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algernonsidney
Joined: 16 Nov 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Austin, Texas
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 Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 1:31 am Post subject: getting started |
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I am 40 years old, so I am probably older than a lot of people here. I have also come to loathe my career in information technology, as I seriously wonder if I will be given a chance to be successful in it. I have serious questions about the future of the USA and would like to have the option of leaving if I need to. Dual-citizenship is certainly something I would like to obtain.
What is the best way for me to get started in this? I did do some volunteer ESL teaching back in 2002-3 for the Columbus (Ohio) Literacy Council. I did work for a magazine back in the mid 1990's and have also had some articles published. I pick up on things very quickly and have never lost my childhood curiosity.
I am open to combining a teaching job with IT work if I need to.
I have heard that some jobs require college. I don't have that.
Ideally, I would like to go to South America. However, I am also looking at whatever else might be out there.
Does anyone have any suggestions? |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 2:58 am Post subject: |
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Reality check.
Without a degree your options are severely limited and getting smaller every year as countries increase the requirements for work visas for teachers.
Working from Mexico south to Cape Horn is an option but not one that will pay well (read subsistence/back-packer level wages), especially since you don't have a degree.
Adding a RECOGNIZED TESOL/TEFL certification will certainly help in those countries that don't require a degree for the work visa.
Beyond that, check (meaning spend a few hours or even DAYS reading) on the country specific forums for particulars.
DON'T let the fancy advertizing on the TEFL websites put stars in your eyes. It is a tough road and for long term prospects WILL require upgrading of your skills and credentials.
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Last edited by tttompatz on Mon Jan 23, 2012 6:32 am; edited 1 time in total |
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EFLeducator
Joined: 16 Dec 2011
Posts: 595
Location: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 5:45 am Post subject: |
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| You'll make enough money to almost get by if you go to Saudi Arabia, Japan, or South Korea. But all of those countries require a degree. You won't make anything in South America amigo. |
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Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 6:31 am Post subject: |
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You should give algernonsidney a little more detail about your experience in South America shouldn't you?
I don't think Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Korea will be an option for you without the degree. It's ludicrous to suggest you go there.
South America is open to you but limited in that you won't advance...what's the chance of upgrading your education? |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 1:39 pm Post subject: |
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you could survive in LA, save a little bit, emphasis on little. You can live pretty well though, all things considered, eat out, have a maid, etc.
AS far as dual cit, often the faster route is marriage or family roots. |
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algernonsidney
Joined: 16 Nov 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Austin, Texas
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 2:17 pm Post subject: |
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| naturegirl321 wrote: |
you could survive in LA, save a little bit, emphasis on little. You can live pretty well though, all things considered, eat out, have a maid, etc.
AS far as dual cit, often the faster route is marriage or family roots. |
All eight of my great-grandparents were born in America, as well as my parents and grandparents. Family is not an option.
Marriage is not a realistic option. |
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algernonsidney
Joined: 16 Nov 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Austin, Texas
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Guy Courchesne wrote: |
You should give algernonsidney a little more detail about your experience in South America shouldn't you?
I don't think Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Korea will be an option for you without the degree. It's ludicrous to suggest you go there.
South America is open to you but limited in that you won't advance...what's the chance of upgrading your education? |
What is "advancement" in this field anyway? Does that just mean a raise or promotions?
I am hoping that after a couple years, I may be more inspired to start a business or go after other things that I really want. There are a whole lot of things that I really want to do.
I'm 40 years old. I have been doing work that I hate for long enough.
Maybe IT work will be better in a foreign country as well.
I'm mostly considering Latin America because I really do want to get my Spanish to a fluent level. |
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algernonsidney
Joined: 16 Nov 2011
Posts: 18
Location: Austin, Texas
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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| tttompatz wrote: |
| Working from Mexico south to Cape Horn is an option but not one that will pay well (read subsistence/back-packer level wages), especially since you don't have a degree. |
I have done it before. I can do it again.
| Quote: |
| Adding a RECOGNIZED TESOL/TEFL certification will certainly help in those countries that don't require a degree for the work visa. |
Which credential should I go for? What is the fastest path? |
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golsa
Joined: 20 Nov 2011
Posts: 185
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 2:51 pm Post subject: |
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| algernonsidney wrote: |
Which credential should I go for? What is the fastest path? |
CELTA is the standard credential for entry level EFL jobs. You can't do it online and it will take you 6 weeks to complete the course. The cost will be in the ballpark of $1,500 - $2,000. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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| algernonsidney wrote: |
What is "advancement" in this field anyway? Does that just mean a raise or promotions?
I am hoping that after a couple years, I may be more inspired to start a business or go after other things that I really want. There are a whole lot of things that I really want to do.
I'm 40 years old. I have been doing work that I hate for long enough.
Maybe IT work will be better in a foreign country as well.
