Job Discussion Forums

Ria · Joined: 02 Apr 2003 Posts: 34

I was just reading the "Hey Lurkers!" thread over on the general discussion forum, and was thinking that it would be nice for some of us newbies to get to know each other. A little on-line social, if you will! I'm looking to get into teaching efl, and am in the process of sifting through the mountains of info, and saving all my pesos so I can take a CELTA course and get myself set up for job hunting in a yet-to-be-decided country. I have a few ideas about where I'd like to go, but narrowing it down is proving difficult. Lots of details to settle! This forum has been an invaluable resource for me, and has also been a great way to learn how diverse opinions can be within this field. How are other newbies finding things? Have any of you made the leap yet, or are you like me--still in the research stage? I hope this thread can kick-start some other topics as well, and get all of us newbies out of the shadows! Vets, feel free to join in!

rogan · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 416 Location: at home, in France

21 posts and still researching countries and qualifications ?????

Are you one of those slow learning people who have a Degree in basketweaving from some university in one off the other 49 states in the US of A ????

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Rogan,

Did you really need to make that attack?

Kiyasarin · Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Posts: 8 Location: California

Thank you, guest of japan.

Hi Ria--I already pm'd you, but then I felt like I was wimping out, so I thought I'd work up the courage to come back here and actually post something (rogans of the world be d*mned).

I also read leeroy's post, and for some strange reason it made me feel kind of embarrassed about not contributing to any of the forums, but since I don't have any TEFL experience I didn't think I had anything substantive to say. I'm still in the research stage as well. I'm not willing to "take the leap" at this time, mainly because I'm a bit broke at the moment and those certificates cost a chunk of change! I have, however, located a couple of really good places in my town (well, city) where I can get certification: one is a CELTA, and one is a TEFL. In the meantime, I've signed up to volunteer at the local YWCA for their English-in-Action program, where you get paired up with an international student or visiting lecturer who wants to improve their English language conversation skills, and you, well, converse with them for a couple of hours a week. I'm sure it's nothing like actually teaching someone to speak English, but it will definitely give me a taste of what it might be like. Based on the information I've read in the discussion forums, I will not go anywhere without a certificate and a little experience under my belt.

As for location, for me that's a no-brainer. I have lived in Japan before and I have family there, so I'd love to go back and try and live there on my own (the last time I was there my mother was around to provide translations--cheating! Laughing

)

I guess that's all I have for now. Would love to hear what other newbies are experiencing...

Kiyasarin

Wolf · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth

Rogan, as of this post (#757 I think) I am still researching EFL jobs. There are many places, regions and facets of EFL teaching that I do not know. It didn't help that I didn't own a computer at all during my first 3+ years as an EFL teacher (I've only had regular net access at home for about 6 months or so.)

I don't know if this qualifies me as "newbie" enough to post here, though. Embarassed

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

I spent two years researching & saving money for my TEFL course. There's nothing at all wrong with planning. Packing up and moving "abroad" is quite a life-altering experience. Some people can do it on a whim, some are more deliberate. Either way is fine, no?

Kiyasarin--That English-in-Action program sounds like an excellent idea. No, it probably won't be the same as teaching (depending, of course, on what type of "teaching" you end up doing! private Ss vs. kids vs. business Ss. vs. "edutainment", etc...), but it will give you an idea of some of the problems that learners face. I've done some conversation-exchange-type stuff, and I found that I had to be prepared to explain anything, absolutely anything (depending on where the conversations headed), on a moment's notice.

I lurked for probably a month or two after I registered here--nothing to say, I suppose. Still, I don't recall there being quite as many flames, sarcastic replies, etc. back then. Or maybe I was just clueless, which is always a possibility.

d

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Kiyasarin - you are an example to follow. Volunteering, finding out what is on your doorstep, weighing up the alternatives and considering long-term goals in terms of a favoured destination - all these are examples of starting out right.

Thanks for sharing your experiences here Very Happy

Ria · Joined: 02 Apr 2003 Posts: 34

Rogan -- despite the fact that I have a degree in basketweaving (not from one of the "other" 49 states, whatever that means, but rather from the "51st" state), I still know how to spell the word "of", and I'm not even a qualified teacher yet!

As for everyone else, thanks for the supportive responses! I'm not particularily concerned about whether or not others find me slow off the start, because I'm the only one that really knows what my current life situation/circumstance is, and why it is that I'm taking my time with this stuff. To give an idea, I have limited internet access since I currently live/work aboard boats for much of the time. I am already familiar with what it is like to both live and work "abroad". I also have obligations that prevent me from being quite as decisive as I'd like to be!

WOLF: I especially appreciated your humble response. Thanks from a West Coast-er of Bluenose blood (CB, to be exact)!

Wolf · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth

Capergirl · Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2003 12:45 pm Post subject:

Hi Ria

I'm from Cape Breton, too! What part of the island are you from? Very Happy

Ria · Joined: 02 Apr 2003 Posts: 34

Wolf and Capergirl--

I should clarify...My roots are in CB, but I suppose I can't really claim to be from there myself. My parents (and many previous gens on both sides) are from North Sydney, but I was born in St. John. We moved back to CB and lived there a few years when I was little, but my father was ambitious and so...

I do love it there as much as my west coast, and hope to be bi-coastal one day! Even though I now only visit from time to time, I was really brought up like a CBer, and relate to the humour and sensibilities of the folks there. So sorry, I didn't mean to imply I was "born and raised"!

Am missing anything Canuk these days as I haven't been to the Great White North in a couple of years. I'm not a coffee-drinker, but could go for a timbit and maybe a decent beer! Smile

shenyanggerry · Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 619 Location: Canada

Right now I live in Halifax but I grew up in New Brunswick and mostly worked in Montreal.

Capergirl · Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2003 12:59 am Post subject:

@Ria...Close enough. Once a Caper, always a Caper. Wink

@Shenyanggerry...Are you teaching ESL in Hfx? Smile

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

oh boy... can we create a separate forum where threads can go once they degenerate into where each Canadian is from? This seems to happen pretty routinely now.

Sorry if this wasn't a PC request Rolling Eyes

shenyanggerry · Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 619 Location: Canada

No Capergirl, I'm retired and took up TESL as a way to travel free while getting involved beyond tourist depth in some foreign clime. I enjoy teaching English. One semester a year is fun, not work - although I am paid to do it.

If you know someone in Halifax looking for a TESL instructor, I wouldn't mind a little part time work. All play and no work is making Shenyanggerry a dull boy! I'm not going back to China until February.