Job Discussion Forums

jinxy22 · Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2003 5:04 pm Post subject: where to teach without degree?

i have finished two years of a 4 year theater and engish degree,. i'm bored of school and looking to travel and teach english for a year or two. where would you suggest someone like myself look for teaching employment?
is finding "under the table" jobs impossible in countries that require a degree? and what countries are the better paying, non-degree requiring countires? is it possible to fake a degree?
thanks for any help guys! i really appreciate it!

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

Is this a troll? If not,do not try to teach illegally.It is your butt if they catch you,but I suggest you not consider it.You need a degree to teach legally in Korea and many other places.You need the degree to get the work permit in many places,including Korea.China may be one place you can work legally without a degree,but China hands can probably tell you more about that than me.Suggestion:finish your degree.If you don't you will get all the crap jobs the qualified people do not want.Again,I hope you are not a troll.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

My advice is GET A DEGREE AND THEN TEACH. I know this is probably not what you want to hear. That is what happens when you ask for advice.

When I was 19 I had not graduated and was offered a job in Mao's China.
I was very unhappy at university. I am glad now that I did not accept the kind offer from the PRC, and stuck with it.

As for finances, can't you get part-time work while you study ? Student Loan ?

I hope this is not some nasty troll.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

richard ame · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 319 Location: Republic of Turkey

Isn't this the type of question or person the newbie forum was set up for ?I find it difficult to understand how this type of poster can expect anything from the vast majority but distain and contempt regardless of where he /she posts,why am I even bothering to offer a reply ? Get a degree and some experience and try for a tefl or whatever in the meantime ,then ask again .

jinxy22 · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2003 8:03 am Post subject: not a troll ...

hmm ..
read what i wrote ..
quite obviuosly left everything out i needed to say and left random remarks for you kids to pick at ..
my reason for doing all this is quite personal...
i have studied theater all my life, have been in professional theater since i was 7 ... i have gone to uni to study theater and minor in english ..
i do not come from a wealthy fam ... and i lost my mom in sept.
so the money for my education was used towards her death...
no pity required ... strong woman who put up a good fight and wowed all of us for the time she stuck with us ..
i have taken a tefl course .. what i'm looking for is a year or two teaching ..
i work with the easter seal society .. i teach children with disabilities how to gain independance. this is incredibly challenging and now i'm looking for something as challeging with some financial gain involved ( will complete uni eventually by hopefully saving some $$$)
i should have posted in the newbie forum ... as this is all new to me ... as well as shoulda been a bit more specific with what i meant ..
cheers to u kids who responded .. .i appreciate it ..
just tryin' to figure out a realistic life path ..
j

ESL Guru · Joined: 18 May 2003 Posts: 462

Please do come to China.

Wolf · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth

Technically you can get work in the PRC. Some places take anyone with a GED. But, you might not like what you get. The PRC might be a little more cuddly than in Mao's day, but not much. And, you won't have many other options.

I do not recommend it, but it is possible.

jinxy22 · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2003 8:23 am Post subject: cheers guru

hmm ..
guru ...
i want to work with kids overseas ... i hardly see this as a "backpacking adventure" ... i have to feed the majority of kids i work with everyday, change their diapers, and help children with muscular distrophy go to bed .. i support parents who learn their children will die of muscular distrophy at the age of 13-18. i encourage group discussion with other parents while trying to remain seperate from the situation .. i deal every month with kids i know dying from the disabilities they suffer from ..
how do you train a teacher in china?
i am not an uneducated moron trying to shmooze his way through asia ..
i will willingly step in your shoes for a day if you will return the favour ..
cheers guru.

ESL Guru · Joined: 18 May 2003 Posts: 462

China!!!!!!!

jinxy22 · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2003 8:52 am Post subject:

perhaps the guru of esl need take a beak from teaching and realize that mistakes have been made in life when investigating or researching something new and invigorating ..
i apoligize grand master esl for my original post ... as i do believe i have mentioned in my following post to my original cry for help ..
and as previously mentioned i do acknowledge that my post should have been placed in the newbie forum ... but once again being new to life abroad as well as this website .. i somehow have insulted a big shot of the esl world by accidently posting on his grounds ..
i welcome the challenge you place before me .. although i have in no way meant any offence to you dear sir ( or madam) ..
and in kindness may i ask you ... are you what schools are looking for? an esl master to encourage and assist students along a learning path ...
your demonstration for myself has been quite incredible .. i only hope the schools you work for see the remarkable excellence you allow new teachers to learn from.
and once again, cheers to you grand master of the esl ...

j

ESL Guru · Joined: 18 May 2003 Posts: 462

Teaching is so much fun!

jinxy22 · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2003 10:15 am Post subject:

"Get a degree, get some experience and get a life."

obviously i have no life to speak of sir.
i will respond with this:
I have not gone abroad to teach english, i have not been in a classroom with children or adults looking to me for help to learn a language, i have not been in a situation overseas where i have had to create a lesson plan for a class, i have not experienced this yet.

i have been on a stage in front of two thousand people singing and dancing my ass off, i have taught a 13 year old child with cerebral palsy to tie his shoelace, i have held a mother in my arms at the funeral of her child, i have been recognized in my communty for excellence in volunteering and community work.

i can't believe i am allowing myself to debate my worthiness with someone such as yourself.
i find my life is lead with integrity and i focus on people around me. i have always contributed to my community. i have no need to prove my self worth to one lacking his own ..
realize guru ... you may have your teaching plan in front of you, but to cast a stone such as ' get a life' must strongly demonstrate that you have been without mistakes or failures in your life ... i applaud your strong morality and hopefully we can meet up sometime when i " get my own life". i'll buy you a drink for your solid advice ...

hope to meet up soon!

j

Sherri · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2003 11:47 am Post subject:

I know it is tempting to give up school for a while and teach and travel, but I really do recommend finishing your degree first. There are so few places that take non-degree holders--and where I am, Japan, you wouldn't be able to get a visa to work without a degree. The places that would hire someone without a degree tend not to be very nice places to work. You would have very long hours, and not much support.

Two years is not such a long time and you are so close to finishing. Maybe you can do some volunteer teaching in your area to get some experience and add another dimension to your life. The longer you leave it, the harder it will be to go back and finish your degree. Once you finish it, so many more options will be open to you.

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

Dear jinxy22:

I feel really bad about the way this thread has developed, especially in light of the additional personal details you've supplied. Embarassed

That's part of why I'm jumping in here: to kindly remind people, especially newbies ... to provide these kinds of background details in the first place.

Your original post was rather short and sounded a bit insincere. Had you gone into more detail about your situation and admirable background right off the bat, you may still have received some negative feedback, but I think probably with less venom attached, if ya know what I mean? Wink

None of us are mind-readers. We don't know what you're all about unless you tell us.

Now that you've told us, I feel pretty confident that you'll get some constructive replies. I have to teach a class in 30 minutes, so I'm outta here for now. Be patient ... and try to understand that this topic of "no degree - looking for work" comes up again and again. It's a hot button for quite a few EFLers.

I have no doubt that there's a decent school somewhere ... waiting for someone with your 'special needs' skills. Hang in there, eh?

Take care,
kENt