Job Discussion Forums

Wasabi Bomb · Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 33 Location: Osaka, Japan

Hi, everyone. I`m new to the board but not to your world. I`ve been lurking here for a while.

Here`s the deal with me: I graduated with a Bachelor of Education from a Canadian university in 2001, and after that I taught part time in a supplemental school (ie. a cram school) for a year before moving to Japan. I`ve been teaching English at a private language institute in Japan for 4.5 years, and am currently a trainer for a kids` English program. So I am a certified K-12 teacher and licensed in Canada but my qualifications have essentially been lying dormant (because I chose to live the party life for a while).

I am still interested in working at legitimite international schools in the future, but I`m wondering how I`ll be received, having K-12 qualifications but only TEFL experience. Am I screwed, or do you reckon I`d still be considered a valid applicant if I frame my experience the right way?

I`m not asking about any specific region, so I`d love to hear from you guys wherever you may be living and working. Thanks!

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

Can't you get into a Canadian K-12 in Canada ?

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

Sorry to be so glib; I didn't see this:

my qualifications have essentially been lying dormant (because I chose to live the party life for a while)

I knew a guy here in China who was suave, well educated, handsome, multi-lingual and lucked out with a job pulling in 42,000 RMB per month(that's about 6,000 CDN) while other FTs averaged about 8,000 RMB a month-His partying got so...advanced that they asked him to leave.

Wasabi Bomb · Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 33 Location: Osaka, Japan

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I have a BEd. from years ago but was never a certified public school teacher, having realized after two years of internship that the job wasn't for me. I entered the TEFL world 15 years later and now have an MA TESL/TEFL. I've worked for two universities, one in Europe and one in Canada, and neither cared that I never actually taught as a 'certified professional' teacher after my first degree.

The_Hanged_Man · Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 224 Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

Yes, there is hope. Most international schools prefer to hire certified teachers with two years of experience, but in a pinch will hire someone without. Right now is crunch time for some schools as they are trying desperately to fill positions that are still open. Take a look at http://tieonline.com/ and you'll see that a number of schools are still hiring.

I will say that the majority of these schools have management issues or are undesirable in some way. You may have to accept a less than stellar school for your 1st contract, but you might get lucky and land a good position. In any case, after you get some experience under your belt you will have a better set of options.

The_Hanged_Man · Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 224 Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

TravellingAround · Joined: 12 Nov 2006 Posts: 423

You don't mention what your degree is in and what you taught during your BEd. If that was English then it will help further.

Plenty of International Schools would be interested if they really needed someone to fill the position. However the most prestigious schools and those in locations with an overflow of ex-pats will be very difficult to get into without the two years experience in Canada or an International School setting.

The more flexible you are (especially if you don't mind where you go or if you teach other things as well) the more leads you are likely to get.

You can try also http://www.tes.co.uk/ which has loads of these types of jobs.

There is also http://www.joyjobs.com which has lists of international schools worldwide. For both this and TIEOnline you have to pay a fee (about �20 or so IIRC).

There is also here to check if the school you are thinking about has any horror stories...http://www.internationalschoolsreview.com/ Again it's not free to see them all alas but the message board is and they have some free reviews as example. [/url]

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

Wasabi Bomb · Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 33 Location: Osaka, Japan

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

Once you get your permanent certification you no longer have to renew annually.

Teacher James · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 6 Location: Taiwan

You could give our website a shot. Teacher James (www.teacherjames.com) is way to teach 1-1s from your home, at your computer. Every lesson is pay as you go so there's no long term commitment for the student. And every lesson is automatically recorded.

This month, we've also contracted a company in Jiufen to teach them basic beginner English. M-F (8:30 - 12:30) and afternoon hours (1pm to 5pm). There are 10 classes for these hours and we need teachers to teach from home to fill them. The rate for these classes is $18 (US).

Look at our site if you're interested or contact me: [email protected]

Wasabi Bomb · Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 33 Location: Osaka, Japan