Job Discussion Forums

[Mike E]

Hello, apologies for any redundancy, I just thought I'd look for input about my situation.

35 year old American, BA Philosophy and Religion, TESOL certified in San Francisco in 2011, spent 2012 teaching Oral English at a Chinese university. The next thing I want to do is pursue a Masters in TESOL, with the goal of gainful employment in America in a community college, private language school, or the like.

But it seems likely that I don't have a chance to begin grad school until the fall of 2014--and that's assuming I'm accepted on my first try.

So the thing I've come here to look for input on is the question of how to spend the interim. The main options on my mind are:

1) Returning to teach another year in China. My old school would gladly have me back, or I could pursue a contract at a better paying school in a little nicer city in the area (maybe Zhuhai). This would have the obvious advantage of giving me another year of teaching experience. My big hesitation here is that -- despite being a rock star among my students -- there were things about living in China that I really didn't like, and I feel more inclined to be close to my family for a while (or at least in America).

2) Returning to the San Francisco area, where there are supposedly semi-livable entry level ELT jobs (can anyone weigh in on the current state of these?). The issue here is the risk. I am already pretty broke, and that area is very expensive. I imagine I could just as likely end up slinging espressos and maybe scraping together a little part-time teaching work, all while going deeper in debt (I suck with money). However, I love that area, and it is a place where I have some TESOL connection, and maybe could network with it.

3) Finding a job in the Midwest (where there probably won't be any TESOL opportunity other than volunteerism), being right around the right distance from my family, and trying to hunker down, study my TESOL/linguistics books, and otherwise prepare for grad school.

Any of these options sound like a clear mistake? Anything big that you think I'm overlooking?

[scot47]

I am puzzled that you are seeking advice from unkown strangers on the internet. Ask your friends and family. They know you. We do not.

[Mike E]

It doesn't seem that out of line, to me, with much of what discussion forums like this are used for. I didn't know any of you when I posted any of my hundred or so other posts on here, either.

[nomad soul]

Since you say you're broke yet also aware TESL jobs in the US are hard to come by (they're quite competitive), it's obvious you need to continue teaching---whether that's back in China or somewhere else in Asia---in order to keep building experience and making money. However, you mentioned you really want to be close to your family in the US. If that's more of a priority for you, then you'll likely have to get whatever job you can. At least you'd have your family nearby and you'd be earning money to pay for grad school. (I'm sure you'll get accepted into an MA program.)

[Mike E]

In your sense of today's US TESOL (to adults) job market, do you feel that one or the other teacher is more likely hired: MA TESOL with only limited work experience overseas, or on the other hand, more overseas experience but no MA?

[nomad soul]

[Perilla]

I don't really see the point in festering at home while doing dodgy p/t jobs - isn't that why most (or at least many) of us joined the TEFL bandwagon in the first place? Seems to make much more sense if you head back overseas and fill the intervening period with gainful employment. You'll still be able to spend quality holiday time with your family and you'll have money in your pockets alongside further experience. IMO it's a no-brainer.

[coledavis]

How about broadening your TEFL experience by teaching at a language school in a very different country? For a non-EU citizen, I would think Russia or Ukraine might be suitable.