Job Discussion Forums

[Katemarsh]

I am looking into teaching abroad with my husband and son sometime within the next year. I have my Masters in Counseling-(MA-not MEd). I am working towards a certification in Pennsylvania that will make me eligible to counsel in international schools but what would my chances of being able to attain a University jobs. We are looking to pay off some debt and would like to start off in Asia. Thanks.

[Glenski]

International schools in Japan require that you have a teaching license from your home country, plus a year or two of teaching experience there.

[The_Hanged_Man]

Glenski and Gordon would know better than I, but university positions in Japan generally are ESL related and therefore you would need a related degree. However, with your background I think you would be a good candidate for an international school once you get certified. Is your husband a certified teacher? Generally international schools only like to hire teachers with at most one dependent (none is best). Dependents are expensive for schools and they like to avoid them if possible.

--edited so it makes sense

[Glenski]

[Katemarsh]

Just to clarify-my intention is to be a guidance counselor in an international school or try to get a job teaching in a University setting. It is not common to have counseling courses in high school or lower and not that often in undergraduate course work either. I have seem postings for teaching psychology.
I am not set on the idea of Japan-I think I would like to start out in Asia and end up in Europe with possible stops in between.
I have done my own research regarding counseling in an international schoos and I am on my way to qualify for such a position. Now I am just trying to figure out which countries may consider me for work at a University level and what I should do to brush up on teaching skills (that site offered on the other post should be very helpful-thanks). I'm only curious about University as I will have a dependent-at least one-to answer your question my husband is not certified to teach anything currently but is considering starting off with a TOEFL course and earning a distance degree while abroad. THanks for your input!![/i]

[Katemarsh]

OK-before everyone jumps on me, I mean Im only curious about University (as opposed to Language schools) because of dependents for financial reasons-I would actually really enjoy working at a Language school and that is what drew my attention to this site originally.

[Gordon]

Kate, you would not be able to teach psychology or other types of counseling courses. Japanese teachers would do this or someone extremely fluent in Japanese. Your degree is not transferable to EFL either. Try China, any degree will do there.

[The_Hanged_Man]

[Katemarsh]

First off-I think it is clear from all the posts that Japan will not be my best bet. So that is established. Also, I keep jumping around-the psychology posts that I mentioned were at international schools and it is not something I am really interested in anyway-certainly not teaching it in a foriegn language-it was just an observation really. Thanks for all the tips on Japan does anyone else have insight from other Asian countries?

[The_Hanged_Man]

[Katemarsh]

Cool thanks-that is what I am gathering as well-thanks for your insight.

[Glenski]

[Gordon]

I teach a couple of content courses at my university where English is the medium but not the focus of the course. This is not common at all and I still teach other courses where English is the focus of the course.

[Katemarsh]

Thanks for your posts. I actually do want to teach English in a University setting-it is in an international school that I would want to counsel so that answers my questions. I guess the opportunity is out there but it depends where and on the circumstances.

[ls650]

In some countries outside of Asia it's certainly possible. I teach at a state university in Mexico, and I have "only" a Bachelors and a TEFL certificate.