Job Discussion Forums

[hieroglyphs]

I'm a highly-experienced teacher who's nearing retirement, and my wife and I have often discussed the possibility of living abroad after 65, for a year or two.

I'm just wondering about the job prospects in ESL for over-65s in general. Are there countries with private schools or (preferably) universities that will hire people at that age? Countries that we've talked about: Vietnam, Thailand, Turkey, the Czech Republic. I wouldn't be terribly fussy about the pay at that point. Just for the experience.

[suphanburi]

Places that will hire you = yes.

Ability to get a visa that allows you to work = unlikely.

Options to work on a "retirement visa" = yes but it is not "legal".

.

[MuscatGary]

What nationality are you?

[spiral78]

The Czech Republic is a possibility from a legal standpoint, but would be difficult.
University jobs for expat native speakers are rare, and pay is low; in many cases just at subsistence level - or below. Paradoxically, these jobs require very strong related qualifications in most cases (related MA, etc). Most university position here are held by highly qualified locals, who tend to live in two-income households and who do not have to pay the high rents faced by expat workers in the city/country.
The majority of private language schools here cater to business clients at their work, requiring travel around the city from 'class' to 'class.' At 65, you may be entirely fit to do this, but schools may be skeptical that you'll really want to spend your days on trams, metros, and bus over the longer term.

Your exact qualifications also matter.
'Highly experienced' at what sort of teaching, exactly? Unless it's ESL/EFL, and with certification (and preferably, related degrees) to back it up, your experience may not be of particular value on the EFL job market.

Prague features a number of CELTA and equivalent training centres, so the majority of newbies on this job market have such a cert. If you decide to try for the Czech Rep and don't already have a cert, consider taking a course in the city. In August, ideally (main hiring season is September, most contracts are Sept/Oct thru June).

Teaching content courses in a student's native language is very different from teaching language; there is a vast body of literature to support this. To make a cross over from teaching content to language, at the least you would need a CELTA or equivalent certification (120+ hours on site, and including supervised teaching with real students).
Frankly, it's often very difficult for long-term teachers of other subjects to adopt the very different approaches and methods used for language teaching.
However, if your background is directly related, of course that will be seen as a strength.

[Janiny]

Because you said that you and your Mrs. wouldn't be terribly fussy about the pay, and just interested in the experience, I wonder if you haven't considered the Peace Corps or the so-called 'domestic Peace corps : Vista or Americorps.

Here are some links:

http://www.peacecorps.gov

http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/join-americorps

I think the Peace Corps is quite popular with retirees, but you will need to do your own research and make your own decision, of course.

As for flat-out ESL, Dave's ESL Cafe often runs this job offer:

http://www.eslcafe.com/joblist/index.cgi?read=32536

It's middle school, junior and senior English teaching jobs in Hungary. Apparently you need to come up with the initial fee for a Euro working visa, and the salary is minimal but enough to live on - according to the recruiters-

I seriously considered working for them once although I am a decade plus short of retirement age. I think of them now because I was told they have exactly one university position that paid even less than the high schools, but it was currently occupied by a retired person who did not really need the money.

Again, I am just pointing these three possibilities out. You will need to consider them carefully to know if they are suitable for you. Good luck.

BTW, can we assume you are an English teacher, or did you teach some other subject? And has your wife any teaching experience?

[hieroglyphs]

[quote="Janiny"]Because you said that you and your Mrs. wouldn't be terribly fussy about the pay, and just interested in the experience, I wonder if you haven't considered the Peace Corps or the so-called 'domestic Peace corps : Vista or Americorps.

Here are some links:

http://www.peacecorps.gov

http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/join-americorps

I think the Peace Corps is quite popular with retirees, but you will need to do your own research and make your own decision, of course.

As for flat-out ESL, Dave's ESL Cafe often runs this job offer:

http://www.eslcafe.com/joblist/index.cgi?read=32536

It's middle school, junior and senior English teaching jobs in Hungary. Apparently you need to come up with the initial fee for a Euro working visa, and the salary is minimal but enough to live on - according to the recruiters-

I seriously considered working for them once although I am a decade plus short of retirement age. I think of them now because I was told they have exactly one university position that paid even less than the high schools, but it was currently occupied by a retired person who did not really need the money.

Again, I am just pointing these three possibilities out. You will need to consider them carefully to know if they are suitable for you. Good luck.

[nomad soul]

Also discussed in the following:

"How old is too old?"
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=99291

"I'm 64, will I be able to work?"
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=99496

"Hiring of "Older" Teachers"
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=99782