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justcolleen
Joined: 07 Jan 2004
Posts: 654
Location: Egypt, baby!
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 Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 1:37 pm Post subject: On a fishing expedition |
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After many months of lurking, I am ready to post. I am looking for constructive feedback.
The particulars:
1.) No formal teaching experience.
I have, however, tutored various subjects (English, Spanish, Mathematics), for several years. (I have never tutored privately, but always as a student/employee.)
2.) No ESL-related certification.
That is part of my diabolical plan, though.
3.) No four-year university degree.
I will receive my degree (B.A., English, High Honors) as the summer semester ends, from a "top-20 program" in the mid-west (USA). One more class to go, and I will be finished. Also, I have an A.A (Microcomputer Information Technology, Highest Honors).
4.) Citizenship: American (native born - mid-west)
Age: 41
Gender: female
Marital status: divorced
Dependents: two teenagers
Financial: broke student/single mother
I have always wanted to teach, just as I have always wanted to travel the world. ESL has been in the back of my mind for decades, and I have just now reached the point, in terms of education, where I could realistically consider it.
Where would I consider teaching? Anyplace I could a.) bring my children and b.) earn enough to care for them. I am not interested in a life of luxury, only basic needs (food, a roof over our heads, etc.).
Okay, so is it realistic that a verge-of-middle-age, divorced with two children, woman be employable at all? Or are those same circumstances prohibative? 
Thanks,
Colleen |
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James_T_Kirk
Joined: 20 Sep 2003
Posts: 357
Location: Ten Forward
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| Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Colleen,
I have a ton of respect and admiration for you: raising two teenagers while going to college...that's fantastic! Kudos!
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I have always wanted to teach, just as I have always wanted to travel the world. ESL has been in the back of my mind for decades, and I have just now reached the point, in terms of education, where I could realistically consider it.
Where would I consider teaching? Anyplace I could a.) bring my children and b.) earn enough to care for them. I am not interested in a life of luxury, only basic needs (food, a roof over our heads, etc.).
Okay, so is it realistic that a verge-of-middle-age, divorced with two children, woman be employable at all? Or are those same circumstances prohibative? |
It wouldn't be easy, but it might be possible to pull it off. The question I have for you is this: have you discussed this idea with your children? If not, why not? If so, how do they feel about it? What about schooling for your children? Due to language barriers, they will be unable to go to any local schools, so you would have to put them in an International school, right?
If your children are as interested in moving abroad as you are, and you can get proper schooling worked out for them, I say go for it! If not, wait until they leave the nest and do it for yourself in the future.
Good luck,
Kirk |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Your credentials, after you graduate, make you as eligible for conversation schools (eikaiwa in Japan) as anyone. However, the kids will be the problem, as Kirk pointed out. While I don't share his enthusiasm, I would also recommend waiting, as he suggested. Schooling will be an enormous hurdle at their ages. In regular schools (public or private), they will be unable to function because of the language barrier. In an international school setting, they will drain your measly eikaiwa salary for school fees and general living expenses. Such a salary is just not enough for 3 people to live on in your situation. Plus, even if you find additional work on the side, you simply will not have a moment to spare with them. Eikaiwas will have you working from noonish to 9pm, and by the time you ride the train home, it'll be 10pm. |
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justcolleen
Joined: 07 Jan 2004
Posts: 654
Location: Egypt, baby!
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| Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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| James_T_Kirk wrote: |
I have a ton of respect and admiration for you: raising two teenagers while going to college...that's fantastic! Kudos! |
Thank you. Actually, I've enjoyed it tremendously. It's been a lot of fun. 
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| It wouldn't be easy, but it might be possible to pull it off. |
I'm not looking for easy, just a glimmer of hope. 
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| The question I have for you is this: have you discussed this idea with your children? |
Yes, at length, from the moment I thought about returing to school.
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| If so, how do they feel about it? |
Son (15): He would go this evening if we had the opportunity. He, like me, has travelling feet.
Daughter (14): She is not as entheusiastic. Honestly, I think she has only recently realized college is almost over for me, and we'll all be moving on to whatever comes next.
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| What about schooling for your children? Due to language barriers, they will be unable to go to any local schools, so you would have to put them in an International school, right? |
I'm not so sure, quite honestly. We've been in Iowa for five years now, and it is the land of home schooling. Is home schooling not an option overseas? Will they have to be enrolled in formal schools?
