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simon_capetown
Joined: 17 Apr 2011
Posts: 13
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 Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 12:38 am Post subject: Advice needed from qualified, experienced ESL lifers... |
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Hi
This is going to be a bit of a long post as I have a few questions about ESL as a potential career.
My story in short:
I m 37 years old and graduated from university in South Africa many years ago with a degree in Industrial Psychology. Since then I have owned and operated my own businesses. They have ranged from owning a restaurant, manufacturing companies and a security company.
Last year I deceded I needed a change in my life. I sold my existing business, paid up the mortgages on my existing properties and applied to the Epik program in Korea. I then did a CELTA qualification.
In February I arrived in Busan and have been teaching here for the last couple of months.
I am enjoying teaching, but I realise that to get ahead in this game I need additional qualifications and I am going back to my University in Cape Town next year to do my PGCE and then coming back to Korea for another year.
My questions are the following:
1.Once I have my PGCE, how many years experiece would I need before I would be considered for good jobs in the ME, Thailand, Vietnam or China?
2. My long term plan is to retire to a "cheap" country in about 15 years time. My current properties in Cape Town give me a rental income of about 2000 USD per month.
To those long term teachers out there, is my plan feasible and have any of you followed a similar path?
Thanking you for your replies in advance
Simon |
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 4:10 am Post subject: |
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Good ME jobs generally ask for previous experience (2 years should be enough) in tertiary education, so when you go back to Korea, aim for university jobs. Otherwise, your experience might not count.
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 4:13 am Post subject: Re: Advice needed from qualified, experienced ESL lifers... |
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| simon_capetown wrote: |
[edited for brevity]
I am enjoying teaching, but I realize that to get ahead in this game I need additional qualifications and I am going back to my University in Cape Town next year to do my PGCE and then coming back to Korea for another year.
My questions are the following:
1.Once I have my PGCE, how many years experience would I need before I would be considered for good jobs in the ME, Thailand, Vietnam or China?
2. My long term plan is to retire to a "cheap" country in about 15 years time. My current properties in Cape Town give me a rental income of about 2000 USD per month.
To those long term teachers out there, is my plan feasible and have any of you followed a similar path?
Thanking you for your replies in advance
Simon |
1) Typically (in my personal experience):
a) For K-12 positions as a teacher (ESL or international school) you will need 2 years of post grad experience in the classroom PLUS home country certification as a teacher.
b) For (better) tertiary positions a related MA / M.Ed is needed for the better jobs and you will need a combined total of 5 years of experience.
2) Retirement issues vary not so much as a result of your income (although that does have a bearing on it) but on your visa status within the country you choose to move to. Being from South Africa DOES pose some limitations (visa availability) that some of the other "native speaker" countries do not have to deal with.
My path has not been dissimilar with the exception being that I didn't buy my property until AFTER I started in ESL (you had a head start on me there).
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:44 am Post subject: |
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2 years experience for intl school jobs is the norm.
$2000 a month should be fine. We also plan to go the rental property route. |
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simon_capetown
Joined: 17 Apr 2011
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 10:19 am Post subject: |
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To everyone, thanks for the replies so far
@naturegirl321, I tried to reply to your pm but unfortunately don't have enough posts.
@tompatz, thanks for the advice. I plan to use ESL as a stepping stone to living in some countries which I might not have been able to do. I don't think my South African passport is too much of an issue in Asia. i know in Europe it is, not sure about South America. Where have you bought property, if you dont mind me asking?
Does anyone know if some universities recognise PGCE for job positions? I'm not agains doing my masters or DELTA at a later stage, but I figure PGCE will give me a slight edge agains most of the people applying for ESL positions.
Also, do you think my age , 37 , will prohibit a long career in ESL. i'm prepared get some qualifications, but have I left it too late?
Any advice is appreciated, thanks
Simon |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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| simon_capetown wrote: |
To everyone, thanks for the replies so far
@naturegirl321, I tried to reply to your pm but unfortunately don't have enough posts.
@tompatz, thanks for the advice. I plan to use ESL as a stepping stone to living in some countries which I might not have been able to do. I don't think my South African passport is too much of an issue in Asia. i know in Europe it is, not sure about South America. Where have you bought property, if you don't mind me asking?
Does anyone know if some universities recognize PGCE for job positions? I'm not against doing my masters or DELTA at a later stage, but I figure PGCE will give me a slight edge against most of the people applying for ESL positions.
Also, do you think my age , 37 , will prohibit a long career in ESL. i'm prepared get some qualifications, but have I left it too late?
Any advice is appreciated, thanks
Simon |
For a (ESL) work visa your passport is not much of an issue in Korea but in other countries and/or for long term (work visas are little better than migrant workers) it may be (will be) an issue.
Since starting work in ESL we (my wife and I - single income earner family) have bought (and paid for) property in Canada (house in a major metro region) and the Philippines (5 hectare farm with custom built house).
Most universities WON'T recognize a PGCE / PGDE / DELTA in lieu of a Masters. If they would accept you with it they would accept you without it (some low tier unis will accept native speakers with only a BA + some experience).
Also be aware that any uni who will hire you without a relevant MA/ABD/PhD will also pay like crap (low class hours but really low net wages as well). You'd make far better money (as well as benefits) working in a bilingual / international school teaching K-12.
37 is not too late to get started (I was older than that when I changed careers and switched to ESL).
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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| If I had that income I would live as a rentier ! |
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