Job Discussion Forums

[TelcoPro]

I apologize for any redundant questions, and the long post. Have read a great deal of the forum. However, I do have some additional questions.

A bit about my situation: Single white male, early 40's, unattached. Bachelor degree, but not in English or education. American. I work in the cell phone industry, mostly with cell tower site development. I also hold a Real Estate Broker License and a Mortgage Broker License. (This is starting to sound like a dating site add!)

I am exploring the possibility of taking a break from my career to travel for a few years, teaching English. I enjoy teaching and mentoring, but have never taught English. My goals are to meet interesting people, experience new cultures and learn new languages. I don't really need to make any money, but I would not want to deplete my savings either.

I am sure that I could obtain a TEFL, CELTA or any other various entry level appropriate alphabetical suffix, if required.

I am interested in Eastern Europe, Russia and the Asian Pacific.

If I acquired certain language skills, international experience and contacts, I believe it would open doors for me with several international Telecommunications companies, like Motorola, Huawei (China), T-Mobile and a plethora of others. As well, it could facilitate opportunities in Real Estate and Banking, of which I also have experience.

So without further delay, (sorry for the huge post) here are my questions:

Is there anyone out there working the same plan, of teaching English abroad to gain language skills, international experience and contacts, with the goal of executive employment with a multinational?

Will I have time to enjoy teaching, doing it well, and still be able to learn Russian or Mandarin, while meeting people and learning their culture?

Is this plan feasible, or is it just a nice fantasy?

Thanks in advance for any knowledgable responses!

JP

[tedkarma]

In 1992, I originally set out to make business contacts. I was teaching English in Korea. But . . . I found I enjoyed teaching - and I also enjoyed the 20 weeks paid time off I got teaching at a college - and sold out! I've been teaching EFL every since.

Your dream is not fantasy - it is very do-able.

www.tefldaddy.com is a site written with the total newbie in mind. You might check there for "starter" info.

If you want to learn Madarin - probably Taiwan is best - as wages in China are - uh . . . "modest" at best.

[thrifty]

Overseas employers do not employ ex TEFLers for executive positions.

Your experience and whether you pick up the local language count for nothing. If it did TEFLers would not be TEFLing.

[spiral78]

Speaking for Central/Eastern Europe and Russia, it is pretty rare to move from TEFL into executive positions. You might do better to apply directly to the mulit nationals - if you were certified to teach, you could possibly land some slots to teach English specifically in your fields of expertise directly for companies.

[TelcoPro]

Tedkarma,
Thanks for your response. Do you believe that if you had so desired, you would have been successful leveraging your new contacts, language skills and cultural knowledge, to advance your business career?

Thrifty,
Thank you for sharing.

I am not sure I understand your response.

I would not expect my experience as a teacher of EFL to have any bearing on my potential employment with a multinational telecommunications company at the executive level. Conversely, I would place no value on your teaching experience if you applied for a position with me to run a major build of a wireless network.

However, if you were fluent in English and Mandarin, adept at Chinese business culture and have over 15 years of demonstrated success in the telecommunications industry, I would very much like to hire you.

Huawei, for example, is one of the largest telecommunication equipment manufactures in the world. They have offices all over Asia and Europe. They are trying to break the US market now. Someone with years of experience in the US market, who brings hundreds of valuable contacts at wireless carriers and related industries, that could also interact with their own corpoeate people on an executive level would have to have incredible value to them.

I could be wrong, of course, but I don't think so. However, that is why I am here, doing some research and learning a few things.

[JZer]

TelcoPro, I would say that maybe you should find some addresses for Huawei and send them your CV. See if you can land some kind of job with them. Tell them you have experience in the field and would be willing to work for them in any capacity. I have heard of Chinese companies hiring floor managers and other people who do not speak Chinese. If you got one of these jobs you could learn about Chinese business and study Mandarin at night.


A second option would be to go to Taiwan. I think the best thing to do is to try to put away $1000 a month working in Taiwan and then you could take 6 months off to only study Mandarin. You could start studying Mandarin one hour a day and then study it intensively for a while in China.

