Job Discussion Forums

Mayowa · Joined: 20 Jan 2012 Posts: 3

Hi guys,
I'm in my 3rd year of university in Tallahassee, florida, u.s.a and I want to take the TEFL course offered here this summer, so that I might have a little experience by the time I graduate so I can begin applying for jobs abroad immediately.
I've been browsing the international job postings and many listings say that you are required to be a citizen of U.S, U.K, Canada, Ireland, Australia, South Africa. I've been a permanent resident of the U.S.A for 7 years but I'm still a citizen of Nigeria and with the pace that U.S.C.I.S moves at, I probably will not have citizenship for 4-5 years further. How can this complicate my aspirations to teach abroad? I want to MOD EDIT get teaching experience and save money for an MA so I can be eligible to be hired in the middle east in a few years down (i'm an arabic student so this is my #1 choice)

BadBeagleBad · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:07 pm Post subject:

You might have to look to countries where your passport isn't as much of an issue as your ability. And it might come down to your accent to a certain extent. I live in Mexico and have a Spanish surname, so when applying for jobs I have been asked, on a number of occasions, to submit a voice recording, even though it is clear from my resume that I was almost entirety educated in the US. Once you have a US passport many more doors are open to you. If you have a heavy accent you might also want to take an accent reduction course, or just make an effort to speak with a more neutral accent.

fladude · Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 432

Why not start in lower paying ME countries like Egypt until you have some experience and have worked out your passport issues?

tttompatz

Mayowa · Joined: 20 Jan 2012 Posts: 3

I've spent most of my life in the U.K and U.S.A so I'm not worried about my accent. I should be more specific in that I generally want to teach English abroad for the sake of learning from other cultures (and to find myself/what i should be doing in life, blah blah...). I will go anywhere that is pleasant and I can negotiate a reasonable contract, it will be nice to save a lot of money but it is not necessary. I don't need many more creature comforts than my books, iPod, bicycle(s), and internet once in a while. I hope that my Nigerian passport doesn't end up as a roadblock, while I would travel anywhere I have a somewhat proud personality and will not agree to take lower wages than my colleagues if we are doing the same work just because I'm African. Is it possible to contact every consulate I might have to deal with in the future to ask them about this? How will I word the question? "Hi, I'm a Nigerian living in America who wants to work in your country, is there any reason why you won't let me enter or stay?"

Fladude- Most of my knowledge about ESL teaching is from lurking on these forums so I assumed that U.A.E, K.S.A, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman and Qatar were the only other countries that were seeking teachers in large numbers.
As far as getting a proper middle eastern experience, I'd actually prefer not to go to the countries listed above. Egypt is definitely one of my top choices in the M.E. I've also seen a few odd listings in Syria and Palestinian territories that I'd seriously consider. I don't mind earning lower wages than in the richer arab countries, where do you recommend?

fladude · Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 432

tttompatz · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 3:39 am Post subject:

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

You said you've lived in the UK, could you get a passport from there then?

wailing_imam · Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 580 Location: Malaya

Ttompatz is talking arse.

I have worked with teachers from Ghana and Cameroon in China and Tanzania in Singapore. There are plenty of African teachers at the international schools in Singapore. Your American education will stand you in good stead.

Squire 2 · Joined: 21 Jun 2011 Posts: 1

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

I have African, Asian, and European friends who have worked for AMIDEAST and other legit organizations and language schools in the Middle East.

tttompatz · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 11:41 pm Post subject:

wailing_imam · Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 580 Location: Malaya

ESL.

This is an opaque industry.

Ttompatz is not right.

Africans can find work in Asia. The Africans I know were earning similar sums to me Eg In Singapore US$3500+ per month and were teaching ESL.

Passports are not the be all and end all in the modern world.

Mayowa · Joined: 20 Jan 2012 Posts: 3

I really appreciate the feedback everyone is giving me, please keep them coming. I understand that it will be a difficult search, but I still believe there is a country I'd like out there that won't care about me being an African. What are the opportunities in Africa or Latin America? Either way I'll still be taking the ESL teaching course this semester, if I can't get hired abroad after graduation I will teach part-time in the U.S for experience until I'm naturalized. What are the general requirements to be a "licensed" teacher? I am working on a computer science degree and am also interested in teaching programming languages/web development in whichever country I can be employed in.

naturegirl: I haven't lived in the U.K for almost a decade now and I don't have much reason to do so anytime soon. I didn't apply for naturalization then so those years are not counted.