Job Discussion Forums

ced0802 · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Posts: 8

Hi everybody ,

I'm french and i'm really fond of english and i would like to teach it abroad as a second language.However i don t know how to manage to do this..I heard about CELTA , or certTESOL ,but it s not really clear for me ..And my english level is medium..Is there some school to prepare to those exam?

What can i do?Is there some french who have done this before?Who teach english abroad?

I really need your help
I m looking forward reading your answers

Thank you

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Is there some reason you are avoiding teaching French?

I think you'll find it difficult to land an English-teaching job if you don't know much about it and if you aren't very good at the language. Your post, if you'll pardon some inspection, shows some basic English flaws.

I have worked with 2 French teachers in a high school: one was Japanese and also taught English, the other was a Frenchman who taught French. The latter found jobs hard to come by (no surprise).

I also ran into a student of a Frenchman who was making a stab at teaching her English. Horrible lessons! For example, first lesson was to give her homework consisting of a dozen pages of English for her to translate into Japanese (including a page of 50 adjectives). She drooled over my lessons (I showed her as she was waiting for the teacher to show up), and wanted to switch, but he was charging about 1000 yen/hour, and that was her deciding factor. Her loss.

SueH · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Posts: 1022 Location: Northern Italy

ced0802 · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Posts: 8

Thank you very much glensky , but you don t answer my question actually..I know my english is still not perfect , and ask if is there some school preparing to this qualification or i have just to spend some times in a foreign country and waiting to be fluent..

ced0802 · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Posts: 8

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

English teacher training courses don't accept students until they can demonstrate a strong level of fluency in English.

You need to start by studying English, not how to teach it.

ced0802 · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Posts: 8

So if i really want to to do this job , you suggest me to go to a foreign country for few years , and then pass those exams..

But can i do a carrer?is there jobs or it s really difficult?

Thank you again

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

You have a lot of competition from native English speakers. I don't want to squash any dreams, but imagine that you are a student of English. You have to pay for lessons. Who will you want to teach you? A native French speaker with 'ok' English - or a native speaker?

That said, if you REALLY want to do this, there are definitely jobs, AFTER you are qualified in terms of your own knowledge of and skill in the language.

I work with colleagues who are native French, Dutch, Spanish, Romanian, and Russian speakers. BUT they have near-perfect English, and other credentials on top of that.

Yes, you can do it - but it's a long road and a lot of work. A bit more than if you were a native speaker. I am a native speaker, but it took
1) BA in education
2) basic certification in teaching ESL/EFL
3) 12 years of experience teaching English
4)MA TESL/TEFL

before I finally landed a really great job.

ced0802 · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Posts: 8

So imagine if i m going to spend 2 years in australia , i think i ll be able to pass those exam..?and then to find a job..?

Thank you so much , i really need help ..it s like a dream

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

I took a TESL course with a Korean businessman once. He took the class because it allowed him to have a lot of interaction with native speakers (it was a TESL for children class so there was a lot of games and group activities). Although, his main goal was to improve his spoken English, not TESL (I believe he had a PhD in Engineering).

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

ced0802 · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Posts: 8

that s nice of you , but i m still a little lost..if you know a french person who does what i want to do , it would be nice if i could contact him

Thanks a lot
see you

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

Most French people I know who teach English are married. Thus they do not need a visa to work in the country in which they live. Unless you are planning on marrying a foreigner I am not sure that they could help you.