Job Discussion Forums

[mmcmorrow]

What impacts do you think the latest US Worldwide Travel Alert is likely to have on our field?

One possibility is that the impact could be minimal, given that several of these alerts have been issued over recent years.

However, against the rather generalised background of increased insecurity, I feel that it could lead to a significant reduction in Americans (and, to a lesser extent, citizens of other countries) travelling overseas. I recall that during the first Gulf War, just over twenty years ago, the number of American visitors to Europe fell significantly, even though London was hardly the epicentre of that particular conflict. I think there was also a downturn in overseas students, especially Japanese, coming to London etc.

Some UK, US and Canadian schools are quite dependent on groups from South America coming over in January and February and I imagine some parents are going to be reluctant to send their kids overseas in the current climate. It could also affect TEFL courses with high proportions of American trainees. But could it lead to more trainees taking online courses?

On the other hand, it's possible that global insecurity could have less of a negative impact - and even a positive effect - on countries seen as safe and out of the way, like NZ.

NZ, by the way, is experiencing record high levels of immigration - over 110, 000 new permanent migrants in the year to October; interestingly, this is more than double the per capita migration rate of Australia (which is just under 200, 000). NZ also had about 200, 000 short term visitors and students over the last twelve months - and for the first time, Indian migrants have overtaken Chinese as the largest national group among migrants.

At the moment, it's hard to see NZ being very much affected by these events, but I can imagine owners and staff in language schools and teacher training institutes in Europe getting a bit worried.

Martin McMorrow, Massey University, New Zealand

[suphanburi]

I think that as teachers the impact would be minimal at best...

perhaps a slight decline in competition for jobs as Americans choose to stay home (in the short term) rather than move abroad for a gap-year or 3; especially since Americans don't really impact the job market in Europe.

In the Asian context it has no meaning. Jobs outnumber applicants by at least an order of magnitude and the market size is MUCH larger than the ESL context in English speaking countries:
Korea - 15-20k EFL teachers
China - 50k+ EFL teachers
Thailand - 15k EFL teachers
etc....

I don't think it will have much impact on the Latin American context either.

.

[mmcmorrow]

Yes, if there is any effect, it will probably be limited to areas of TEFL that are dependent on international travel, such as:

TEFL courses with high proportions of teachers travelling from the USA (and to a lesser extent from other Western countries)

ESOL / EFL programmes in the UK, US, and maybe Australia which have high numbers of international students, especially younger students whose parents would be reluctant to send them overseas in times of insecurity.

EFL schools looking to recruit Western (particularly American) teachers.

On the other hand, the increased migration into Western countries should lead to increased demand for ESOL teachers within community colleges etc (dependent on Government funding, of course).

Martin McMorrow, Massey University, NZ

[scot47]

More difficulty in recruiting US teachers for jobs in KSA. Reduction in standards for said jobs. Arrival in KSA of more weirdos. MORE ?