Job Discussion Forums

[MFrets]

I hope you're not too old! I'm 63 and want to return to teaching ESL. The certification process was great, also volunteer tutoring. Am wondering abt cultural bias towards older American workers in certain countries? Any comments from those w/experience?

[Justin Trullinger]

Age, not an issue for quite a while yet.

I wouldn't hesitate to hire you because of your age, but I would hesitate to hire you because of your lack of cert, or if you do a semi-cert like the Oxford Seminars course.

[tomstone]

[Justin Trullinger]

I didn't know where you were, Tomstone. And there are very definitely countries that don't put much stock in training.

I just wanted to specify, because otherwise it sounds like a general truism- the world is a big place, and different rules apply to different places.


Best,
Justin

[tomstone]

Point well taken; I certainly don't want anybody to think that tomstone says "Don't get certification!", but, then again, I can't get STUDENTS to pay attention to me, why should teachers? Maybe if I got certification.....

[nickpellatt]

Some countries will require certification...and some dont. BUT, even if the country or job you are going for doesnt require it, its a big ask to leap into class and do a good job without any training or relevant experience. Doing a decent, recognised qualification wont make you the finished article as a teacher ... but it will set you on the right path 9 times out of 10.

Oxford Seminars probably doesnt qualify as decent training...as already mentioned, the better programs are Trinity/CELTA and SIT. Online course rarely count

[mspxlation]

Due to family obligations, I can't take any overseas jobs at the moment, but by the time I am free, I'll be over 60, although people tell me that I don't look that old, and I'm active, with a lot of outside interests.

What countries are the most receptive to older teachers? I realize that no place is absolutely impossible or absolutely guarantees a job, but certainly the cultures of some countries are more amenable to older teachers than others.

I am an experienced foreign language teacher and have tutored immigrants on a volunteer basis, so my learning curve would be shorter than that of many applicants.

My foreign language teaching experience is in teaching Japanese to English-speakers, and I have lived in Japan before, so it would be my first choice, but I also know that the Japanese economy is in bad shape and that the eikaiwas prefer youthful types, so I don't have my heart set on Japan. (I also speak a little Chinese and in general, find it easy to pick up languages.

I see that some of the job announcements set an upper age limit. Other than the Peace Corps, what are my best options?

[Isla Guapa]

I'm living in Mexico City. I'm 64, about to turn 65 and haven't had trouble finding students because of my age. Right I have a few private students that I found through connections and online ads. In the recent past I have been given business classes by an agency, and my age was never an issue. I don't know if my age would be a problem if I applied for full-time work at a private elementary or high school or a university.

[naturegirl321]

[Isla Guapa]

[South Londoner]

life starts at 50

[naturegirl321]

[gastropod]

[sojourner]

Hi Gastropod,

I was aged about 57 when I decided to venture into EFL land ! Have now been in China for close to 8 years, working in the uni sector.

Unfortunately, ROK has a reputation for ageism re the employment of foreign teachers - it would appear that many hagwans are reluctant to employ people over the ages of 40 - although I have heard of instances in which people well into their 60s have managed to find jobs there. Also, you need to realise that in the hagwan sector there also appears a marked preference for Nth American accents - so, by being a late-middle-aged Kiwi, you might well find that there could be a "double prejudice" on the part of Korean employers. Yet, if you are really keen to work in ROK keep trying - you just might well be lucky !

But if you can't land a job in ROK, try not to lose too much sleep over it. ! Most of the jobs, there, seem to involve the teaching of kids in hagwans, for around 30 hours pw. Also, according to Dave's Korean fora, many of the FTs in that country are not too happy on account of obnoxious hagwan bosses, xenophobic / bland people, etc. Thus, why not consider China ? You'll have a much wider range of jobs, eg in language schools, state primary/middle/secondary schools - and, of course, the uni sector. If you can manage getting a uni job, you will often have the opportunity to teach subjects other than Oral English.

Check out some of my latest postings to these fora re applying for teaching jobs, as well as about life in China in general. Also, there is a current thread on the China Work-Related forum titled, I think, "Why Are Salaries So Low in China ? ". One of the posters to that thread is someone called "Ever Ready Cleric" (or something like that) who has worked in both ROK and China, is of the opinion that one would probably be better off in China, on account of factors such as a lower cost of living, less working hours, etc I think he's right ! Anyway, check out that thread.

You mentioned that you have student loans to pay off, in NZ. Doesn't "godzone" have something along the lines of Aust's HECS system ? I'm surprised if it hasn't !

Good luck !

Peter

[gastropod]