Job Discussion Forums

[illegalme]

Hello everyone.

I'm a Australian university student (final year BA, English and Sociology majors) who is interested in teaching, and plans on becoming a teacher. I am also interested in experiencing ESL teaching abroad, as this is something I currently teach/tutor here in Melbourne (and have done for the past 2 years).

The teaching degree I've applied for is a Masters in Teaching (English and Humanities) and oddly, it goes for 1.5 years - totally out of synch with the Australian schooling system (although it has been designed so that you can take the last 6 months part time whilst working). But otherwise I would be left with a spare 6 months to kill. One option I've thought of is using this extra 6 months to experience ESL teaching overseas, to get a feel for the industry, and also giving me an opportunity to increase my teaching knowledge/skills (as well as flesh out my resume with some experience abroad).

I have noticed almost all contracts are for 12 months, and whilst if I liked the job I would certainly stay for that time, I would be tentatively planning to leave after 6 months. What I would like to know is how do employers treat employees who break contracts? Are they understanding? Will they still give you a reference? Does it disrupt the children's learning? Or is this something that occurs regularly?

I would certainly not like to leave on bad terms, and it would be a useless endeavour if I could not use it on my resume, so any feedback to greatly appreciated.

To narrow this down I will give you the countries I am interested in (in no particular order):

South Korea.

Indonesia.

Japan.

Cambodia.

Argentina.

Costa Rica.

Thanks in advance to anyone who reads/responds to this, I have just realised its quite a lengthy post. And apologies if it is covering ground already trodden on in previous posts, I did use the search function before posting but didn't find any specific answers. Any other general opinions people have about this idea would be welcome, except for people looking to flame, as I said, I used the search function, I already know that certain people think dipping your toe into ESL teaching abroad is 'bad for the industry' and the rep of career ESL teachers etc etc

Thanks again

[Rooster_2006]

[Rooster_2006]

Oh, and in regard to breaking contracts, I think that if you choose a country that is either desperate enough to sign a six-month contract or that is doing a summer camp, there won't be a need to do so. Breaking your contract and leaving is a pretty low thing to do unless the employer is a serious buttwagon. I would not expect to get a positive recommendation. I mean, think about it from the school's perspective.

[bigbadsuzie]

[denise]

For Japan, look into the Westgate Corporation. They advertise here (and I believe on www.tefl.com also) fairly regularly. They have contracts for 3 or 4 months.

There are sometimes short-term contracts available--for example, finishing the term for a teacher who has left early. I really don't think there is any one country where you're more likely to find such a situation, though. They just pop up from time to time.

d

[Rooster_2006]