Thank you,
Colleen |
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justcolleen
Joined: 07 Jan 2004
Posts: 654
Location: Egypt, baby!
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| Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| Your credentials, after you graduate, make you as eligible for conversation schools (eikaiwa in Japan) as anyone. However, the kids will be the problem, as Kirk pointed out. While I don't share his enthusiasm, I would also recommend waiting, as he suggested. Schooling will be an enormous hurdle at their ages. In regular schools (public or private), they will be unable to function because of the language barrier. In an international school setting, they will drain your measly eikaiwa salary for school fees and general living expenses. Such a salary is just not enough for 3 people to live on in your situation. Plus, even if you find additional work on the side, you simply will not have a moment to spare with them. Eikaiwas will have you working from noonish to 9pm, and by the time you ride the train home, it'll be 10pm. |
Alrighty! It looks like I can rule Japan out on the list of possibilities.
Thanks for your input.
Colleen |
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ls650
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 3484
Location: British Columbia
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| Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 10:44 pm Post subject: Re: On a fishing expedition |
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| justcolleen wrote: |
1.) No formal teaching experience.
2.) No ESL-related certification.
That is part of my diabolical plan, though.
3.) No four-year university degree.
I will receive my degree (B.A., English, High Honors) as the summer semester ends, from a "top-20 program" in the mid-west (USA). Also, I have an A.A (Microcomputer Information Technology, Highest Honors).
4.) Citizenship: American (native born - mid-west)
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Please forgive me for being honest here, but...
without the TEFL or a BA, your chances are virtually zero. An AA means very little outside the USA.
When you finish the BA and have a 4-week TEFL certificate, your chances will increase dramatically. Normally you would then have an excellent chance of finding work in Asia or Latin America - but a lot of schools will be reluctant to hire you if you have two dependents you want to bring with you.
I think China might be a possibility. There if you were working full-time you could earn enough to live modestly with two teenagers. I don't know how the visa paperwork would go, though.  |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 11:21 pm Post subject: |
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Home schooling is certainly possible in Japan or anywhere else. The problem is that you will be working so much, you won't be able to help much. This won't be a surprise to you because you are going through it now I'm sure.
I don't think Japan would be a very good place for a single mom as the cost of living is so high and the work load is too.
I'll second the advice by Is 650, that a TEFL would help your chances a lot to get a better job. I hope it works out for you. |
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shmooj
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
Posts: 1758
Location: Seoul, ROK
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| Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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You know... perhaps the best option might be to teach ESL in the US.
Being abroad as a teenager can be very very very tough. One of the hardest things to cope with with culture shock is the affect it has on your social relationships. With teenagers, social relationships are paramount. Also, when you finally head back home, you are so out of the loop you feel like you came from another planet.
If your kids are homeschooled and your daughter is not 100% behind the move, she may find it very tough to make any friends abroad. This might especially be the case if your son is 110% behind it and makes a ton of friends.
You know, if you have time and the money, why don't you and the kids take a two week trip to somewhere like China and see how you all react to it? Beats emigrating there only to find you all hate it - this is much more costly...
Just some thoughts... |
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justcolleen
Joined: 07 Jan 2004
Posts: 654
Location: Egypt, baby!
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 12:40 am Post subject: Re: On a fishing expedition |
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[quote="ls650"]
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Please forgive me for being honest here, but...
without the TEFL or a BA, your chances are virtually zero. An AA means very little outside the USA. |
I always appreciate honesty. 
Oh, I will most certainly complete my B.A. I have three more weeks of this semester, then one, short, summer session with one class, and I'll be finished. A degree has always been a personal goal, and as I've aged the importance has only become more evident. I'm not stopping. No way.
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| When you finish the BA and have a 4-week TEFL certificate, your chances will increase dramatically. |
If a four week course makes the difference, I will certainly do it.
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| Normally you would then have an excellent chance of finding work in Asia or Latin America - but a lot of schools will be reluctant to hire you if you have two dependents you want to bring with you. |
Either Latin America or Asia would be wonderful. I'm not doubting what you're saying is true, however I think it's sort of an odd mind-set for an employer to have. Do you have any idea why that would be?
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| I think China might be a possibility. There if you were working full-time you could earn enough to live modestly with two teenagers. I don't know how the visa paperwork would go, though. |
Modest living arrangements are fine, primarily because that's what we've always lived in. Do you have an idea where I might learn about any potential visa issues?
