Job Discussion Forums

Chad · Joined: 31 Jan 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Canada

Yes, totally new. I've been reading through these fourms doing as much research on the career of teaching english overseas, but I still haven't found a good place to start.

Seeking advice is my first setp here, so please. Give me all you got.

Here is my situation. I truely am a baby to this business. I'm a Highschool graduate currently living in Argentina.

Let me take a step back. I'm a canadian citizen who is approaching completion of a year long exchange spent in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

I've been fortunate enough to pick up a lot of useful skills here related to this type of work. (1) Knowing how to speek English to someone who doesn't use English as a first language, if ever 2) Adapting to Cuture schock and being away from home, 3)Re-establishing a life 4) Learning the language of the hosting country. etc.)

I am really serious about doing this, and I think I have a huge advantage being this sure and also young. What I don't know is, will my youth hinder me in the job market?

Now, to be mroe specific with what I am looking for:
I have no college degree or any certification. I know I will need one, and I really would like one. I have heard of the TESL cetification, and am aware that it will help me immesly with course planning and such, so that I'm not going into a classroom blind. Any suggestions on where to find an approprate course? I live in Vancouver, British Columbia. I'd like to keep my debts to a minimum and work realatively close to the city.

I'd like to teach in Asia, more specifically oriental Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, etc.). I have read a lot that a B.A. is pretty much required to get a good job in these countries (and a good job is what I'm looking for). If this is true, than any suggestions on what I should start studying in College/University?

I'd like to spread my wings and get abroad as soon as I can.

Keeping all that in mind, getting abroad (with proper qualifications) is my goal. I have heard that the best qualifications is teaching experience itself, so maybe if anyone has an alternate route that they think may be a wise choice, please, share them with me. I'm open to all suggestions and advice.

I appreciate having so many people active on these forums who know what they are doing and know that they wish they had done a lot of things differently when they were younger. Please, take this oppertunity to help me make the wise decitions.

Thank You!

Sekhmet · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 329 Location: Alexandria, Egypt

It seems you have it all planned out!! My suggestion would be to do a BA - any discipline will do (but be careful - you don't want to start off in TEFL with a degree in Music, and then decide 5 years down the line that you want to be an engineer...). As you so rightly point out, there are VERY few good jobs available to people with only a TEFL cert, even in China.

As far as the TEFL cert is concerned, how about making your mind up as to where you want to go, and then doing a course there? That way, you can do some of the legwork looking for a job while you're studying, then you will also have contacts, and maybe even a head-start on the language. It really works!!! (I know, I did it...)

But still, if at all possible, get the BA first. Even if you're not so desperate to earn the big bucks right now, in the future your goals might change, and you don't want to have to do your first degree when your 40 (I don't have any personal experience of this tho!!)

Also, as I pointed out earlier, you never know. You might decide in five years time that teaching English is the most redundant job on earth, and that what you really want to do is be a doctor. So try avoid burning your bridges!!!

Best of luck!!!! Very Happy

marblez · Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Posts: 248 Location: Canada

Check out:

ESL certificate at Vancouver Community College
CELTA at Kwantlen (Richmond) and Langara (North Van?)

The three schools below have excellent TESL certificates but they are much more academic and in-depth than the others. They require 1-2 years of full time university credit study.

Trinity Western University (Langley)
University College of the Fraser Valley - I am doing this one right now (Abbotsford)
SFU

I should also mention that these certificates (the three above - I don't know about the others) also require DEGREE COMPLETION to be awarded.

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

The most directly applicable degree to ESL teaching would be something that involves Linguistics, Modern Languages, and English (in that order).

As others have noted, you should probably try to not burn your bridges. You may decide that you want to work in Canada one day, and this is possible (but there are very few jobs etc- do a search). And so you might want to think about doing subjects that count as teachables for Teacher's college (the K-12 system)- they are the subjects you take in the k-12 system, so English, history (you need to include at least one or two in Canadian history), geography, French (you would need to pass a test for fluency on top of the course requirements), math, science etc., although I've heard that everybody with a B.Ed in BC is waiting for the current teachers to retire.

