Job Discussion Forums

[yamagatacamille]

hi, brand new here. just need some help deciding where i can apply with my current situations:

-20 yrs old
-high school graduate
-1 semester in college
-TEFL certified
-Filipino -- but a Canadian citizen w/ neutral accent

i have no prior experience in teaching; only experience in retail and grocery stores

from what i've been told, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and pretty much the whole of Europe is outta the question since i lack a BA in any capacity.

i am in talks with a school in China; how limited am I in finding work overseas?

thanks muchly. i wanna get started, but a little stumped in where to begin.

[furiousmilksheikali]

You have the option to give us a few more details Camille. What nationality are you? (or rather what passport do you hold?).

Are you in Sendai now?

[yamagatacamille]

I'm Canadian of Filipino decent (accent fully neutral)

i'm in the process of acquiring a passport.

oh and i'm not in Sendai i'm in Vancouver.

[furiousmilksheikali]

OK, you're signature was confusing and I thought you might have Japanese nationality which would, of course, make working there much easier.

Anyway, you can work in a few countries with a "working holiday" visa. If you have a look at the Japan Forum you can find information about it. You are not required to have a BA if you take this option.

[yamagatacamille]

hmm, any significant differences b/t the woking visa and working holiday visa?

[Glenski]

Working visa can be offered for 1 or 3 years at a time and can be renewed endlessly.
WHV is offered for a maximum of 2 six-month stints (Australians get 3) running consecutively. You can get it only once in your life.

Working visa limits your work to certain activities.
WHV has fewer limits (mostly just bar work is prohibited).

Working visa takes 4-8 weeks to get.
WHV takes 2 weeks or less.

Working visa requires a sponsor (employer) to file paperwork with yours.
WHV requires no sponsor.

Working visa requires you present a passport, photos, resume and the employer's information.
WHV doesn't need the employer's information, but you must prove you have US$2000 and an airplane ticket, plus you have to explain what your itinerary is.

Working visa requires a bachelor's degree or a minimum of 3 years of directly related FT work experience.
WHV requires certain citizenship and age limits (and the financial points above).

Working visa can be applied for from Japan or your home country.
WHV can only be applied for from your home country. (ie, you must be there when you apply)

[yamagatacamille]

*sigh* all this seems so overwhelming. and figuring out that, excuse the racial undertone, since i'm not caucasian, it kinda makes things all the more harder.

i've been rejected a job offer from New Times in China because i'm of Asian background

i thought i could be patient with this, but this is really stressing.

can anyone recommend me a school in ANY country that fits my details above? i'm sure there is someone out there in a similar situation who's actually gone teaching (maybe aside from doing anything illegal)

thanks.

[spiral78]

Quite honestly, if you're finding simply reading through this information so stressful, it doesn't sound like you are a good candidate to go overseas anyway.

First, you are obviously quite young - and that can sometimes mean less experienced in terms of both work and daily living.
Second, yes, there are hassles in arranging contacts, destinations, and contracts.
Third, once you do get on your way, you will be in a situation without your family, friends, or other normal support groups.

Finally, there you are - in a country where you may not understand the language, you know no one, and you have to do two important things well right away: figure out how to handle daily life AND teach well. This is overwhelming for many people.

The realistic picture is that, given your age and your lack of qualifications (university degree, experience) you are eligible only for the most bottom-level jobs in the field.

May I please suggest a better way?

Ideally, get a university degree. It can be in anything that interests you - you'll be a stronger candidate for good jobs.

Secondly, try to find some place where you can practice working with non-native English speakers in your own area. Get a little experience in working with language learners. It can be volunteer work.

Finally, when you are ready to go, take a basic TEFL/TESL certification course, preferably in the country where you want to start. This means that you can experience the new culture with a support system, because most training centres will arrange housing for you during the course, pick you up at the airport, and will help you make contacts.

I know it's not instant gratification, but it's much more responsible, safer, and can lead to a much, much better experience abroad than rushing off without qualifications to be exploited at the bottom of the ladder by schools that will have little respect for someone in your situation.

[tofit]

Hello,

My name is Andrew

I'm from Midwest USA, I'm 23 years old.
I have a GED and 2 years of college under my belt.
I'm interested in teaching english in China, and soon.

Teaching is a great oppritunity to learn leadership skills. This is something very new to me, and I want to come prepared. Getting a degree to earn $500 a month seems like overkill. The best training comes from learning from experienced teachers in the course you plan on teaching, and from actual teaching experience.

I read in a previous message that you need a degree to get a work visa. I know this is true for some countries. I don't think China is one of them.

[denise]

[tofit]

Would it be fair to go unprepared?

Absolutely not!

That would make me a poor leader.

I started taking an online TEFL course, but I had to get a refund because the course material looked incomplete. I would rather take a "in class" TEFL course if I have to.

I plan on networking with teachers online, and learning as much as I can.
First I need to find out what level of english my classroom will be on, and what I need to teach them.

Before I leave I want to gather a collection of videos, and books to take into the classroom.

[Aramas]

Leadership? Networking? Couldn't you just join the local Young Republicans/Tories/Godbotherers? Churches are particularly suited to aspirants who seek wealth and power in spite of a complete absence of intelligence, knowledge, skills, education or talent.

TEFL is more likely to hone your skills in patience, tolerance and thrift, and broaden your knowledge and experience of bureaucracy and mental health issues.

[denise]

Tofit--

Another thing to keep in mind is that you won't always know what levels your classes are until... well, immediately before they begin. In the various jobs that I've had, in some cases I have had the luxury of choosing my own classes (levels and skills) in the previous term, while in other cases school administrators have approached me in the staff room and said, "You've got a new class that starts tonight."

To be safe, you need to be ready for all levels, even though you will probably have preferences.

d

[JDYoung]

Some places in China be able to get you a work permit without a degree but I wouldn't count on it. The rules are tightening up. Without a degree, even if you get a job, you will get the lowest end of the choices of classes and the lowest end of the pay scale and may end up working illegally. I agree that there are many people without degrees who are or could be great teachers but the world is the way it is, not the way we might want it to be. It is easier for a country or an employer to look at a piece of paper rather than analyze the personality and life experience of a potential teacher.

As for knowing what level you'll be teaching, believe me you won't find out in advance. Even if they tell you it would probably be wrong. You will also find that the students in a class have a range of abilities. You need to be flexible. Also, you don't want to be hauling your favourite teaching materials around the world. The luggage charges would be too high.

[furiousmilksheikali]

Tofit,

Is this a wind-up?

or have you just finished reading a self-help book on "leadership"?