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[judefa]

Good afternoon, class. javascript:emoticon('')
Embarassed

I am considering a switch to TEFL at the possibly-over-the-hill age of 51 and, to make matters worse, have no uni degree; just a near lifetime in newspaper journalism - stretching back to 1970. I may have committed career suicide, having chucking in my job at the top of the heap in Oz/NZ, but I also have a spirit of adventure and have always been a compulsive traveller and explorer of other cultures.

My plan is to do the CELTA course with International House in Sydney in March; my question is what reasonable expectation can I have of employment somewhere that at least won't leave me out of pocket (I don't expect to get rich from this)?

Since most reputable schools require "experience", where do I get my start?

I am a NZ citizen and Oz resident, not eligible for an EU passport and, damn it, female.

Would love to hear from anyone who has faced similar obstacles - especially anyone who has succeeded. Would also love to know whether you find the work rewarding or wish you were doing something else.

Any advice for or against this path would be much appreciated. I am prepared for an adventure but nervous about false promises and hell-holes such as some I've read about in these forums.

Thanks, Jude