible!

Any further thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks to everyone so far!

Gina

[Ginawantstotravel]

PS. to naturegirl321 - thank you for the links on pm. It won't let me reply because I haven't yet added 5 posts!

[nickpellatt]

As an alternative idea. Would you be interested in volunteer teaching in China? Without other details on the internship mentioned, would a volunteer option be similar? Would you have money for this type of thing?

My old employer in a rather nice part of China took people on short term volunteer programs. They didnt replace teachers for any of the formal lessons students had, but offered what were called 'elective classes' at around 5pm each evening. This was normally a one hour class that was on a topic of the teachers choosing, which students could opt in for as a free class if they so desired. Volunteers were also expected to attend the English corner once a week, and generally just be around the school as another foreign face to talk to. In return, they were given free board and lunch/dinner each day. Typically, they would stay for a period of a few weeks to a few months, and move on.

This type of thing might suit for you to get your feet wet per se...and with summer not so far away, lots of opportunities like this might exist? Of course, this doesnt provide you with any qualification ... but you could possibly get two months of China experience for around the cost of a certificate?

[tttompatz]

[naturegirl321]

[naturegirl321]

[nickpellatt]

Im guessing - Land of Smiles?