|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Kallisto
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 2
|
 Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 1:35 am Post subject: Just starting out... |
 |
|
Hello Everyone,
I've been thinking about teaching English in a foreign country for awhile now, but I have just started researching how to go about it. First of all, I am a 21 year old American woman with a 2 year degree, no teaching experience. My boyfriend and I plan on going together wherever we end up. He is interested in teaching, also, but does not have any degrees.
So, from what I have read here, I gather it is relatively difficult to find an overseas teaching job that would allow me to save a little bit of money. Right now we are open to go just about anywhere, although we would prefer to live close to the beach. I figured we may be able to save a little money since we would share housing.
Also, since the posters here are more wordly  ... Do you know anything about Right-to-return visas? My paternal line is from England, I thought maybe that could open up some options for me.
Thanks for taking time to read my post. I appreciate any recommendations and/or advice!
*Forgot to add that we are both intending on acquiring a TEFL certificate. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Cdaniels
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 663
Location: Dunwich, Massachusetts
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 2:42 am Post subject: also getting ready to teach overseas |
|
|
| I am also getting ready to teach overseas, although I've already done some teaching here in the US. Am I wrong in guessing that China would be the best place to start looking (especially for people without a Bachelor's degree?) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
GambateBingBangBOOM
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
Posts: 2021
Location: Japan
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 5:14 am Post subject: Re: Just starting out... |
|
|
| Kallisto wrote: |
So, from what I have read here, I gather it is relatively difficult to find an overseas teaching job that would allow me to save a little bit of money. Right now we are open to go just about anywhere, although we would prefer to live close to the beach. I figured we may be able to save a little money since we would share housing.
|
In many countries, unless you are married, you are single, and therefore you may not be permitted to live together. You could look into eikaiwa schools in Japan to start out (Nova, Aeon, Geos etc).
| Quote: |
| My paternal line is from England, I thought maybe that could open up some options for me. |
Depends what "parental line" means. Did you parents emmigrate, or your grandparents? If it's your parents and the US permits you to hold more than one citizenship, then you should be fine. My sister can hold British citizenship due to our parents being born there. I myself was born there and got my Canadian citizenship later and hold both. You are tied to the country of the passport you use when you are overseas, so if I were to go to Germany with my British EU passport and have a problem, the Canadian embassy wouldn't help me. The British government would refer to me as a "non-resident" British Subject and likely not really help all that much either (depending on the seriousness of the problem, I suppose).
Your boyfirend will have really big problems. Unless he can qualify for a working holiday visa, he likely will not qualify for work in most countries. Finding a job in-country may be his best bet. China is a popular destination for the degreeless, but you likely won't be able to save much at all, especially if you think about the amount in terms of US dollars. Without an EU passport, the EU would be really, really hard for him, so short of you two going to seperate countries or him not really working a regular job, getting a British passport likely won't help you all that much either. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Chasgul
Joined: 04 May 2005
Posts: 168
Location: BG
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 8:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
If you can get your UK passport do that first. Then think about working in the EU as you will have the right to do so.
Once you have your EU Passport, you then have to decide how much you want your boyfriend with you. If you want him around long-term get married so that he will also have the right to live and work in the EU.
That's the cynic's answer to your work-permit problems.
A further suggestion would be to invest in an internationally recognised teaching qualification before going anywhere - taking the certificate course will not only give you a basic knowledge of what to do, it will also give you an idea of whether or not you actually want to be a teacher. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
|
| Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2005 1:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
If neither of you have university degrees you can not get a work visa to work in Japan, full stop. You need a 4 year degree as its a requirement of the work visa, if you are an American.
Americans can not get working holiday visas, only Canadians, New Zealanders, British citizens and Australians. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kallisto
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 2
|
| Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2005 6:22 am Post subject: Thanks for the feedback... |
|
|
| Thanks for all of the info/feedback. I guess in order to save money teaching English overseas a degree is the only way to go. Getting a EU passport would open a lot of opportunities, but I don't want to the leave the boyfriend behind. Marriage is NOT an option! Think I might try a cruise ship or tour guide...maybe a beach resort...it changes daily. Anyway, thanks and good luck to everyone! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
|
| Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2005 6:32 am Post subject: Re: Thanks for the feedback... |
|
|
| Kallisto wrote: |
| Thanks for all of the info/feedback. I guess in order to save money teaching English overseas a degree is the only way to go. Getting a EU passport would open a lot of opportunities, but I don't want to the leave the boyfriend behind. Marriage is NOT an option! Think I might try a cruise ship or tour guide...maybe a beach resort...it changes daily. Anyway, thanks and good luck to everyone! |
Even if you could get a job in Japan the salary for entry level employees is about $2400 a month for a 40 hour week. On an hourly rate its about $12 an hour and the worst jobs are no more than forced labor. Most employers will not even interview you unless you have a valid work visa and a degree. To save decent money anywhere you have to earn more than you spend and its pretty hard on a basic teachers salary these days.
I know someone working in Shanghai and monthly salaries are about $1000 a month for an unqualified entry-level person. You could probably get work but you will be in a permanent underclass with no hope of advancement. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
31
Joined: 21 Jan 2005
Posts: 1797
|
| Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2005 8:11 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks for the feedback... |
|
|
you will be in a permanent underclass with no hope of advancement.
That is TEFL. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Chris_Crossley
Joined: 26 Jun 2004
Posts: 1797
Location: Still in the centre of Furnace City, PRC, after eight years!!!
|
| Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2005 3:08 am Post subject: It depends on the school you work at |
|
|
| 31 wrote: |
| You will be in a permanent underclass with no hope of advancement. That is TEFL. |
For the great majority of people, that is sadly true, though I work at a very atypical school, where the principal is an ex-pat, not a local Chinese. In fact, the seven schools belonging to the organisation, whose head office is in Chengdu, that I represent each has an ex-pat as a principal. All teachers - and I mean "all" - are invited each year for vacancies in positions for principals, so opportunities for advancement are made.
The organisation is directly affiliated to a partnership of 19 English universities, and so the teachers, including non-UK citizens, are accorded the British university rank of lecturer (or, in the case of the principal, senior lecturer). Three of the lecturers who worked for my school in Wuhan are all returning to the UK to lectureships at universities in Manchester.
The vast majority of schools in TEFL are, lamentably, not like the one I work at. If only they were, then we would all feel that TEFL is a "true" profession, I am sure. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
