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rdenhert
Joined: 02 Nov 2011
Posts: 1
Location: California
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 Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 9:37 am Post subject: Same Questions, Different Newbie. |
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Hello all,
I'm a recent college graduate with a BA in Sociology from an accredited university. No teaching experience or certifications.
I'm very interested in teaching English abroad.
I've recently discovered that the chances of being placed in Western Europe may prove to be very unlikely.
At the moment, I am interested in teaching in Brazil, Japan, or possibly Abu Dhabi.
Of those 3 countries, I am leaning farthest towards Japan as my first preference.
Ultimately, my goals are to improve my teaching skills, meet new people, immerse myself in new culture, save money and to also have fun!
My questions/concerns are..
-are all TESOL/TEFL programs equal in terms of quality? If not, what are some reputable programs?
-Will an online certification be viewed differently as one that requires time in a classroom?
-Is there any difference between a TESOL/TEFL/CERTA certification?
-In terms of salary, which destinations would offer the best wage?
-By nature, I am often times very paranoid that I am being scammed. (I blame that on craigslist) Any tips on how to detect any suspicious job postings?
Essentially, I am planning on obtaining some sort of certification. I really just do not know the appropriate steps to take to find a job once I do finally receive that certification.
Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated! |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 11:30 am Post subject: Re: Same Questions, Different Newbie. |
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| rdenhert wrote: |
My questions/concerns are..
1) -are all TESOL/TEFL programs equal in terms of quality? If not, what are some reputable programs?
2) -Will an online certification be viewed differently as one that requires time in a classroom?
3) -Is there any difference between a TESOL/TEFL/CERTA certification?
4) -In terms of salary, which destinations would offer the best wage?
5) -By nature, I am often times very paranoid that I am being scammed. (I blame that on craigslist) Any tips on how to detect any suspicious job postings?
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1) No. You want one with a minimum of 120 hours including 6 hours of observed practicum with REAL students (not peers from your class).
2) Yes. By-and-large they are viewed as essentially useless.
3) What is a CERTA?
TEFL = teaching English as a Foreign Language (teaching English in a NON English environment.
TESL = Teaching English as a Second Language (teaching English in an English environment (an english speaking country).
TESOL = Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.
CELTA (not CERTA) Brand name of a course (Certificate English Language Teaching To Adults (Cambridge brand).
4) Asia.
5) Exercise some common sense.
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I'm a recent college graduate with a BA in Sociology from an accredited university. No teaching experience or certifications. |
Pretty much what the typical newbie in Japan sounds like.
| Quote: |
| Of those 3 countries, I am leaning farthest towards Japan as my first preference. |
Then come to the Japan forum and read the FAQ stickies at the top of the page and ask some specific questions there.
| Quote: |
My questions/concerns are..
-are all TESOL/TEFL programs equal in terms of quality? If not, what are some reputable programs?
-Will an online certification be viewed differently as one that requires time in a classroom?
-Is there any difference between a TESOL/TEFL/CERTA certification? |
In terms of Japan, most employers for entry level jobs have no clue about certification. Since the market is very crowded and competitive here in Japan, I'd suggest that you should still get the best you can if you plan to teach long-term.
| Quote: |
| -In terms of salary, which destinations would offer the best wage? |
I don't know Brazil or Abu Dhabi salaries. In Japan you can expect to start out with 220,000-250,000 yen/month on average. Do the math to convert yourself, as it fluctuates daily. Figure you will, on average, have half of that to play around with or save after you have paid for basic necessities. These are average figures. Your mileage may vary. Also, the JET program for ALTs pays more (300,000) and offers the rare paid airfare.
| Quote: |
| -By nature, I am often times very paranoid that I am being scammed. (I blame that on craigslist) Any tips on how to detect any suspicious job postings? |
1) If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
2) If you are asked to be here in a hurry, and to worry about visas after you arrive, it's possibly a scam. You cannot work legally until you get a visa, and if the rush is legitimate, they will explain it to you clearly (e.g., a teacher left unexpectedly for a family emergency, although this is not always what may have happened) and let you contact current teachers.
3) If they do not let you contact staff, red flag.
4) If the contract is full of legalese, be wary. They might simply have been burned by previous slacker teachers, but if those clauses contain a lot of penalties, watch out IMO. You might want to familiarize yourself with a copy of the Labor Standards Act. http://www.jil.go.jp/english/laborinfo/library/documents/llj_law1-rev.pdf
5) When in doubt, ask on forums like this one.
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| I really just do not know the appropriate steps to take to find a job once I do finally receive that certification. |
In a nutshell, for Japan, you either get a job before you arrive, or afterward. If you come here first, choose a good time and plan on supporting yourself for 3 months until the first paycheck comes in (US$4000-5000 is usually what people recommend bringing).
If you stay in the U.S. to job hunt, there are far fewer opportunities, but most of them are from employers who have the resources to recruit abroad. Exceptions are the rare ones who use Skype to interview. If you go this stay-home route, expect to travel to the few locations where recruiting offices are, and to pay your expenses for a 1-3 day interviewing process. The visa application process takes 2-8 weeks, so don't expect to be on a plane a week or 2 after you are interviewed or hired.
NOTE: You need a job before you can apply for the work visa. |
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