Job Discussion Forums

[liebkuchen]

Hi! First post!

I'm 2 months into my first tefl post at a Chinese university teaching oral English which is all going smoothly.The job's reawakened an interest in teaching and I want to know what I can/should do next. The job situation in the UK for qualified primary teachers is awful so I'm thinking of spending a couple of years sitting it out abroad while gaining useful experience before settling down.

I have a BA in Educational Studies- a non-certified degree in the theory of education, plus a PGCE (teaching certificate for teaching 3-11 years in Scotland). I also have 1 year's experience teaching 8 year olds but this was 8 years ago when I bailed out with low self confidence to do office work. I did pass my full registration (full teaching licence) though.

I'm happy to tefl for maybe 2 additional years. Ideally, I'd work in Europe or the Middle East. China's really interesting but its a long way from home. I know I don't want a long term career in tefl, at least not abroad, and I have no interest in studying for a MA TESOL.

What's the best route for me?
Option 1: take my CELTA back in Europe- maybe Germany? and look for work in a private language school in Western/Central Europe.
Option 2: Do a term of voluntary work at a primary school in Scotland to get upto date references and experience and then start looking for jobs at international schools abroad
Option 3: Apply for jobs in the Middle East with my current experience (don't know if this is viable).

My priorities are to be closer to home, to have access to a slightly older social scene (I'm 30 and single) and to save a decent amount of money.

Advice and suggestions welcome. Thanks

[spiral78]

Doing the CELTA and teaching at a private language school in either Western or Central Europe is certainly a viable option for you, but it will not lead to 'decent' savings. Such jobs pay subsistence wages - enough to live ok, but a new bicycle is a fairly serious purchase on such salaries, never mind saving up much.

I do not think you have the qualifications to get 'decent' jobs in the Middle East, but I suggest you might post in the General M. E. forum and ask there.

International schools do pay pretty decently, and might likely be your best bet, but job openings in Europe are not abundant. Not to imply that you couldn't find something, but it's not a wide-open job market.

[artemisia]

[liebkuchen]

Thank you both. I thought Europe might be a bit lower on the savings scale- but not that much.

I guess, long term, I do want to return to a UK, ideally Scottish, classroom. But there's a massive glut of unemployed teachers and even getting supply work seems extremely difficult in many places due to changes in contracts and working conditions recently. So I now know I want to have the most relevant experience on my cv, even if it has to be abroad and in China for a couple of years and it sounds like international schools are the way to go for me.

If I don't have any joy while I'm in situ, then at least I can stay with family back in the UK while I get voluntary classroom experience. If the UK situation is still as bad then, at least I can pack my bags again once I've finally got the experience international schools will accept.

Thank you so much for giving me a focus and saving me the CELTA fees!