Job Discussion Forums

Shiraz Gal�o

Hi Everyone,

I'm Just starting my new life and hoping to learn some more about Teaching English Abroad. I'll give some basic information. I've taken a look at the forums and tried to keep my questions as specific to my situation as possible.

BA in Biological Sciences, Age 23, Nationality: Filipino. Grew up in California.

Places that I'd Consider going to but not super specific.
Asia: China, Thailand, S. Korea, Japan
Middle East: Isreal
South America: Brazil, Argentina, ect...
Europe: Many places, but I think it will be tough to get jobs there.

Qualifications: I have a college Degree, and have taken been teaching kids sciences (marine, physical, and Biological) through class labs. Another Random fact is that I did teach dance choreography for the college Spring show. I do have some experience, though not much in teaching people.

My Questions are centered around how do I want to get trained and certified..

How will Ethnicity effect my job hunt? I'm Asian with a Pacific Islander Tan.

Should I go for CELTA or TEFL? I'm Planning to do on site training and not online. I hear some Asian Countries don't require CELTA, but am willing to put in the extra costs if it brings higher quality results.

Or more importantly, what should I look for in selecting a good training program vs a low quality one? I've seen quite a bit of sketchy programs out there.

How does a person go through the process of teaching Business English? Are there specific programs to teach those?

Thanks,

tttompatz · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 11:47 pm Post subject:

IF you are headed for Asia your ethnicity is a negative factor. The fact that you do not have a US passport (nationality: Filipino) rules out large parts (job wise) of Asia (Korea, Taiwan). It is possible to get jobs in China, Thailand, the Philippines (teaching Koreans). Your salary will be, on average, about 1/2 what a US passport holder will make if and when you can find a job.

IF you are headed for Asia a TEFL is NOT required (but something would be good because you will likely just get dropped into a classroom right off the plane.)

Go for the extra expense of the CELTA? MOST places in Asia wouldn't know a CELTA (the Cambridge branded TESOL cert) from a frying pan. Get the TESOL/TEFL cert that is most convenient for you. Just be sure that it is 120 hours and includes an observed teaching practicum (6+ hours) with real students.

.

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

Is there anyway youy can get a US passport since you've lived in California? That would help a LOT.

Asia, you could go to, but like tttompatz says, you're going to run into issues due to your enthnicity.

Israel, I've only seen jobs with Berlitz.

South America is possible, post on the Latin American forums, visas are an issue.

Europe, maybe, depends on where you want to go, europe is bigl You mean the UK? Russia? where?

I worked with a woman from the Philippines in China. She had never lived abroad. She was getting less pay than us and working more hours.

TEFL encompasses CELTA. Celta is just a brand name. Good quality ones have 100 to 120 hours plus 6 of practice teaching and usually last a month or a bit longer.

Business English, usually a couple years experience, or an MBA, or experience in the bsuiness world. The IBET is geared towards business English. It's a cert.

Shiraz Gal�o · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 3:41 am Post subject:

Actually I was born in America and have a U.S passport. The question was based more that I appeared more Asian than White, so I was curious if that had a negative. (Since I believe perception matters.)

thanks tttompatz on the response on the CELTA, that is fairly helpful.

I'll do some research on good TEFL programs.

As for Europe, I was thinking about after I get more experience as it seems like a harder market to get into.

tttompatz · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 6:12 am Post subject:

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