I'm mostly considering Latin America because I really do want to get my Spanish to a fluent level. |
Algernonsidney, I sense that you're mostly looking for anything other than IT that you could do abroad to earn a living. Beginning a career in TEFL --- short or long-term --- requires start-up expenses and a commitment to obtaining the basic qualifications needed to teach. Teaching English is a job. And as others have mentioned, you're limited as to where you can teach because you lack a degree. Moreover, have you ever lived/worked outside the US? It's not the same as visiting or being a tourist. No disrespect or discouragement; I'm just presenting reality. |
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Phil_K
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2041
Location: A World of my Own
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 4:35 pm Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| algernonsidney wrote: |
What is "advancement" in this field anyway? Does that just mean a raise or promotions?
I am hoping that after a couple years, I may be more inspired to start a business or go after other things that I really want. There are a whole lot of things that I really want to do.
I'm 40 years old. I have been doing work that I hate for long enough.
Maybe IT work will be better in a foreign country as well.
I'm mostly considering Latin America because I really do want to get my Spanish to a fluent level. |
Algernonsidney, I sense that you're mostly looking for anything other than IT that you could do abroad to earn a living. Beginning a career in TEFL --- short or long-term --- requires start-up expenses and a commitment to obtaining the basic qualifications needed to teach. Teaching English is a job. And as others have mentioned, you're limited as to where you can teach because you lack a degree. Moreover, have you ever lived/worked outside the US? It's not the same as visiting or being a tourist. No disrespect or discouragement; I'm just presenting reality. |
Also, I think you should also ask yourself why you "loathe" IT. It (no pun intended) seems a pretty exciting field to me. Is it working as an employee that gets you down? Or the kind of companies you're dealing with?
How about setting your own parameters in a line of business you must have some affection for (you chose it!). By that I mean working for yourself in an area of IT that would give you more pleasure. Certainly your long-term prospects would be better than in ESL, unless you really have a vocation for teaching.
I don't mean to be presumptuous, but sometimes we can't see the wood for the trees! |
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EFLeducator
Joined: 16 Dec 2011
Posts: 595
Location: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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| algernonsidney wrote: |
| I'm mostly considering Latin America because I really do want to get my Spanish to a fluent level. |
While the goal of wanting to get your Spanish to a fluent level is noble and it is a beautiful language to speak, that will NOT pay your bills nor your retirement amigo.
There are plenty of places in Texas where you could practice your Spanish. Communiy college, watch the novelas (soap opers) in Spanish on some of the cable TV stations, or even move to San Antonio.
I am giving serious consideration to moving there myself. |
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EFLeducator
Joined: 16 Dec 2011
Posts: 595
Location: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 5:07 pm Post subject: |
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| algernonsidney wrote: |
| What is "advancement" in this field anyway? Does that just mean a raise or promotions? |
I have heard that it is becoming a coordinator at a language school for example. You would still teach a little but you're basically the admin assistant doing all of the paper work for a school. However, the pay is so close to what one would get that your still on the teachers salary so the only "promotion" would be that you're doing more things for the same low pay.
I knew a coordinator in Mexico City and she told me these things. Some think being a teacher trainer is a promotion, but again, normally a promotion is connected to making "more money" so I'm not sure if a teacher trainer is really a promotion either.I knew one Mexican who became a teacher trainer in Mexico City but he went back to TEFLing because the money in teacher training was worse than TEFLing. His words not mine.
If you're wanting promotions and enough money to REALLY live TEFLING, you should consider getting a bachelors and going to Saudi Arabia, Japan, or South Korea. I'm just trying to help you amigo based on what some Mexican friends have told me about Latin America and my own personal experience of having taught there for many years. |
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EFLeducator
Joined: 16 Dec 2011
Posts: 595
Location: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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| tttompatz wrote: |
Reality check.
Working from Mexico south to Cape Horn is an option but not one that will pay well (read subsistence/back-packer level wages), especially since you don't have a degree. |
Right! Get a degree first or a certificate in TEFLing and see what options that may open up for you. Check out some of the universities website in Austin and see if they offer a TEFL course with job placement assistance. If you're going to do this, do it right so you won't be living on back-packer level wages as ttompatz said. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 3:44 am Post subject: |
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| algernonsidney wrote: |
| tttompatz wrote: |
| Working from Mexico south to Cape Horn is an option but not one that will pay well (read subsistence/back-packer level wages), especially since you don't have a degree. |
I have done it before. I can do it again. |
Ok, but WHEN did you do it? Things have changed a lot in the TEFL world.
Advancement means a raise, promotion, more responsibilities, better job offers.
40 isn't old by the way, I'm pretty sure a lot of the oldbies here are that old or older.
AS for becoming fluent in Spanish, teaching English usually isn't the way to go about it  Granted, there are people who do achieve a high level in the host country, but it isn't automatic. It's not like osmosis. After speaking Spanish daily for the past 8 years and studying it since I was 12, I still don't consider myself fluent.
I can't speak for all of LA, but I lived in Peru for 6 years and there was a running joke that the only way you could get a promotion is if someone retired or they died. They held on to jobs for life. I worked at one of the best unis in the country and made 10 to 15 bucks an hour, There was a cap on the number of hours, so it worked out to 800 a month, for 8 months out of the year because the other time was vacation. |
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