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blackobisk
Joined: 02 Jun 2012
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:17 am Post subject: Preparing to go abroad |
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| Hello, I am a college student graduating in spring 2013 with a degree in history and a minor in math. I want to go to europe and teach english in primary school and later teach regular primary school. However I do not know where to start. I been looking online about celta and trinityTEFL but I don't know which one to decide on or which one will make me more marketable as a teacher for young children. Also I have been looking around at countries to teach in but I can't really decided (hoping somebody will give a few suggestions). I want to be able to teach in a school that will allow me to live a least a basic standard of living and pay off my school loans. I am also wondering when should I start applying for certifications programs and how much money should I have saved up before traveling to another country. And is there anything that will help make me more marketable or increase my odds of getting a better job ( I have experience as an assistant teacher in primary school). |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:30 am Post subject: |
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| What country are you from? |
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7969
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 5782
Location: Coastal Guangdong
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| Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:34 am Post subject: |
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| Must be from the US. |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:44 am Post subject: |
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| If that's the case, western Europe is unlikely as a legal teacher. (Usually when teachers mention going to "Europe" that's what they mean.) |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 4:49 am Post subject: Re: Preparing to go abroad |
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| blackobisk wrote: |
| Hello, I am a college student graduating in spring 2013 with a degree in history and a minor in math. I want to go to europe and teach english in primary school and later teach regular primary school. However I do not know where to start. I been looking online about celta and trinityTEFL but I don't know which one to decide on or which one will make me more marketable as a teacher for young children. Also I have been looking around at countries to teach in but I can't really decided (hoping somebody will give a few suggestions). I want to be able to teach in a school that will allow me to live a least a basic standard of living and pay off my school loans. I am also wondering when should I start applying for certifications programs and how much money should I have saved up before traveling to another country. And is there anything that will help make me more marketable or increase my odds of getting a better job ( I have experience as an assistant teacher in primary school). |
Unless you are from the UK (or have an EU passport) you won't be teaching in western Europe.
If you are from North America then look at eastern Europe (but you won't be paying off any student loans working there) or East Asia (lots of jobs and, depending on the country, the remuneration package will allow you to pay off those loans and have some time for travel.
The Trinity and CELTA TESOL certs are virtually worthless when it comes to teaching younger kids. You'd be better off looking at an ECE certificate.
If you are not a native speaker you can cross a large part of the planet off your list (visa issues).
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blackobisk
Joined: 02 Jun 2012
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:31 am Post subject: |
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| I'm a US citizen from Texas and I was actually looking towards the eastern Europe (I know a little Russian, if that helps with my job search). |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 8:32 am Post subject: |
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| Come to Russia! Go to IH-BKC in Moscow. They have large numbers of Kiddies classes, and provide accommodation and academic support. Pay isn't great mind - but it would be a lot better than a primary school. And then there are lots of opportunities for private students too... |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 10:33 am Post subject: Re: Preparing to go abroad |
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| blackobisk wrote: |
| I want to be able to teach in a school that will allow me to live a least a basic standard of living and pay off my school loans. |
Rules out most entry level EFL jobs available to an American other than work in Korea. http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea .
We can't discuss Korea here. You have to go to the Korean boards. http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/index.php .
Separate registration is required to post there but you can start to read.
*not an option if you have anything less than a "no report found" on your FBI check.
**It takes about 2-3 months for an American to get the necessary paperwork to even apply for jobs there.
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coledavis
Joined: 21 Jun 2003
Posts: 1838
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| Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 11:56 am Post subject: |
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| I think kiddies classes are also the rage in Kiev (and maybe other Ukrainian cities). |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 12:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Hello, I am a college student graduating in spring 2013 with a degree in history and a minor in math. I want to go to europe and teach english in primary school and later teach regular primary school. |
My expertise is in Western and Central Europe, where the OP is not aiming (Western Europe being out for visa reasons) and sounds like he/she is more focused on further East.
But, guys, I don't think it's possible for a US citizen with the above quals to walk into a public/state school and teach anything. I don't want to speak for the East, but Central/Western Europe hire 99% local teachers to teach English language in state schools, and I cannot imagine them taking on a history/math major from the US in any position whatsoever.
To clarify, those of you who are directing the OP to Eastern Europe, does he/she have any shot at teaching children in regular state schools? And even more - would those positions allow him/her to pay off student loans back home?
Neither would be the case in Western/Central, for sure. It would be private language schools only, and subsistence level wages. |
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coledavis
Joined: 21 Jun 2003
Posts: 1838
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| Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes, this is a very good point. You need to be a qualified teacher for mainstream schools. When I was talking about kiddies' schools being the rage in Kiev, I was thinking of TEFL. (Although I think TEFLers are better paid in eastern Europe than mainstream teaching, certainly in Russia. Not that that is saying much.) |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:21 pm Post subject: |
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I'm by no means implying that TEFL schools are anything negative, but it's a quite different thing to imagine doing than working in a regular state school.
The second point coledavis makes is also valid - I know for sure that teachers in state schools make even less money than TEFL teachers in the region (as do health care workers). It's a holdover from the old systems and is true right across Central and Eastern Europe. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 11:33 pm Post subject: Re: Preparing to go abroad |
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| blackobisk wrote: |
| I want to be able to teach in a school that will allow me to live a least a basic standard of living and pay off my school loans. |
How much per month do you have to pay for those loans? That will give us an idea of what country is most suitable for that amount of disposable money.
Bear in mind, too, that what you consider a basic standard of living in the U.S. may be different abroad. You will have to accept what is offered. Are there places you won't go, or things you won't do without? |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| ...basic standard of living in the U.S. may be different abroad. |
Good point. For Europe, it's rare for teachers to own a car or to live in anything other than a flat/apartment. |
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coledavis
Joined: 21 Jun 2003
Posts: 1838
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| Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 4:57 am Post subject: |
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| And if it's somewhere like Moscow or Petersburg, it might even be a shared flat (US: apartment). |
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