Job Discussion Forums

[Lukeukwalker]

Hi Everyone

I have recently finished university and have been looking into my options. What I want to do is teach English in China for a year. Where do i start with this? I have been looking into the different TEFL courses and am bamboozled by it all. I would want to get the best training possible for a fee that isn't over the top. Also what would be best, spending the summer training in the UK and then finding work for september or spending a few more months in training and leave in the new year? Is this necessary?

As well as completing my degree i have spent the last 3 years working with children as an activity leader in one of the major summer schools here in the UK, although i have little class room experience i do have a number of years experience working with children, mostly foreign children.

Thanks all

Luke

[naturegirl321]

China, honestly, you donj't need a TEFL cert, the fact that you're a native speaker with a degree is enough. Apply for jobs, you'll get accepted to many. DON?T sign contracts with schools that
1. accept you without an interview
2. that refuse to put you in touch with current teachers

You'll have no porbs finding a job, check the China forums

[Lukeukwalker]

That's great to know thanks , but i wouldn't know where to start in a classroom and my grammar needs a bit of revision so would it be an idea to do one of the cheap courses just to refresh my English language and learn a bit about how to deal with a class?[/img]

[nickpellatt]

Neither a cheap course, or an expensive one month intensive course will teach you much grammar really, and a cheap online course wont actually teach you anything much at all ... well, not as much as you would learn from buying a book like 'learning teaching' by jim Scrivener.

I have done both an online course and a one month course. The online course provided a certificate, and little else. The one month course was great for classroom experience and feedback, and if you are especially nervous it might be useful for you.

Reality is you could work in China as you are ... and the other thing is what you learn on a course may not be much help when you are actually in China ... courses prepare you for a certain type of learner in a certain type of class ... they dont prepare you for 50 kids of mixed ability in a chinese middle school. The course will only do so much.

have you considered looking for summer work in the UK and getting some class experience that way? It might be something to consider.

I would be tempted to start looking quite hard at China, and thinking about the sort of work you may want, and where you would like to go. Thats another big step to considerr and it may influence the type of course or training you will do (if any) prior to leaving the UK.

Im not very experienced compared to many of the people on this board...I did first go to China with no teaching experience at all ... I then did an online course, and went back to China again. After my 18 months in China, I came home and took a one month Trinity course and I am now trying to use some of those ideas in my summer school classes. If you want any more details drop me a PM or email ... will be happy to waffle at greater length to any detailed questions etc you may have!

[Lukeukwalker]

Thanks, thats a great input. If i can talk to you about it that would be great. I really am a newby to all this. I can't PM at the moment but could i possibly add you to my windows messenger. Thanks again, luke