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mbinca
Joined: 09 Dec 2015
Posts: 3
Location: San Diego
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 Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2016 4:52 pm Post subject: Chance of Success with MA in Teaching Rather than CELTA |
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Hi All,
I am a 52-yr old widowed male here in the USA looking to make a transition into English teaching so I can live overseas. I was a high school teacher for 10+ years, and have a bachelor's in English and a Master's in Teaching, including BCLAD, a California requirement (Bilingual, Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development ) as part of my teaching credential. I speak Korean (was a translator in the army) and Spanish very well.
My goal is to go to Korea for a couple of years to teach, and then to South America. I am not concerned about certification for Korea, but am wondering if my current coursework will do in place of getting a CELTA or TESOL for other locations. I'm not opposed to those, but why spend the time and money if I don't have to?
I'm wondering about your thoughts on this plan and the CELTA/TESOL issue in particular. Thanks in advance for advice.
Cheers, Matt |
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santi84
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Posts: 1317
Location: under da sea
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2016 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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| I wouldn't bother with CELTA/TEFL, you could do well in an international school teaching US curriculum. Considering your language skills, other opportunities might come up once you have made connections. |
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currentaffairs
Joined: 22 Aug 2012
Posts: 828
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2016 9:06 pm Post subject: |
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| I would go for an international school in the Middle East for the money, and then head to South America after a few years. I spent a little bit of time teaching in Colombia, and you need a bit of cash behind you to get you going.. TeachAway is a good organization to link up with for international school jobs.. |
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spanglish
Joined: 21 May 2009
Posts: 742
Location: working on that
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2016 10:55 pm Post subject: |
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Your existing experience and qualifications should far supersede a CELTA.
If you're up for the hours and (potential) stress, you could make good money right off the bat in South America teaching at an international school. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2016 11:19 pm Post subject: Re: Chance of Success with MA in Teaching Rather than CELTA |
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| mbinca wrote: |
| Looking to make a transition into English teaching so I can live overseas. I was a high school teacher for 10+ years, and have a bachelor's in English and a Master's in Teaching, including BCLAD, a California requirement (Bilingual, Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development ) as part of my teaching credential. |
If you're looking to transition to English, what high school subject(s) have you taught, and what are you currently licensed to teach? I ask because I also have a MAT, which generally includes a subject specialization or emphasis. |
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suphanburi
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 916
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| Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 12:14 am Post subject: |
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For the Asian context you are good go to as far as background and credentials are concerned. A CELTA/TESOL would largely be a waste of time and money.
As a licensed teacher you should quit looking at EFL boards and look for a position teaching English as a subject in an international school setting (unless your justification to move abroad is for philanthropic reasons). The pay is about 3-5x more than an EFL teacher and usually comes with a nice expat package where EFL jobs pay entry level wages and usually come with no benefits.
You do need to be aware that Asia is NOT like home - a problem that many well educated educators fail to consider. Culture shock is a big factor in transitioning abroad. Living abroad on the local economy (going native) is not like being a tourist nor is it like being in the armed forces (where you have the support of the base and the culture is brought with you).
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mbinca
Joined: 09 Dec 2015
Posts: 3
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 6:44 am Post subject: |
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Hi,
>>Suphanburi: I am definitely aware of what Asia is like...was stationed there for 2 1/2 years in the 80's, although I know it has changed a lot. And I lived off base much of the time, so the culture shock would not be that tough for me. I did know a lot of GI's who never ventured much past the little area around base -- their loss. .
>>Nomad soul: I am a currently licensed English and Spanish teacher. My MAT did not focus on one area.
Ideally, I would like to work in more of a language school than an international school; more like a language academy. I know I can make decent money in Korea, and I am not hugely concerned with money in South America; I am also in it for the experience of living there. But I will consider the international schools; thanks to all for that advice. Any other advice is welcome! |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 7:39 am Post subject: |
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| mbinca wrote: |
| Ideally, I would like to work in more of a language school than an international school; more like a language academy. I know I can make decent money in Korea, and I am not hugely concerned with money in South America; I am also in it for the experience of living there. But I will consider the international schools; thanks to all for that advice. Any other advice is welcome! |
You should try for Korea first, given your age of 52. Since SK can't be discussed in these forums, head to the Korea forum, which requires separate registration. And definitely inquire about how the language schools are there; they're not likely to be what you envision. |
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suphanburi
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 916
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| Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 8:20 am Post subject: |
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| mbinca wrote: |
| Ideally, I would like to work in more of a language school than an international school; more like a language academy. I know I can make decent money in Korea, and I am not hugely concerned with money in South America; I am also in it for the experience of living there. But I will consider the international schools; thanks to all for that advice. Any other advice is welcome! |
Language academies, at least in the Asian context, are bottom of the barrel positions that are focused on making money and have no real interest in teaching/learning.
You'd be nothing more than a commodity to be had as cheaply as they can you for and sold for as much as they can get. These are entry level jobs and they burn out teachers as fast as they recruit them. In the Asian context they are largely focused on younger kids (k-6).
If you do get a lob in a language center (other than one at a university) that focuses on older students you'll be looking at some pretty ugly split shifts (6-9am then 6-10pm).
Language academies in Asia pay somewhere between $600-2000 /month (depending on the country) with few or no benefits.
At 52 you will also be faced with BIG ageism issues. I think you'll find that employers, unless you are already local, largely won't want you. It'll be hard to find one that will actually hire you from abroad much less buy you the plane ticket to do it.
20-somethings are much easier to get, more adaptable to change, more malleable and less likely to stand up to their bosses (even when the boss is wrong). They also put up with things like shared or dorm housing. (renting your own in places like Korea or Japan means HUGE key money deposits ($10k or more) so usually aren't an option.
As to culture shock... even venturing or living off-base (35 years ago) and covered under a SOFA with the umbrella of being in the US Forces and earning dollars is not the same as living on the local economy and playing by their rules instead of US rules. It will bite you, especially in Asia but who am I to tell an experienced soul like yourself.
Good luck to you.
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mbinca
Joined: 09 Dec 2015
Posts: 3
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Again, thanks for all the advice everyone. I do genuinely appreciate that advice which is given in good faith and without attitude an/or sarcasm. |
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spanglish
Joined: 21 May 2009
Posts: 742
Location: working on that
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| Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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| mbinca wrote: |
Hi,
>>Suphanburi: I am definitely aware of what Asia is like...was stationed there for 2 1/2 years in the 80's, although I know it has changed a lot. And I lived off base much of the time, so the culture shock would not be that tough for me. I did know a lot of GI's who never ventured much past the little area around base -- their loss. .
>>Nomad soul: I am a currently licensed English and Spanish teacher. My MAT did not focus on one area.
Ideally, I would like to work in more of a language school than an international school; more like a language academy. I know I can make decent money in Korea, and I am not hugely concerned with money in South America; I am also in it for the experience of living there. But I will consider the international schools; thanks to all for that advice. Any other advice is welcome! |
Lots of good advice above, particularly suphanburi's posts.
Language academies in Latin America = low pay and quite-often required to travel all over the city to teach classes on-site at businesses. You'll only make money if you are willing to take unsafe local transportation. If you have a pension or some kind of side income, then you should be fine. In that case - at least in Colombia - you could probably negotiate some kind of part-time contract that only involved teaching at one location. |
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