Job Discussion Forums

[rd8277]

I've been a TEFL teacher for 5 years now, 3 years in Europe in Czech and Slovenia teaching adults, and 2 years in Taiwan teaching kids and adults. I have a BA degree and a CELTA. I love teaching, but I want to have some sort of career too.

So what are my next steps? I'm thinking about an ADOS job or something similar... am I likely to get one based on my experience? I want to leave Asia this year and head back to Europe - can anyone recommend a country or a school where there are good possibilities for career advancement? When I return to Europe I don't want to get just another teaching job, or if I do, there should be prospects...

Can anyone help? Any advice or suggestions would be really appreciated!!

[Caledonian Craig]

PGDE? DELTA; Dip TESOL? NET scheme in Hong Kong?

[Kootvela]

Be self-employed, like me. Less stress, more work, more job satisfaction, pretty close the same pay, no ugly boss. Plus, you can alsways freelance part-time.

[Sadebugo]

If you're an American citizen, you can apply for DLI. They just put up an ad on 'USAJOBS' two days ago with an initial deadline of 29 February. You can't ask for more stability in an ESL/EFL teaching position. You can also continue to travel. Need more info, PM me.

Sadebugo
Djibouti, Horn of Africa
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/

[rd8277]

Thanks for the ideas guys! Regarding the NET scheme, I'd preferably not stay in Asia, and PGCE or PGDE means going back to Britain and teaching British kids - no way! I'm definately interested in a DELTA or equivalent, or any other qualification abroad, but I can't afford to stop working to do it - I would have to be able to do it alongside a teaching job, which brings me back to my original question - can I get an ADOS job or something similar based on my current situation (and do a DELTA or equivalent alongside for example), and either way, does anyone have any experience with a particular school or place in Europe where there are many opportunities?

As for continuing to travel - yes, that appeals to me very much, but I really want to try to have this career, if I can, and I don't feel I'm ready to be self-employed yet.

Sadebugo - I'm afraid I'm not a US citizen but thanks for the suggestion!

[spiral78]

With your current qualifications, you might get on somewhere as a teacher trainer. You could check with training centres - the openings aren't so abundant, and there are many trainers with stronger credentials than yours (DELTA, related MA), but you might get lucky.

I'd start in places like Prague, Madrid, Barcelona, where there are lots of 'generic' TEFL certification programs running.

Training would probably give you some opps for gaining additional qualifications, along the way.

[spiral78]

I wanted to add that DOS positions often really require a pretty strong command of the local language - that would limit you a bit. An optimal DOS candidate also has local connections. It's not that likely that you'd land a director's position from abroad in a place where you haven't got language/connections.

[rd8277]

Thanks Spiral78. I'm definately going to check out the teacher trainer route. As for DOS positions, that's something I'm sure is out of my reach for now, I was thinking more along the lines of an assistant DOS job (and if I return to Prague, my Czech's not bad)...or I'd just like to know of any schools which offer decent training/promotion opportunities to its teachers.

[spiral78]

Honestly, at the teacher-trainer or assistant DOS level in Prague, I don't think anyone's offering significant support for additional education (Prague's a useful example as I have long-term contacts in the business there).

I was thinking, however, that a teacher trainer, for example, makes enough money and has enough off time to pursue some advanced qualifications, assuming he/she has the grit and initiative to do so.

[naturegirl321]

ADOS
DOS
Teacher Trainer
International School
University Positions
Book Editor
Book Contributor
Working for EFL book distributors

Getting an MA

For ADOS and DOS jobs, a lot depneds on who you konw, being in the right place and the right time, and just staying at one insitute for a while.

[rd8277]

Thanks naturegirl321, I hadn't thought of going into the EFL books or publishing world. Can I PM you with a couple of questions about it?

Spiral78 - Thanks again for the info about teacher training - it's probably my best bet as yet, I've posted on expats for more info, also expats has a good list of teacher training schools which I'll be contacting directly, to see if they would have any positions for me... and yes, although I was only in Prague for a couple of years I also don't remember coming across any schools there, either myself or through friends and contacts, which offered support for teachers to rise to aDOS or DOS level, but at the time I wasn't looking, so I was still a little hopeful.

But thank you - it's just as useful to me if people can offer their opinions of places where there AREN'T many opportunities, as where there are. Any knowledge is gratefully received!!

[Extraordinary Rendition]

Just a thought, see the response to my post on this thread:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=60254&highlight=

[roywebcafe]

Will send you a PM with an idea.

[ratsareeatingmybrain]

There are plenty of perfectly okay (eg with the national PASE accreditation) schools in Poland where you would probably get an ADOS position just by staying at the same school for 3 years, due to the turnover rate, if you've a decent attitude. But to go straight into one is highly unlikely. Schools generally like to promote from within, at least from my experience.

I know someone who did a distance DELTA in Krakow while working as ADOS in a language school. I also know someone who went back to the UK for a year, got a crap office job and did the DELTA in a year in evening classes. Why not consider that?

[kc4real]

ADOS DOS, everyone keeps mentioning these but I don't have any idea what they mean????? someone please explain!