Again, thank you.
Colleen |
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justcolleen
Joined: 07 Jan 2004
Posts: 654
Location: Egypt, baby!
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 12:47 am Post subject: |
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| shmooj wrote: |
| You know... perhaps the best option might be to teach ESL in the US. |
I don't want to do that. A large part of the reason I want to do this is stems from cultural appreciation. Besides, I've had plenty of American culture.
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| If your kids are homeschooled and your daughter is not 100% behind the move, she may find it very tough to make any friends abroad. This might especially be the case if your son is 110% behind it and makes a ton of friends. |
We do have a Plan B for my daughter. It's safe to assume that, if I am indeed employable, it will be with a one year contract. If, at any point, during that one year she wants to come home, I have friends that will let her stay with them temporarily.
| Quote: |
| You know, if you have time and the money, why don't you and the kids take a two week trip to somewhere like China and see how you all react to it? Beats emigrating there only to find you all hate it - this is much more costly... |
Financially that's impossible. What to do, what to do.....
Thank you,
Colleen |
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justcolleen
Joined: 07 Jan 2004
Posts: 654
Location: Egypt, baby!
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 12:53 am Post subject: |
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| Gordon wrote: |
| Home schooling is certainly possible in Japan or anywhere else. |
Woo hoo! That gives me joy.
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| I don't think Japan would be a very good place for a single mom as the cost of living is so high and the work load is too. |
I've read through much of what's been posted in these forums, and it does appear that Japan is an expensive place to live.
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| I'll second the advice by Is 650, that a TEFL would help your chances a lot to get a better job. I hope it works out for you. |
I will look into where I can get a TEFL certification. Ideally, this summer, the idea being when I'm finished with school, I can be job-ready.
My sincerest appreciation,
colleen |
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ls650
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 3484
Location: British Columbia
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 1:20 am Post subject: Re: On a fishing expedition |
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| justcolleen wrote: |
| I think it's sort of an odd mind-set for an employer to have. Do you have any idea why that would be? |
What's more important to you, your children or your job? Of course the answer is your children. If your children are sick, have problems, etc. that will just take your attention away from the school.
I'll discuss private schools because with your lack of experience you're unlikely to get a university teaching job; you'll most probably find work at a small private language school.
For the owners, EFL schools are first and foremost about making money - not education. Any education that takes place is due to the teacher being conscientious! The school will want you to make classroom time your number one priority; anything else costs the school money with no profit. With a single adult the school can make demands on your time and schedule that will be difficult for a parent to fulfill - and still have time for his/her children.
Don't forget that a school has to pay money for work visas, plane tickets, housing, and miscellaneous overhead.
If I were the owner of a school and I had to choose between either a single adult or a parent with two children, I'd be hard pressed to choose the family...  |
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shmooj
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
Posts: 1758
Location: Seoul, ROK
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 2:56 am Post subject: |
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| justcolleen wrote: |
| I've had plenty of American culture. |
Really? I didn't know there was plenty
Good to have your contingency plan. |
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august03
Joined: 13 Oct 2003
Posts: 159
Location: Jiangsu, China
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 7:06 am Post subject: |
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Hi there Colleen, I think that China would be great for you and your kids.
With your degree and certificate (GET the certificate!) you would be eligible for a job here in China.
It is possible for your children to get a living permit along with you; lots of people bring their kids. You may want to get a job where they provide you with a housing allowance so that you can get a 2-bedroom place (some come with a study = 3 bedroom).
Yes, school will take up a lot of your time but usually you'll have weekends free.
If you got a job that paid 5000RMB or more a month I think you could survive, living costs are cheap here. You'd also get your airfare reimbursed but not for your kids. You could pick up extra funds by doing private tuition (you've got experience).
It may be too expensive to enroll your kids at an International English school. You could pick up home schooling work from the US and bring it with you. I think your kids would enjoy it here; they would certainly be the center of attention and would make many friends who want to practice their English and learn about life in the US. Only you and they know what�s best for them, so if they want to try, well why not? You can always go home again.
If you want info on a few places to find jobs and info let me know, just PM me. |
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Clancy
Joined: 23 Apr 2004
Posts: 162
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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China
PM me and I will set you up in a countryside public university or Shanghai.
No, I am not a recruiter, just a friend willing to help you. |
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