Job Discussion Forums

norman1 · Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 4

I have M. Edu. and teaching Exp US citizen and looking to take CELTA in Spain. I want to end up in China or ME.- OMAN or near or suggestion and advice on destination in region ( !st- Is there really a market out there and do schools really assist in placement (Univ. of Cambridge bridge TELF-Seville). If not advise on marketing myself.

2nd - I study the forums and I notice that people take courses where they want to immerse themselves. I take course in Spain and only have about 5-6 weeks to get to destination. Is this rational to think if I work with school or get advice on forums this can happen. Don't want to waiste funds on returning to US then ship out again? Thanks

Extraordinary Rendition · Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:29 pm Post subject:

Hard to decipher what you really want to know. A bit telegraphic. If you want to work in China or the ME, why in the world are you thinking about a CELTA course in Spain? Why China or ME? Seem like opposites to me... Confused

. Yes, there's a market in nearly every non-English speaking country. Market yourself? Apply for jobs! Obviously you know about this site, do you need others? (TEFL.com) With M.Ed. and CELTA, you'll be in good shape for ME, you may need some experience first, but apply anyway. For China - are you breathing, or if not, can you fake it?

norman1 · Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 4

Thanks for responding. I choose Spain because of credibility of CELTA certification offered by Cambridge as universal. Do you know of any credible international CELTA courses offered in China or in the Middle East and their websites?

Again thanks for the info. Hope to hear from you again soon.

Still researching to make the best seamless transition. Looking to move on this ASAP.

Nabby Adams · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 215

Be careful when talking to these course providers as they will tell you anything to sell their course. I'm assuming your not a native speaker. It may be harder than you think to get a job even if you hold a TESOL certificate. If you only hold American citizenship then you will find it very hard indeed to work in Europe.

norman1 · Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 4

thanks Nabby, I am a native speaker of English from the US and this is why I wrote in the stream that I wanted to take the course from an accredited Institution recognized internationally and asked the question about job placement credibility knowing I am a US citizen, while trying to get info from all the forums to find a pattern in the messages and opportunities abroad. Do you have any advice or suggestions based on my first stream from your experience that you may wish to share. I know there is a bad reputation in credible recognized international courses that is why I chose Cambridge, but still don't know about the opportunity to market myself based on being a US citizen or rely on an unfamiliar coursework based and reputation of their CELTA coursework and name. thanks again and this is what I really desire to do, but don't know who to trust. Are you suggesting americans don't have much of a chance in Western Europe or all of Europe and what are their chances in China or the Middle East. You nailed what I am trying to figure out. thanks again Naddy

Extraordinary Rendition · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:03 am Post subject:

All CELTA courses are accredited and monitored by UCLES. You should have already looked at the UCLES website. You're right that some will be better than others. I did mine through the British Council (see their website) for the increased cache. International House would be another good one, check their website under teacher training. Logically, you'd want to do the course in the part of the world where you want to work. That shows employers two things: You have at least been in that part of the world and accomplished something productive in that environment for at least 30 days. And, you have already taught English to speakers of that language (and will have at least some passing knowledge of their characteristics as learners, people, and any special problems they face learning English, be it pronunciation, grammar, what-have-you), again, for at least thirty days. Furthermore, you are then on-site where you want to work, or at least close enough to go there for interviews, look for a job, or just see if you really want to live and work there. The organizations I've mentioned above are some of the most important in the ELT field; you need to start to familiarize yourself with them. Just Google! also Google "CELTA" and the country name for providers in any country where you think you want to work.

BobbyBan · Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 201

Hello sir, hopefully this site will be of assistance:

http://cambridgeesol-centres.org/centres/teaching/index.do

kaw · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:47 am Post subject:

IMO as long as you choose either the Cambridge CELTA or Trinity TESOL you should be ok. I know there used to be a couple of places that offered the course (CELTA I think) in Oman but on a part time basis in Muscat.

BobbyBan · Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 201

Apparently three places in Oman.

One in Muscat:

http://cambridgeesol-centres.org/centres/teaching/centreContactDetails.do?centreNumber=OM001&qualification=10&source=teacheraward&country=OM

One in Ruwi (wherever that is):

http://cambridgeesol-centres.org/centres/teaching/centreContactDetails.do?centreNumber=OM039&qualification=10&source=teacheraward&country=OM

One in Seeb (never heard of that place either):

http://cambridgeesol-centres.org/centres/teaching/centreContactDetails.do?centreNumber=OM025&qualification=10&source=teacheraward&country=OM

Extraordinary Rendition · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 3:07 pm Post subject:

OP -

You must be lucky, or living cleanly; you've got others doing your legwork Very Happy

! Really nice of them. I suggest you go to the ME forum/country forums and ask whether you'd need a couple year's experience first, even with the MA and CELTA/Trinity cert. I do know they're pretty desperate sometimes in Kuwait, I had a firm offer last year without even an interview, but my guess is they'll want to see some experience first.

I still don't understand ME or China. ME is for money, China for whatever China is for, but money in Asia means Korea, or possibly Japan or Taiwan. Korea seems like a good place to start, yet earn well. A caveat, I've met and worked with men who have taught there. Apparently no more fun than the ME, but if you're considering the ME, that doesn't matter, does it?

Nabby Adams · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 215

I am not sure what a M.EDU is, but if it is a Masters in Education then with your experience you're laughing anywhere. You don't need the CELTA.

What is your teaching subject in OP? There are international schools in the countries you want to work in that will pay way more than anything you an get where your CELTA would be important.

Extraordinary Rendition · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 8:50 pm Post subject:

M.Ed. is the abbreviated form for a Master of Education degree. Rare to have that without certified teacher status. Nabby has raised the relevant point; exactly what are your credentials and experience, and what are you looking to do? Teach English as a foreign/second language or teach another subject or other subjects? Teach at a university, secondary school, primary school, private language school, or anything that comes along? This interacts with where you want to work, in that a CELTA may not be necessary, or even relevant, depending on where you want to work and what kind of work you want to do. For example, if you want to teach at a university in the ME, you will probably need experience first, but it may be possible to get a uni job with your M.Ed. straightaway in Kuwait, if they are as desperate as they appeared to be last year. If you want to teach at a secondary school in the ME, you're likely to need certified teacher status from your home country. If you want to work in China with only the M.Ed., that will surely be possible at any level, primary, secondary, tertiary, adults, or anyone/anything else (hence my comment in my first post above: Are you breathing, or if not, can you fake it?). If you want to teach in the ME at a private language school, a CELTA will likely increase your chances by a high order of magnitude... etc., ad nauseum...

You apparently are fairly educated and have indicated you want to do a CELTA. Presumably, you have done at least the minimal research to know whether this credential will help you meet you immediate objectives. You have also indicated that your immediate objectives include working in China or the ME. Thus, if you have already decided a CELTA helps you meet your objectives, and have decided that those objectives include teaching in China or the ME, you ought to seriously consider taking your CELTA course in a location that will facilitate your finding a job in your (already chosen) preferred work location(s).

Extraordinary Rendition · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:18 pm Post subject:

You'll find this thread relevant and interesting (no, I haven't posted on this thread):

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=60286&highlight=

norman1 · Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 4

I want to thank everybody for all their positive responses in regards to my search. I don't want it to appear that people are doing my legwork, but I want to make sure my research is valid. Looking over many blogs on the internet, I have found it hard to determine what is true and accurate. So your input from your experience has helped me to validate my research.

It appears that you all agree that I should take a course or look for work in the country that I want to immerse myself in. I appreciate your honest feedback to my questions.

Thanks again and I am grateful to you all!