Job Discussion Forums

[BrianaBird]

Okay, I guess I'll start with the basics. I'm 19-year-old female, and a sophomore at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. Over the past year, I've been arguing with myself over majoring in teaching English, Spanish, Italian, or Chinese, but I'm pretty sure I have my heart set on majoring in teaching ESL/EFL. The major does require student teaching, and with the degree I can teach from birth to 21 years old.

I have no problem with living overseas. In fact I'm really looking forward to it. I've had the travel bug since I was a kid, and my parents raised me to be an independent person, not tied down to one place. Also, I have a couple of cousins that have taught English in Italy and China, and have also had discussions with other people that have taught in Thailand and Guatemala, and I really feel like this is the job for me. English is my first language, and I have an American accent, with a small eastern/midwestern accent, which is not very noticeable (I lived in Massachussetts until I was about 10, when we moved to Wisconsin, hence the eastern accent.)

Now for my questions going into this job market:

From what I've read, a lot of people are hiring unlicensed teachers to teach ESL/EFL. With my degree, would I be overqualified at all?

I'm worried about paying my massive student loans after I graduate. Would it be more logical to stay in the US until my loans are payed off, and then look into going international? Oh, and there IS a high demand for ESL teachers in Wisconsin, especially Green Bay and Appleton with the large Hmong population. Or should I go international right off the bat? (I am a low maintenance person, and can usually keep my spending in food and personal expenses under $60 a month.)

I'm more interested in teaching kids between 6 and 12. What kind of certification would be best to get? Would I find more opportunities in teaching older kids/adults? And since my degree would only apply for people between birth and 21, would I need to get extra certification or would those hiring not care?

How far in advance do I start looking for jobs? A year? A month? I have no idea.

I have some other little questions pertaining to certain areas and where to teach, but I can always get those answered the closer I get to looking for a job.

[naturegirl321]

LIcensed teachers can work in intl school, like the ones at www.tes.co.uk and www.ibo.org They pay better than langauge institutes, usually.

For student loans, you might be able to save more overseas. But with intl schools, they need you to have two years experience first. Might try sticking it out for two years, then heading overseas.

I'm confused about your birth to age 21 cert, does that make you a teacher, I mean, could you teach in public schools in Wisconsin? If not, then you'll have to go with institutes more often than not. Try getting the CELTA, Trinity or SIT cert.

Job searching varies, intl schools may look up to 1 year in advance, but six months is the norm. Other places may look up to six months, but normally it's a couple of months, Last minute jobs are common as well. I've been offered three in the last week, all start in 15 days.

[BrianaBird]

For my certification, I need to student teach ESL at inner-city schools in Milwaukee, and I have a few friends who got hired at the schools they student taught at after graduation.

Thanks a lot for the help :]

[naturegirl321]

Ok, then if you want to teach at intl schools, most require you to have two years teachign experience. BUT there are some who will hire NQTs. Which area, countries are you intersted in?

[BrianaBird]

While I dream of teaching in Europe (Italy, to be precise,) I know that it is very hard to get a visa, considering I don't have any family (or, well, any that I am still in touch with) in Europe. So I've shifted my sites to Asia, like China or Taiwan (Japan, if I'm lucky.) I'm also interested in South America, but maybe when I'm older and ready to settle down. I'm really flexible on location, I like both the country and city, and I'm okay with not having much of a social life, as I've never really had one in the first place outside of club activities.

I'm also looking for somewhere that would provide housing, especially at the beginning. What are the best countries to look at?

[Glenski]

[BrianaBird]

Thanks for all of the advice, everybody!

After some research and thought, I'm seriously considering Korea and Japan, and if I can't get a job in those two countries, China or Vietnam. I'll stay in the US for my two years of experience, then get a job overseas.

How long does it usually take to get a CELTA or Trinity certification? Is it like, a test you have to take, or a class? Would the overall studying/class be doable in a summer or more?

I know that the hiring peak in Japan is March/April, but what about China/Korea/Vietnam/other Asian countries?

[naturegirl321]

[BrianaBird]

Perfect, thank you.

This is still a few years off, I plan on graduating May 2012, if we're not all blown to bits (heheh.)

How much would it cost to get a CELTA or Trinity certification?

[naturegirl321]

A couple thousand bucks, check the cambridge esol site for a list of all the course providers

[BrianaBird]

O_O wooow. Well, if I want to do this for the rest of my life...

Thank you so much for all of your help! :]

[Chancellor]

[Cubic09]

[naturegirl321]

Yep, that's true, you might even get married!