Job Discussion Forums

RobLevy · Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 2 Location: France

Hi all,

I've just graduated from IH Budapest's magnificent CELTA course with a Pass 'A' result. (by the way, the course was wonderful and so were the tutors. I'd recommend it to any budding CELTA trainee).

I'm just not sure what to do now. I'd really like to know if anyone has any advice about what to do with a newly gained Pass 'A'.

I feel like I should really be able to capitilise on it and work anywhere in the world for great rates of pay etc. etc. (I realise this is hopelessly niaive but one can dream...!) but have no idea how to best go about selling myself.

So. Any advice for a newbie like me?

Some info about me:

26 years old English man
Electronic Engineering Masters Degree
Currently living in Toulouse France.
Speak more or less fluent French (depends on how much I've had to drink!)

Thanks a lot,
Rob

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Where do you want to go?
What do you want to teach (high school, conversation school, business, etc.)?

With a background like yours, it would seem that you are eligible only for entry level work, depending on the country. You are going to have to sell yourself more with a cover letter than a resume.

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

If you're living in Toulouse and have an Electronic Engineering degree, why not contact some of the aviation companies and see if they need English teachers?

It might be leaping in at the deep end, but I'm sure with a pass A you can do it!

movinaround · Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 202

Outside of Europe, a pass A won't mean much. Don't get me wrong, you must have worked hard for it and must have a pretty good knack for ESL teaching (I got a pass 'B'), but applying outside of Europe, while most reputable places atleast know what a CELTA is, they always ask me why I put the Pass 'B' as they hadn't heard of that before, and it has never really seemed to matter...

tedkarma · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 12:35 am Post subject:

I have to agree with movinaround.

Other than Europe, people will see the CELTA pretty much as any other four-week program and they rarely check to see what the grade for the course was - if they even suspect it is on the certificate.

A four-week course will help you get the better entry-level jobs, but not much more. I agree also with the previous poster who suggests that you combine that with your previous experience - always the best thing to do in IMO, as you already know the specialized vocabulary and have an interest in that field of work.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

IMHO, in the wonderful world of TEFL, a Masters degree - yes, even in a completely unrelated field - carries a lot more weight to it than a 4-week certificate.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Your mark in the CELTA really is meaningless on your resume. Good for you, but it is experience now that will count.

You will have to work your way up to better jobs, just like the rest of us mere mortals who never attained an A in their CELTA course. Wink

movinaround · Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 202

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

It's just my opinion, thus the IMHO... but my personal observations seem to disagree with yours. As you yourself said, a Masters "is almost always better for a uni job"!

You said there are several ways to show my claim is not true. Besides the public schools in Korea, do you have any other examples?

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

movinaround · Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 202

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

I taught EFL at an aeronautics company. They lumped their engineers in with their secretaries so technical knowledge wasn't super important, but you should definitely contact some big companies that hire lots of engineers and see if they are looking for an English teacher. A lot of my students would have benefitted from being in a class with people of similar backgrounds, where they could have had more targeted lessons.

RobLevy · Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 2 Location: France

Dear posters,

thanks for all your responses so far. I read with avid interest.

The main source of engineering jobs in Toulouse is Airbus (they make the A380 here for those that know/care anything about it!).

Is it really feasible to just contact a company of this size? Has anybody ever done a similar sort of thing and received a friendly response?

If so, who, in your opinions, should I address my initial email to? HR? Training? The CEO(!)?

Thanks for your contininuing support. It's really nice to feel less alone in this crazy world of EFL.

Rob

John Hall · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:52 pm Post subject:

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

You're better off doing this early in the year before companies spend all the money they have allocated for training.