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young_whippersnapper
Joined: 21 Jul 2013 Posts: 19
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 2:27 am Post subject: Introduction, and questions about legitimate TEFL employment |
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Hello!
I am an undergraduate university student who will have completed a B.S. in International Affairs and a TEFL Certification by the end of the year.
I'm working on the TEFL program right now and am looking for possible employment in the field, in addition to weighing between TEFL jobs and going to graduate school.
My concerns have to do with finding legitimate employment, as I notice a number of ads that look like scams, and have also heard some rather nasty reviews of employment with some of the larger chain schools. However, I take these reviews with a grain of salt as some of these reviews involve people complaining about not having the first-world comforts of home.
In terms of what I'm looking for, I don't necessarily care about a cushy gig. I'm perfectly okay with doing a "hardship tour" teaching in a remote part of Central Asia or Western China, which seems to be what a lot of people who speak ill of their TEFL experience had issues with. My concerns are whether I can find a school or company in which the staff and administration care about their employees and conduct themselves in a professional manner.
What is your advice on searching for TEFL jobs? |
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Denim-Maniac
Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Posts: 1238
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 2:52 am Post subject: Re: Introduction, and questions about legitimate TEFL employ |
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There are a few issues to consider from a China perspective I think.
The first is the rule regarding two years work experience. This may be interpreted as two years post-degree experience and as a result, many job openings may simply not be open to you. However, rules and laws in China are not absolute, and can be altered or ignored to suit local needs or according to relationships between your employer and the visa issuing agencies.
What TEFL certification are you doing? Also be aware that some employers in the region will only accept a recognised 120 hour course with observed teaching practice of real EFL students. A few employers in China really want to see CELTA etc, and Im guessing the same holds true for other areas in Asia.
Applying for jobs found on this website and others like TEFL.com is the only way to really find out if you are qualified for a visa. All my experience is just that, and the same will hold true for anyone else who posts. Getting feedback from potential employers is key really.
Id be very wary of the hardship tour route. You have to be a very special kind of person to be able to cope well in that situation, and it will be compounded by the fact you are a new teacher with no experience. A stint in the boonies with no company, no help and no Chinese language skills could be very very difficult. You would be far better off in a place with other foreigners who you can learn from and connect with, as well as a place that had some access to some western comforts.
You can find schools and employers that are more professional than others, but by the same token, you may have to reassess your definition of a professional manner. In a large number of EFL jobs in China, and at entry level, you are unlikely to be regarded as a 'professional' and understanding and accepting that can smooth the path considerably. |
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young_whippersnapper
Joined: 21 Jul 2013 Posts: 19
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 3:08 am Post subject: Re: Introduction, and questions about legitimate TEFL employ |
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Denim-Maniac wrote: |
There are a few issues to consider from a China perspective I think.
The first is the rule regarding two years work experience. This may be interpreted as two years post-degree experience and as a result, many job openings may simply not be open to you. However, rules and laws in China are not absolute, and can be altered or ignored to suit local needs or according to relationships between your employer and the visa issuing agencies.
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I find this dynamic interesting, but I would like to find an employer that is honest and professional enough not to bend the laws just for one employee (or to get away with whatever they want). That is part of where my concern about professionalism on the part of the school or company comes into play.
That said, I'm not solely looking at positions in China, although I am interested in Chinese culture and know a small amount of Chinese language (mostly a few elementary vocabulary words and some prescriptive grammar rules about sentence patterns) from college classes.
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What TEFL certification are you doing? Also be aware that some employers in the region will only accept a recognised 120 hour course with observed teaching practice of real EFL students. A few employers in China really want to see CELTA etc, and Im guessing the same holds true for other areas in Asia. |
I'm studying for a 100-hour TEFL certificate offered by a language institute based out of my current university. I thought that 120-hour/CELTA programs were specifically offered only in Britain, but I may be wrong.
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Applying for jobs found on this website and others like TEFL.com is the only way to really find out if you are qualified for a visa. All my experience is just that, and the same will hold true for anyone else who posts. Getting feedback from potential employers is key really. |
Tefl.com seems to have some good job listings, some of which I have applied for while riding on a "let's throw in my resume and see what happens" attitude. However, they also occasionally have ads that seem questionable.
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Id be very wary of the hardship tour route. You have to be a very special kind of person to be able to cope well in that situation, and it will be compounded by the fact you are a new teacher with no experience. A stint in the boonies with no company, no help and no Chinese language skills could be very very difficult. You would be far better off in a place with other foreigners who you can learn from and connect with, as well as a place that had some access to some western comforts.
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Understandable. I'm looking into positions in larger cities (and countries other than China) as well. That said, it would definitely be helpful to have other English-speakers nearby. I have had the experience of tutoring ESL students from other countries who did not have any same-language speakers nearby, and I can only imagine their feelings of isolation and frustration. |
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Denim-Maniac
Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Posts: 1238
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 6:03 am Post subject: Re: Introduction, and questions about legitimate TEFL employ |
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young_whippersnapper wrote: |
I find this dynamic interesting, but I would like to find an employer that is honest and professional enough not to bend the laws just for one employee (or to get away with whatever they want). That is part of where my concern about professionalism on the part of the school or company comes into play.
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Thats the kind of thing you have to get your head around and accept to some degree. Law, habits, culture and professionalism have different definitions outside our own shores. Some of those reviews you took with a pinch of salt may have been from people who didnt quite understand that. To some degree, professionalism is defined by our own cultures and our own expectations.
I get frustrated sometimes because my employer doesnt update student name lists as often as I expect them to. As a result I sometimes walk into class and find an extra student or two there, and when I have printed material and organised interaction patterns etc, I get frustrated. I think its a tad unprofessional to not update the student name lists.
However, my boss gets frustrated with me because to him professionalism is accepting that everything is changeable and adjusting according to the needs of the school.
My school has a textbook with my photo on the front, and its contents were entirely lifted from another source and copied as their own. Some people would consider that unprofessional, and be offended by the use of a photo without permission. Its standard here though TBH.
Professionalism has to start with being paid on time, given the correct paperwork and visas, contract terms being abided and questions answered fairly and promptly. If you get that, you'll be doing OK in my book.
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I'm studying for a 100-hour TEFL certificate offered by a language institute based out of my current university. I thought that 120-hour/CELTA programs were specifically offered only in Britain, but I may be wrong. |
No, CELTA can be done in many places worldwide, as can Trinity Cert TESOL and some other courses. The key part is observed teaching practice of real students. Lots of places in China dont know the first thing about courses ... Ive had experience with a couple that look for CELTA etc. Again, check with each employer / region.
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Understandable. I'm looking into positions in larger cities (and countries other than China) as well. That said, it would definitely be helpful to have other English-speakers nearby. I have had the experience of tutoring ESL students from other countries who did not have any same-language speakers nearby, and I can only imagine their feelings of isolation and frustration. |
My info is only for China really. That (and the UK) are the only places I have TEFL'd. I can't recommend China enough really, but only if you are in the right places. I have great friends and a fantastic social life here, mainly because I work in a decent place and teach adults. Adult students, especially in China, are very very willing to make friends and be sociable. Id be lost without my students TBH! |
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