Job Discussion Forums

[Samwise]

Hi, I'm Sam. You might remember me from such great threads as "Help, my cover letter is terrible" and "What parasite might this be? [images in thread]"

Well, I've sent off a few applications, and even though it's been less than a week, I've managed to worry myself into the mentality that I'm hideously under-qualified and so terrible in every considerable way that I'm never going to get a job anywhere and that somehow, I'm going to get bludgeoned to death with a Cricket bat. That last part throws me too, don't worry. My mind is a scary place sometimes.


I've got a Bachelor's degree in Education, with a focus on English. I have teaching experience, but no actual certificate. I want to teach abroad for a year, but I'm not sure if I want to live abroad for longer than that. Am I okay as I am?

Furthermore, would a certificate help me get a job stateside? I don't actually know what sort of opportunities ESL instructors have in the US, I've never seen any postings for them.

[denise]

Where are you applying? Without a certificate you are limited abroad, although there are some places that don't require one. Are you responding directly to job ads (which would say whether or not a certificate is required) or just finding schools and mailing out your CV?

A certificate won't help you very much in the US. I've come across a few ads for jobs that don't require MAs, but most of them do.

Don't worry too much. With a degree, you're OK. Get a certificate and you'll be a bit better. But you can find a job somewhere--there are all sorts of jobs with varying levels of qualifications required.

Lots of people do this for just a year. You can use this experience as a way to see the world and do some traveling (although not as much as some people would like), some do it to learn a language, some to meet the local ladies, etc., but please just take the job seriously when you're in the classroom.

Good luck!
d

[Chancellor]

[ESL Hobo]

I agree with Denise's assessment on certificates stateside with some reservations. There are places in florida, new york, SF and texas where a certificate might give you an edge in private schools or adjuncts to university schools. But it's part time work and you will have to have another part time job to make ends meet.

Having a scary mind is almost prerequisite to being a Tefler so don't let that bother you!

If you are not up to getting a certificate at this time and just want to bust out, Indonesia comes to mind as an easy place to get a job although the starting pay is not that great, the mystery and commaraderie is well worth it.

I think Thailand requires a certificate now for legal employment, which most of it is.

I have read that any backpacker can get jobs "illegally" in Vietnam and it's done frequently.

Taiwan doesn't require a certificate but it helps. I live in TW but wouldn't recommend it to anyone with great sensitivity. Just my opinion.

Relax, take a deep breath, keep asking questions and doing your own research until you find something. It's a lot more complicated than it used to be but still very doable.

Personally, as a free spirited person, my great loves are Thailand and Indonesia, in that order.

[Samwise]

[Glenski]

As far as Japan is concerned, you have the minimal qualifications for a work visa.

Whether an employer sees your resume and cover letter as sufficient further proof that you are material for them is another story. You've only applied a week ago, you said. The letter is barely warm on their desks. Give it another 2 weeks for each response, but don't limit yourself to ads you see on ESL Cafe. In fact, you'll see far more on certain other sites. Check out the FAQs.

Language. You will not be expected to know any Japanese (and in many cases (often banned in classes anyway, to simulate immersion), the Japanese actually think it's impossible for foreigners to learn it!), but you should realize how much easier daily life will be if you know even a little.

[Samwise]

This whole "call them" thing confuses me. I'm not entirely certain that the advertisements listed a personal phone number to call, what should I do in that case?

[ESL Hobo]

Indonesia held a lot of mystique for me. Wayang puppetry(shadow puppets) the call to prayer, the supersticiousness (SP?)of the people, the total foreignness of everything as compared to western living. Cammaraderie, well it may be different now but teachers there stick together and really enjoy it.

Taiwan has a very complex culture, I thought with all my experience I could hack, heck even like it, but it has taken me years to accept and adjust to the way things are here. Maybe it's just me. Some people come here for their first EFL job and just love it. If you are really interested you can sift through a lot of details on the Taiwan forum.

[Chancellor]

[Chancellor]