Job Discussion Forums

[southernrootslbc]

Here�s my situation: I�m a 32-year old female United States citizen who has a B.A. in theatre with an English minor and an M.F.A. in film production. I have experience (seven years) of editing books and magazines with a reputable publisher, as well as a published article I�ve authored. I have sporadic experience tutoring (everything from flute and acting to K-12 English and math) but spread over several years. I have passed my CBEST (California Basic Educational Skills Test), but I do not have a certificate to teach inside the U.S. or any sort of TESL. I also have no classroom experience.

I�ve considered getting a TESL certificate, but I just finished grad school, and since I�m not certain teaching abroad is going to be my calling long-term, I�m hesitant to run out and spend more time and money on training that may not pay off, so I�m mostly interested in assignments I can get without the certification, at least for now. And most importantly, I need a place that is pet-friendly. I have a rescued dog that I refuse to abandon. I�m hoping to begin my journey this fall semester.

I�ve been reading the boards to hear the pros and cons of each place, but I�ve not really found much on people with publishing experience. I would think that would make me a more attractive candidate, right? Would schools in certain areas be more prone to forgive the lack of classroom experience and certification for someone who worked with English grammar for years? If so, any suggestions as to what countries they might be?

Also, I was wondering if I should go with a recruiter. I know that people have unfavorable things to say about them, but I�m wondering if I should consider it, given my special circumstances (the dog and lack of certification). Has anyone used one who had a good experience?

I�m flexible on a lot of things (the continent, the age of the students, public or private schools, etc.) but there are some preferences I have that are important to me, so I�m listing those below. If anyone has any suggestions of countries/regions you think would be a good fit for me, I�m all ears!

Decent air quality
Housing provided (or an allowance for and assistance in finding housing)
Airfare provided
Must allow me to keep my dog (17-pound Boston Terrier)
No certification required
Decent pay (nothing extravagant but enough to eat, pay bills, and have a little left to explore)
Decent climate (prefer near a beach but not at all required)
Not a huge city (but near a big city would be fine)
A laid-back environment with friendly people
A schedule that allows for some travel

*I�m looking for an experience. I want to go somewhere and immerse myself in another culture� somewhere I can travel nearby areas and learn more about the world.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. It�s all quite overwhelming at first!

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

Honestly, have you thought about using your MFA and working in film (or continuing editing), and maybe volunteering as an ESL (English as a Second Language- in places where English is the language of daily use) teacher maybe in the evenings / when you have time to get some experience. That way, you'll know if teaching English is actually something you would enjoy doing. You can then get certified in the US (if you decide that you want a career in this, then I 'd suggest getting as much experience as you can and do an MA in TESOL or Applied Linguistics before leaving- it will make your life a LOT easier). [Yes, what I mean to say is that there aren't a whole lot of places that are 'pet friendly' and so you should wait]

Reading this board often gives people the impression that travelling around is the main thing, and teaching is something people do to finance it, but in reality, if you aren't a 'backpacker', then the opposite is true. The main thing is teaching English, and everything else is sort of the rest of your life- just like when you have a full-time job anywhere in North America.

[denise]

A TESL (TEFL, really) certificate is a basic entry-level qualification--it's good enough to help you get your first job, give you just enough training to cope with lesson planning, etc. It's generally not enough to base a career on anyway. If you do decide that you enjoy teaching and want to make a career of it, an MA is the way to go. For short-term stints (you didn't mention how long you wanted to do this), a certificate really helps. You sound more than qualified in your own field, but I don't know if/how those qualifications would help you get a teaching job. Having an article credited to your name is of course a plus when looking for university jobs, but those jobs will require proper training and experience first. I'm sure you could arrange your CV and cover letter to highlight your writing skills, but I doubt that they would make up for a lack of teaching experience or certification.

Oh, and I've got my CBEST, too. It's got its own little bullet point on my CV. Nobody has ever asked about it! It's really only useful, I think, in the US, when paired with a state credential.

d

[southernrootslbc]

thank you guys for your feedback.

i was actually wanting to use this as a way of getting some in-class experience. i know i want to teach, which is why i got an MFA (the degree is otherwise useless in the film industry). i do have a passion for sharing knowledge. i just don't know if teaching esl abroad is something i would want to experience for one year or ten years. my thoughts on it right now are that i'd get a job for a 6-month or year-long contract and see how i liked it. if i didn't like teaching abroad, i'd be able to come back and use my classroom experience to get a job teaching in my field at a community college and build up more experience.

i've seen a lot of ads for jobs that say that no certification or experience is required. are these bogus? i've also read of some people who say that they've traveled with their pets. it seems difficult but not impossible. i'm guessing it's more difficult with situations where the school furnishes the apartment? otherwise, it seems like it's just a matter of finding an apartment that will allow pets.

so from the sound of it, there's no one place in particular that would be easier for me to find work. i'll just have to apply everywhere and hope for the best!

thanks again!

[orangepaperclip]

If you are really only looking for the experience, then you might want to consider a recruiter or agency. They often herd together loads of native speakers with BAs and give them quick training courses and a placement. Countries where this is popular are Taiwan, China and South Korea. I've heard that Chile is quite easy to get into as well. Never, ever pay for the placement or any mandatory training courses.

Keep in mind that you get what you pay for... i.e. if a place is willing to accept you to do a job that you have no training or experience in, it's not going to be teaching business English! Most likely young learners, kindergarten classes and the like... You'll probably be assisting a local teacher and not have a class of your own. Expect to do a lot of singing and playing. Not the most exciting variety of English teaching, but at least you'll be traveling.

Also, don't expect to be welcomed by 'real' ESL/EFL teachers. We as a group tend to be a little touchy when it comes to backpacking 'teachers'. A lot of people assume that we are paid just because we speak English, a stereotype most of us try to fight. You can see why some teachers who have studied and practiced for years are annoyed with the assumption that people can just 'step in' to our jobs without training. I'm sure they'll still be friendly and helpful in an expat situations, but it's a sore spot to keep an eye on...

If you want a decent job that isn't through an agency, get yourself a CELTA or Trinity Cert... Whatever cert you do should include a practicum component... When you think of it, 1 -2 months of training is not a lot to ask for a brand new career.

Good luck and happy traveling!

[southernrootslbc]

very helpful advice. thank you!

[Glenski]