There are also one year college certificates that you can do (at least in Ontario) that train you to work in specific occupations or industries after you complete your degree, so you can do a degree, get your certification for teaching ESL, and then if and when you decide you want to live in Canada and if you have difficulty making a living at it, are having a really hard time breaking into another field, and don't want to go the retail route, then you can do one of those (make sure it's one with a placement).

Bottom line- if you hate what you are studying then it won't matter how useful it is in the future, because you could well hate what you end up doing with it. Major in the subject(s) that interest you, but do some research into the kinds of fields people get into after completion by reading the "What can I do with a degree in..." type books and searches on the internet (but often in Canada the things listed require more training on top of the degree through things like the one-year certificates).

Finnegan · Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 37 Location: Canada

Dear Chad,

First, work on your spelling----sorry to sound uptight, but a great way to lose respect from a potential employer in any language is to misspell words in the language which you are claiming to be able to teach.

Chad · Joined: 31 Jan 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Canada

Okay, I've considered what I've heard and I'm a little indecisive on which degree I'd like to take. I do appreciate the suggestions, but I forgot to make one thing clear ahead of time.

Although I did ask for specific degrees to study, I forgot to mention that this is a career in which I am willing to persue, its not somthing I want to do for the remainder of my life.

I have heard its quite easy just to go overseas and get a job teaching English while saving up some money to pay off some studant loans. After some more extensive research I realized that it is not as easy as the rumors sound. Although I am young, there is a lot more I think I want to do with my life than teach English overseas.

I'd like to focus on NOT burning my bridges. That being said, will pretty much any academic degree and a cetificate do? (I know its a vague question, but please bear with me).

P.S.: Finnegan, agreed. I'll work on my spelling as soon as you work on the grammar. Of course, we all make our mistakes.

High Plains Drifter · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 127 Location: Way Out There

Yes, we all make mistakes, and that�s why real English teachers use dictionaries and spell checkers. Finnegan gave you some good advice, and you answered him with a silly smartass remark. I see why you chose to call yourself a �baby�.

You also need to learn to write. When I read your initial posting, I considered answering with some advice, but it was such a longwinded, disorganized mess that I didn�t feel like taking the time to make sense of it. You use 20 words where five will do, and half of them are misspelled.

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

Hiya Chad

You can easily get a job here in Istanbul with a huge chain of language schools who are very flexible and are always looking for switched on teachers. PM me if you want the details.

Doglover · Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 305 Location: Kansai

Chad · Joined: 31 Jan 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Canada

Look, I'm here to seek advice. I do believe smug remarks like fannagen and High Plains Drifter left are really unnessisary.

And I'm sorry if I have people confused. When I ment I wanted to persue English Teaching as a career, I didn't exactly mean overseas. I'd like to use take the wonderful oppertunity of teaching overseas and run with it. However, in the long run, I don't think its something I'm able to for my whole life. I'm sure a lot of you understand.

Basically what I'm looking for is guidance at this stage in my life. Finding a degree that would fit these needs I've proposed is ideal. I appreciate a lot of help givin to me, as for a select few, some opionions could be kept to yourself.

Doglover · Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 305 Location: Kansai

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Doglover · Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 305 Location: Kansai

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Ok, I see now.

Yes, very small market for that. Probably a community college which requires a minimum of a Masters. Writing is the biggest problem most native English speakers would need to work on.

Twisting in the Wind · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 571 Location: Purgatory

Hi Chad,

Wow, so young and you already seem to know what you want to do. All of the other posters have given you excellent advice. What I have to add is while you are working on your BA, why don't you also get your feet wet by tutoring ESL. Virtually all universities have opportunities for paid and unpaid tutoring of ESL/English. You'll get an idea that way if this is really what you want to do and also get familiarized with the texts in contemporary usage. Also, if you find that this is not really what you want to do, you won't have wasted all four years--there's still time to change majors. Additionally, many unis also offer their ss a semester abroad where it might be possible for you to student teach English in a foreign classroom.

On another note.....