Job Discussion Forums

[Dolma]

Hello, I'd like to introduce myself. I am 38 years old and currently work as a reference librarian at a 4-year college in NYC. I don't have a TESOL cert but have a BA and 2 Master's in Art History and Library Science. Part of my current job involves Bibliographic Instruction/Information Literacy so I definitely do have some teaching experience. I also taught EFL in Venice, Italy 10 years ago. I wish there was a forum like this back then. At the time I was obsessed with remaining in Venice so I endured an exploitative situation with a rather well-known rat-trap hostel owner: 4 hours private instruction for his 4-year-old(babysitting was more like it) in exchange for a bed in a shared room, no board, 7 days a week. I supplemented this with a few classes at private schools here and there, private lessons and some translations(parlo italiano). I also volunteered for 1 month at a monastery school in Nepal 4 years ago for the most charming, attentive, well-behaved kids you could imagine. Now I am bored with my job(5 yrs in 1 place is too long for this gypsy) and fed up with life in general in GWB's America. As of this year my final credit card will be paid off, not married, no kids, cannot afford my own NYC apt. on my salary so I've decided to put my stuff in storage, save up some $ and go back to Asia long-term. My dream would be to go back to Nepal, but I am thinking maybe Taiwan or the PRC, or even Thailand. I am Buddhist and would like to go where I can study Buddhism in my spare time(never been one for the nightclub scene). Would $5-10K be enough savings to arrive with? Do I need to be concerned with ageism(I am short and have long hair, so look younger, but I'm not 20 anymore)? What countries are best for women? Anyone have recent experience teaching in Nepal or N. India(Himachal, Darjeeling, etc.?) Thanks and Namaste!

[EnglishBrian]

I shouldn't think you'll have any problems with 'ageism' and your maturity might be a plus in many jobs. I do read threads where there's mention of younger and prettier faces pushing people out, but my experience has been the exact opposite. As for having enough money, if you're planning on working you shouldn't need more in the bank than an emergency flight home and enough to give you a roof over your head, if you don't have any relatives you could come back and crash with while you got set up again. I still think people who try to build up enormous financial safety nets often don't throw themselves into TEFL with suitable abandon!

I was a 30 year old librarian who quit the UK and after travelling for a while did a CELTA so I could keep travelling when my money ran out.

Whatever your degree situation I'd recommend doing a CELTA or some such before you leave as it may help with getting decent steady work. However I'm no specialist in the countries you're most interested in and people who know more may well contradict that.

Good luck.

[tedkarma]

I'll echo what Brian had to say.

I've worked in both Thailand and Taiwan - and you should have no problem. In fact, women are in somewhat short supply in EFL (just my opinion) - you should have a small advantage. India and Nepal (only guessing) - decently paid work may be hard to come by.

53 now, started in EFL when I was 39 or 40 - so you'll have plenty of company with people your age.

[Dolma]

Thanks Ted and Brian!
I'm interested in teaching the little ones, and it seems like women have the advantage there in many countries. If the kids in Thailand are anything like the ones I taught in Nepal then it would be a joy... It seems like it's easiest/cheapest to take the CELTA course at ECC in Bangkok-sounds good if they will refund half of your tuition after you start working-not the best outfit to work for it seems from some postings, but if it gets my foot in the door I'd be willing to try. I've got lots of questions but maybe it would be best for me to check the stickies first. Thanks and Namaste, Dolma

[macbethp]

Hello--this is just the kind of topic I was looking for. I'm an experienced teacher (20 years in special education, 2 years in ESOL) and would like to teach overseas for a year, preferably in Eastern Europe. Can anybody tell me about the number of English teachers out there who are over the age of, say, 37? All the anecdotal evidence indicates that it's a young person's job...but it's something I've wanted to do for a long time, and I'm not getting any younger! Thanks for any info.

[ls650]

[Dolma]

[quote="ls650 !]

1) You should have absolutely no problem finding TEFL work in most Asia.
2) Forget the Indian subcontinent, except as a volunteer with an NGO.
3) I always find it amusing when someone asks a question like "What countries are best for women?" It's good to have priorities.[/quote]

Oops, I reread my original post and realized I didn't state that I am a woman myself... That's a good lesson in multiple meanings right there.

Has anyone alternated work in a better paying country(say Taiwan, I live in a Korean area in NYC and Korea itself does not appeal in the least) and volunteer work in poorer countries? 1 year in Taiwan, 1 year in Nepal, 1 year in Taiwan? I could probably get a volunteer post(pay: room and all the dahl bhaat I can eat) at a monastery school in Pokhara, but this is obviously not a long-term solution. It would be fun though. Pokhara is the Chiang Mai of Nepal...

[ls650]

[Dolma]

[quote="ls650] You'd be amazed (or maybe not) how many male posters DO post such a question.[/quote]

LOL...I've recently started hanging out in Ajarn.com, so it doesn't surprise me at all. This forum is like an old fashioned tea party compared to some of the stuff that goes on there. Care for a cucumber sandwich?

[EnglishBrian]

macbethp

You will have NO problem - quite the opposite, you'll be in demand, as long as there aren't any major work permit issues. In the Baltics I've come across MOSTLY older teachers, and they have a much better reputation than the youngsters.

[tedkarma]

My apologies if I missed something - but you should consider some other TEFL cert rather than a CELTA if you intend to teach children. CELTA is adult oriented and the "A" means adult. Most other programs will include teaching children as part of the package. Teaching kids - as you may already know - is quite a different animal from teaching adults.

[Chris_Crossley]

[P-T]

[tedkarma]

I agree with Prue - and I think we have a bit of an advantage. The younger more "backpacker" types are seen as less stable and more likely to bolt before the contract is done - or at the first real sign of trouble. Us "older" folks tend to have a sense of stability about us that the better schools like and want.

Don't get me wrong there are still lots of schools that want "Ken and Barbie" types - but usually they are lousy schools only interested in looks anyway.

[EnglishBrian]

I always guessed the reasons the CELTA (and I assumed Trinity Cert.too) focused on adults (ok, there was a day on kids) were that:

1) Can you focus on every age from 6-16 in a 4 week course?

2) There just aren't enough kids classes available year round to provide for teaching practice in countries like the UK.

3)The growth in kids teaching is relatively recent and these certificate providers are either very slow to adapt their product, or they see the chance to cash in by getting people to take special extra kids certificates later.

There're probably many more reasons too. In every one of my TEFL jobs it's been 50:50 kids and adults. I sometimes wished I'd had more kids training but always managed fine.