Job Discussion Forums

Erikc · Joined: 05 Sep 2009 Posts: 4 Location: San Francisco

Thanks for your help!

My name is Erik and I want to get a job teaching English abroad. I have my BA in international relations and some work experience, but no teaching experience, nor do I have a certificate. I'm a native English speaker and I'm American with a lot of travel experience under my belt (so I know I can leave home for a few years and be ok with it.) I'm pretty broke as it is, so I really don't want to drop another $500 to God knows what on getting some sort of a certification. So I am wondering how likely is it that I could get a job teaching in Taiwan, China, Korea, or somewhere else in Asia?

Also, I've been applying to jobs, but I was wondering if someone could show me what a good resume and cover letter for an entry-level teaching job?

I'd love to be out of San Francisco by 2010, so do you think it is possible for me to find an ok teaching job in one of those countries by then?

Thanks,
Erik

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

Probably around $2000 for basic certification such as CELTA.

How long do you wish to teach for? With no experience, an degree unrelated to linguistics or education, and no certificate, it is unlikely that you will qualify for most teaching jobs. You will be left with the bottom pile of employers, so in the end, it may be worth it for you to get certification. If an employer is willing to hire someone without even the basic industry standard qualifications (a 100 hour certificate + observed classroom teaching practicum), they are unlikely to offer anything better than the bare minimum (and in some cases, even lower).

People DO get jobs that have none of the above qualifications. However, you mentioned financial issues twice so be aware that you will be at a financial disadvantage for any payscale. If you don't care about what you are paid in another country, you may have options.

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

You're pretty much a clone of many/most applicants for the JET program or most conversation schools here in Japan. Market is full right now, but if you're determined...

Chancellor

Dancing Monkey · Joined: 23 Aug 2009 Posts: 79

If you are interested in China, you could probably find a job without certification. But, a lot of places are now requiring some sort of certificate. If so, an online certificate will suffice.

Check out - www.chinatefl.com

I recommend applying to universities only. Some universities will hire people beginning next semester (2010) and might offer you a 1 semester contract, if that is what you want.

China has been becoming stricter with the 2 years experience requirement though. When I first came here they required working experience in any field, but, more cities/provinces are now requiring teaching experience.

I recommend looking into Jiangsu Province, Nanjing or Suzhou in particular. Nanjing is a few hours from Shanghai. Suzhou is 30 minutes on the fast train.

I once taught at a university in Nanjing that advertises on www.chinatefl.com and worked with a few people just out of college.

Good Luck!

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

YOu could easily work in Asia. You might not get the best jobs or pay without a cert of experience, but with time and more quals, you can work your way up. CHINA IS probably the easiest to get into. Usually they just require a native speaker with a BA.

Chancellor · Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 6:45 pm Post subject:

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

yep, I hear thtat now, depending on the province, you might be ask for 2 years experience, TEFL cert and/or BA

LanGuTou · Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Posts: 621 Location: Shandong

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

father Mackenzie · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 105 Location: Jakarta Barat

There are private schools in Indonesia that will consider your application as you have a degree. Might be worth checking options out here. It will be low end and new teacher level but it is a foot in the door.

evolving81 · Joined: 04 May 2009 Posts: 135 Location: Tampa

Things may have changed drastically since 2004 but I was pretty much in your situation. I graduated from college (BA in Anthropology) and had no teaching experience. I had several offers to work in South Korea and in fact ended up going to an English school in Busan. The pay was good, the housing was provided, etc. Unless things have changed a lot I don't see why you couldn't get a similar set up now.

Best of luck.

Erikc · Joined: 05 Sep 2009 Posts: 4 Location: San Francisco

Thanks for all of the replies!

So it seems that I should get some sort of a certification if I don't want to be teaching out in the middle of nowhere AND have some real prospect of getting hired.

So how reputable are some of the online courses that I've seen out there? The only reason that I would take one of those over a live classroom is simply the price. This ICAL online one looks OK...

http://icalweb.com/cms/index.php

It's a 100-hour certificate, and cost under $300, which is in my price range. Would that be good enough for me to get job, or would a need something better? If you know of any other online, low-price course that I could take that are reputable, that would be great.

Again, thank you for the help and replies.

Erik

Chancellor · Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 6:08 pm Post subject:

Erikc · Joined: 05 Sep 2009 Posts: 4 Location: San Francisco

Ok, so it sounds like the online course would be more or less a waste of money. So with that being said, what sort of a "live" course would be good enough for me to get a starting job teaching in Taiwan or China? Would a 60-hour course be ok?

I saw that the Oxford Seminars do a 60-hours course for about $1000, would this be good enough to help me get a job teaching abroad?

Thanks for all the help,
Erik