Job Discussion Forums

daniel_hayes · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 177

I will start a 3 year degree course here in the Uk in September. If it is of any relevance, I will be doing English Literature. I will be a mature student (28 years old) so this is not an 18 year old looking for some easy way to pass the summer and get paid.

I would like to know if it is possible to spend the next 3 summers in places like Thailand or China working on a TEFL Summer Camp where kids (and maybe adults) go to learn English. I have seen one such program in Beijing. It is run by TEFL int'l. It does not cost much and you seem to get a certificate program thrown in, but i dont really see why it is not possible to actually earn a bit of money and take part in such a summer 'camp'.

I have teacher friends who do these camps as a way of getting extra cash in the summers, but I would not be a full-time teacher and do not have a degree (yet) and do not have a certificate. I would be more than willing to do a good TEFL course if needs be.

Any advice would be greatfully received.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I did a summer course in China a few years ago. I actually lost money doing it, though, because they didn't pay airfare.

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daniel_hayes · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 177

Did you enjoy it? How much of the language did you learn? etc etc

Purely for these summer camps, making money wouldn't be particularly high on my list of priorities IF IT IS SACRIFICED FOR HAVING A GREAT TIME.

What other countries have these summer camps or is it just China?

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I wouldn't rank it as my favorite job or country, but yeah, I enjoyed it.

Let's see... in four weeks I think I learned how to say hi, how are you, thank you, and I am vegetarian. And I could count to four or five.

I think it's wise to value the experience over the salary for a summer job. I went to China during my summer vacation in grad school because I knew that once I graduated and had to start paying back my loans I'd never be able to afford to work in China. And I didn't even mind losing money on the airfare. I just looked at it as a working holiday.

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naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I posted some links on the Spain and Uk forum about a month ago. But ASia usually has a lot.

daniel_hayes · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 177

So discounting money, what other places would I be able to go to for the summer to do some work and ALSO have an interesting time?

Any links would be greatly appreciated.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Spain
www.tecs.es/employment
www.hydeparkcor.com/
www.cim-idiomas.com/
www.huescainternationalcamp.es/
www.englishsummer.com

Ireland
www.plus-ed.com
www.cila.ie

Shimmeringstar · Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Posts: 34 Location: Kagoshima, Japan

Mongolia has summer camps, if you don't care about the money thing. Global Crossroads has a program - http://www.globalcrossroad.com/mongolia/summercamp.php

I have never taken part in the program, but I seriously considered it before I got my current job.

CharlesTESOL · Joined: 06 Jul 2004 Posts: 81 Location: Barcelona, Spain

If you are interested in Spain, you should also look at LoQuo's English Teaching jobs adverts http://www.loquo.com/

Re: China, I believe EF hires teachers for summers there. http://www.efeducation.co.uk/master/hr/jobs/teaching/ta_asia.asp

Good luck,