Job Discussion Forums

[tomek322]

I am an American interested in teaching in Poland. I have a Bachlors of Science in Mechanical Engineering. First off does this limit my chance for teaching positions abroad?

I went to the Newbie board but at this point I am just confused as to the different certifications (i believe there is 4 or 5).

Questions.

1. Do I need to have a teaching degree to teach abroad?

2. From what I gather I need the basic CELTA certification. I looked at a school in New York that offers this and it talked about 160 hours of teaching experience. Is this correct? I have to amass teaching hours before I can take this course? If so, how do I go about getting these?

I think at this point I just have information overload and am in a state of confusion. If someone can take a second to get me going in the right direction I would be forever greatful.

Thanks in advance.
Tom

[Master Shake]

You do not need any teaching experience to take the CELTA. In fact, it may be better to come to the course WITHOUT teaching experience as the teaching tecniques CELTA programs you with (I found) are unique and sometimes counterintuitive.

160 hours is probably the total length for the course. With CELTA you practice-teach real, live ESL students for 6 hours with the trainers "observing" (aka grading) you. I just finished my CELTA in Denver in Oct and I thought it was, overall, a very good experience.

A CELTA is definitely a good idea for teaching in Poland - it is well respected there. Just be aware that Western Europe is pretty much off-limits to American teachers (I kno, I kno, a few brave souls have taught there illegally). Also, the hiring season for Poland was Sept-Oct, so finding work in Poland until that time next year, even with a CELTA, will be harder, but still do-able.

Hope this helps.

P.S. Oh, and, for an American, getting a visa in Poland is a royal pain-in-the-ass but, again, still do-able, or so I have been told

[tomek322]

So all I will need is CELTA and I should be able to get a job as a teacher in Poland. I am only looking to work there and not Western Europe so I have no problems with not being allowed in Western Europe.

Realistically how hard is it to get your foot in the door. As far as getting your first job?

[Lavaboy]

Be you American, Brazilian, Nigerian, or Israeli, packing either a fancy-schmancy 160-hour Celta or a fly-by-night TESOL certificate you got practically for free off the internet after taking a 30-minute multiple-choice exam--get thee to the Polish city of your choice mid-September and go from school to school, plenty of copies of your resume on hand, looking at least halfway presentable with your Old Navy or American Eagle button-down shirt tucked into your fanciest pair of travel khakis, hair neatly combed, breath sweetly freshened, shoes spit-polished but not necessarily to a mirror-like sheen, not forgetting of course to smile while making constant eye-contact, avoiding of course the decidedly amateur mistakes of A, commenting on how "pretty" and "natural" the British accent of the DOS sounds, and B, threatening to blow up the school if you don't get hired. Most schools will probably offer you the job on the spot. It's that simple.

[Master Shake]

[Alex Shulgin]