Job Discussion Forums

[Ethan T]

First, I would like to apologize for repeating the same scenario that is constantly proposed.

Abstract:
My name is Ethan, I am 21, a native English speaker from the USA. I have graduated high school three years ago, but never went on to college and have no TEFL. I have been looking into online TEFL certification (no $50 weekend courses - mainly focusing on Toronto University TEFL) and have no issue in obtaining TEFL certification. I understand the market is shrinking for people such as myself. I have read through the search results of similar situations (sorry for no links - I accidentally closed the pages and my browser is set to not record history), but am still wondering if there is any opportunity for me presuming I obtain a TEFL certificate. Volunteering is certainly an option, especially with organizations such as English Opens Doors. While I would prefer to be paid, I am more interested in the experience above all else. Additionally, I know more than basic Spanish and am self-teaching myself the language on a daily basis. I have been able to hold basic conversations with Mexicans before, and have improved much since my last conversation. Also, has anyone had any experience with TeachAway?

Additional:
As far as personal motives for desiring to teach English abroad goes, I simply desire to be in new places. As far back as I can recall, I have always wanted to leave to another land. This is not the type of inspiration generated by cliché portrayals of foreign lands as being something desirable, but rather spawned by a lack of ever feeling a sense of home and belonging from the USA. I have been over quite a bit of the USA, and none of it has ever "reached out" and captivated me. Recently I relocated to New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa and have been here for eight months now. I still have not lost my original excitement of waking up under the beautiful blue sky here. As much as I have fallen in love with New Zealand, alas I do not believe I can find a way to stay here beyond my 1 year visa. This gives me a remaining four months to prepare for departure. Nothing against the USA really, it is a great place, it is just not home for me, which is why I dread returning to it. Also, college is not an option for me for quite a few reasons I will not discuss. I know this causes a complication in the matter, but sadly simply is.

Summary:
I would prefer to earn some money teaching English in a foreign land, but more than the money is to live by myself rather than to be in someone else's house. A lot of volunteer programs tend to rely on the latter, and understandably so. I really am not going to be picky as to where I can go, and am not really interested in making insanely huge quantities of money - I just want to be somewhere else. TEFL seems like a suitable venue for my passion.

Any and all advice would be appreciated. I understand that it must be irritating hearing essentially the same situation repackaged and reworded, so I would like to thank you for even reading my post. I look forward to the responses, and take all advice seriously (as I have read some simply disappear when they do not get the reply they want). Thank you again!

Ethan

[nomad soul]

[HLJHLJ]

You could probably scrape a living in parts of South America, especially if you get a good quality TEFL certificate. But with no degree it will often be unstable work and your visa situation will be precarious in the long term as doors are closing all the time. You are also unlikely to be able to afford to live alone.

[suphanburi]

Their (Teachaway's) primary source of income is selling TEFL certs to newbies with promises of "teach and travel". Take the stars out of your eyes before you get burned.

Buyer beware.

Now to other issues.

Without a degree your chances of legal work (defined as having the proper visa and permits) are rapidly heading to "0" - GLOBALLY.

After 2015 all of the ASEAN +6 block is off the radar (Asia east of India).
The USA and Canada are off the radar.
The EU is not open do you.

Central and south America are options but those doors are rapidly closing as well. Jobs will be tenuous, seriously underpaid (to the point of not affording private housing) and inconsistent.

IF you want to go down that road then the best option is to get one of the top 3 TESOL/TEFL certificates (and they aren't cheap):

-CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) - offered by Cambridge ESOL.
-Trinity Cert TESOL
-SIT Cert TESOL (the same people that trained the Peace Corps).

They won't guarantee success but at least they are recognized globally as meeting a certain level of quality of graduates.

In the end, the news you don't want to hear is that you really do need to get a degree if you want to stay in EFL for more than a gap year exercise. Without a legitimate degree there is no future as an educator.

.

[Ethan T]

I knew that Asia was rapidly raising standards for TEFL. I was told by several friends I have who have gone off to teach English that South America was still viable. It sounds like that is wrong. While expected, it is a bit disappointing to hear that there are no real options available, and if there are, they will be gone. Is this extending into the volunteer sector as well, or are there stable volunteer programs that will be around for a while?

[nomad soul]

Volunteer organizations may or may not have the same requirements and criteria because volunteers aren't paid employees (i.e., there's no employment contract). You'd need to consider each program individually to see if you qualify.

Obviously, you won't earn a living as a volunteer, so this plan isn't viable long term.

[HLJHLJ]

I believe the Peace Corps have a very small number of placements that don't require a degree. I think you need particular skills or experience instead though, but I'm not really sure.

[Ethan T]

I had forgotten about the Peace Corps. Perhaps I should look into them a bit. Thank you for the tip!

[nomad soul]

[rtm]

[Ethan T]

[nomad soul]

[Ethan T]

[naturegirl321]

There are many methods other than TEFL. However this is a TEFL forever and you have to figure out your passion. What are you doing in NZ? Maybe you could do that somewhere

[suphanburi]