[Glenski]

Since you didn't really specify an Asian country, I'll chime in with my views on how your post applies to Japan.

[tedkarma]

I believe that you can do what you intend to do - but I wouldn't expect that you would jump into an executive position. More likely, via language and contacts, you would first find your way into HR as a skills trainer and move up through there.

If I was seriously looking for an executive, I would wonder why s/he sidestepped their career and was teaching English. There is nothing wrong with the TEFL industry - but it would not be considered as grounding for an executive position.

And - to your question TelcoPro - yes, I probably could have made the transition if I had wanted to - though it would make a great difference as to which country. Korea - maybe; Taiwan - yes; Saudi - yes, Botswana - most definitely; Thailand - maybe. But your opportunity is more likely to be with an international firm than a local one.

Bridges to meeting the people you want to meet? ToastMasters (I've been an off and on member since 1976) - you would be amazed at the friendly people you meet there - from all walks of like - most very successful. Almost all international meetings are held in English. Very friendly club - welcomes strangers (you don't have to be invited) - excellent for shy people even as it is a quite structured setting (less schmoozing going on) - AND you can demonstrate your communication skills. You'd be amazed who you might meet even in book clubs.

Here in Bangkok I attend a motivational group that has many successful people in it. I have no intention to change jobs - I just like to hear a great motivational talk from an exceptional person once a month. There are book discussion groups that welcome newcomers, at least six Toastmasters clubs that meet weekly (you'll get to know people quickly that way!), Lion's Clubs are everywhere and many international clubs meet in English, Rotary is everywhere.

Frankly, it is up to you. The people who pooh pooh opportunity - you find in bars. Successful people - you find in community service groups - groups where people are trying to improve their skills, and motivational groups.

With your background, I would also seriously consider getting an MBA. many countries will have MBA programs in English - often cheaper than those programs back home - and who will you meet there? The up-and-coming soon to be executives. When I went to MBA school I meet and worked in case-study groups with many motivated and skilled people.

I didn't make the move as I was rather quickly - in TEFL - saving US$20,000 a year - with 20 weeks paid vacation a year - working a four-day work week - teaching 12 hours a week. I had serious second thoughts about working a 70-80 week moving back into the business world after that! But we all decide what we want and have different motivations.

Nothing holds you back really - except you.

Just as an aside - just a few weeks ago - at the motivational group - I met a rather unattractive non-native speaker (of English) with a strong accent in English. She exclusively tutors Japanese people in Bangkok - and earns about triple what the better paid TEFL people here earn. All in an industry that heavily values native-speakers and appearances. She WAS well-groomed, immaculate in appearance, open, friendly, and a definite go-getter. She had every reason and excuse to NOT be successful here - and particularly in the TEFL business. I'm not saying try TEFL - I'm saying it is all up to you.

[JZer]

Ted, nice speech.

[JZer]

[TelcoPro]

Thanks for the responses.

JZer, I am male.

All good points, even with the pronoun trouble.


Maybe this is my mid life crisis coming on. My peers are buying airplanes and harleys, or taking a trophy wife. Deep down, maybe I just want to take a break from work and go see and experience all these places I have studied my whole life.


On another point, you EFLers are an interesting bunch. The more I read on the internet, the more it looks like there are some very "interesting people" in the industry.

[saint57]

So far the only "interesting person" to post on this thread is Thrifty. I have a long list of "interesting posters" but they are the ones that make this site interesting. Some would classify me as a "person of interest" for various reasons.

I met plenty of older people teaching in China. They were the ones who had the right idea. They didn't take stuff too seriously and were just out to have a good time. If you have some money in the bank you won't stress over some of the stupid crap younger teachers cry about.

[saint57]

I just looked at your OP again. The transition from teacher to corporate exec is a bit of a stretch.

[JZer]

TelcoPro, if money is not of great importance to you, I would go to China, since Mandarin will probably be more helpful to you in the future.

[tedkarma]