Job Discussion Forums

[globalmami]

Hello,

I've been teaching Spanish, French and German here in the US for close to twenty years, mostly to teenagers-adults. I'm a native speaker of German but have native-like English pronunciation, etc. I don't have any kind of certificate in TEFL (yet).

I love to travel and I'd love to teach EFL somewhere so that I can expand my kids' horizons. They're boys (seven and eight). native Thai (adopted), speak fluent English and German and are easy-going travellers.

So here's the big question. How do I go about planning for such an "adventure", especially considering that there are kids (and a husband) involved?

Do I get the TEFL certificate first and then apply for a job? In my situation, would it be better to get a certificate while still in the US? And what kind of certificate? I have a Masters in Europ. Lang. and Lit. and a BA in Education/ French/ Spanish.

Can someone recommend specific locations (and possibly contact info)around the world that would be appropriate for our family? I'm thinking Thailand (love that country but definitely could not live in Bangkok), Germany (since my family lives there), Switzerland or France (do they even have international TEFL teachers?), China (never been there, would that be too big of a culture shock for us?) or a Spanish-speaking country (not Mexico).

Thank you everyone.

[tedkarma]

First question: Have you been teaching in public schools in the US? If so, you'll probably have no difficulty getting into international schools - with far greater wages, benefits, and time off than any other options.

Education for even one child can be an overwhelming expense (often more than a language teacher's total wages) - but international schools typically provide free tuition for the children of their teachers.

Start with ISS: http://www.iss.edu/

The international schools tend to use placement organizations, and their regional fairs, for recruitment. You'll have to play by their rules, but it will be well worth it.

Without experience and education that would qualify you for international schools, I would think it would be VERY difficult to survive financially in ordinary language schools.

Some Middle Eastern universities also provide free education - but that is a whole different ball of wax.

[mlomker]

[MELEE]

Have you also brought up this topic to family and other contacts in Germany? Do you have German citizenship? It could be that you don't need to get a TEFL cert. What age group are you looking to teach? It could be with your current qualifications you could get a job teaching high school level in Germany or another EU country. These are all just could bes because I don't know much about Europe at all.
I am curious however as to why you exclude Mexico? Its a wonderful country and you could probably get a job at a international school or high school with a bilingual program with your current qualifications.

[globalmami]

Thank you to the three of you who answered my questions. You brought up some excellent points, incl. the cost of private/ international schooling for my kids.

I'm a US citizen but trying to get my German citizenship (the reason why my entire family is German and living in Germany but I'm a US citizen is a long and complicated story) and that would definitely help open some doors. I don't really have an age preference but I have more experience with the age group of 15 yrs. to adults.

Someone asked "why not Mexico". I've travelled there a few times and didn't like it as much as other Central/ Latin Am. countries eg. Ecuador.

Since posting this question on the board I've done some soul-searching and realized that probably the most interesting and most rewarding type of teaching assignment abroad for me would be to train other teachers in developing countries in TESOL/ language teaching methodology. Soooo, I'll be checking into that possibility. I once did a mini-workshop on the spot for a school in Guatemala and the teachers there were so thankful for the little bit that I was able to offer them that they begged me to come back. I also have Thai friends in Bangkok who may be opening their own English/ Thai school sometime in the not too distant future and they've asked me to be a consultant. Lots of options or so it seems.

Thanks again.

[Justin Trullinger]

If you liked Ecuador, think about international schools. They would be the only option for really supporting a family, unless your children speak Spanish. (International school tuition is SO high, compared to a local language institute salary- on a language teacher's salary, the only option would be lower priced local schools, which wouldn't be in English or German.)

THere's a German school here, if you're well qualified.

I think you're doing the right thing planning this so thoroughly. I've seen people just turn up, with kids, and it usually turns out a little ugly...


Justin

[mlomker]