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GiveMeDaps
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
Posts: 11
Location: Seattle
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 Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:20 am Post subject: Please help! |
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Hello ESL community,
My name is Joe and I am 20 years old, I have gone to college for two years but do not have a degree. I have found that I still don�t know what I want to major in, after talking to some friends with ESL experience, I have decided this is what I would love to do, I have experience living in other countries for years on my own so I am not worried about this aspect of the job. I need to know hot to get my foot in the door. I really have my heart set on going to Rio, Brazil but I don�t know if this is a reasonable goal. After doing some research I found that trough a company called �bridge-linguatec� I can get a TEFL degree and job placement, but after reading some post about them on this web site it sounds like that idea might only be good on paper. I am really in a jam trying to figure out what I�m going to do can any-one help me?
Any advice or comments would be great! Has any one worked with bridgelinguatec or is it all hear say?
Thanks every one
Joe |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 10:50 am Post subject: |
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Companies don't give degrees. They sell certificates or offer certification programs.
Schools (ie, universities) offer degrees.
Get a real degree. Even with a TEFL certificate, you are going to be in bad straits trying to find jobs in most countries if you don't have a degree. |
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Jizzo T. Clown
Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 668
Location: performing in a classroom near you!
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 2:25 pm Post subject: |
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Glenski's right. If you really have your heart set on this line of work, get a degree in teaching ESL, or if that's not offered, at the very least-- English. If you're antsy and think that another 1-2 years is going to kill you, save some cash and get some volunteer work under your belt. You're still young (maybe too young by many EFL/ESL students' standards), and not getting a degree will cause a lot of heartache down the road. Two years of college may as well be none.
If I had it to do all over again, I'd go for an Education degree and get certified. Ahh, the errors of youth!  |
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GiveMeDaps
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
Posts: 11
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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I am going to go back to school after i get back from brazil, one thing i hear about brazil. is it is one of the countrys that you can teach with out a degree from a college.
I know its important to go to college and by no means am i quiting it. its just i dont have all the money in the world to take lots of random classes and not know what i want to major in... I have learned more about my self in travel then any other time in my life so i feel like this will get me one step closer to knowing where i want to take my life.
I am not going to major in English or ESL with out having any experance to know if i will even enjoy it, even though it seems like i will.
Joe |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 10:28 pm Post subject: |
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| I have learned more about my self in travel then any other time in my life |
I hope others will respond to your post, but for now my original message stands, even if you decide to go to a country where no degree is necessary. Why, you may ask?
Look at the above clip from your post. I hate to be the language police on an Internet forum, where people type as they please, but you have made two glaring mistakes in pretty simple English.
"my self" should be "myself"
"then" should be "than"
If you make these mistakes in a classroom, it could be embarrassing to you and the employer. A degree won't fix it, necessarily, but you should be aware of these shortcomings and try to improve your use of grammar. No offense. |
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ls650
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 3484
Location: British Columbia
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:45 pm Post subject: |
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| GiveMeDaps wrote: |
| I am not going to major in English or ESL with out having any experance to know if i will even enjoy it, even though it seems like i will. |
May I offer a suggestion? Why not ask around in your local community to see if there is any volunteer work or entry-level jobs in teaching immigrants? That way you can work and save money for training, college, travel, etc.
Teaching as a volunteer for a few hours a week will quickly give you some idea as to whether this is your vocation. |
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GiveMeDaps
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
Posts: 11
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 7:27 am Post subject: |
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Well, I grew up in Belgium learning french. People tell me you cant hear it in my voice though, but thanks for correcting me...
Joe |
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