Job Discussion Forums

[ahsanirfan]

Hi!

This is my first time posting on this forum, so I hope I will be forgiven for any ignorance and naivety I display.

I recently graduated (June 2009) with a degree in Materials (Metallurgical) Engineering. Since May, I've been working with a local telecom corporation.

Since the second year of my university, I have always been interested in teaching. I used to tutor privately. A couple of months before I graduated I even began a tutoring company, which I ran for several months. However, since it wasn't yielding enough income, I opted for a job, and closed it down.

Given my current meager income, a family to support and high competition [I'm in Toronto, Canada] I think it impossible [at least in the short term] to be able to enroll in a teacher's college and get hired as a teacher.

Now, I'm thinking, that maybe TEFL may be a plausible option. In the long-run, however, I'd like to get into teaching math & the sciences, so I'm using the TEFL to just get my leg into the door.

With that background in mind, here are my questions:

What kind of certification will I require to get TEFL jobs?
What kind of experience will I require?
Which countries is it possible to get TEFL jobs in?
What countries have "reasonable" to high prospects? By "reasonable," I mean, enough income to support wife and children and save around 10%-30% of the income.
With an engineering degree and a TESOL certification, is it even plausible to consider a career in this area?

I have more questions, too. But I guess I'll begin with these just to get a discussion rolling.

Thanks!

[coledavis]

I'm not sure about this strategy of using TEFL as a way in to teaching in mainstream. Generally speaking, mainstream teaching requires a full teaching qualification, regardless of your experience. Unless perhaps you're thinking of going into the private sector, where your experience would help; I know this could work in the UK, but I can't say anything about other questions.

As for supporting a family, well, the problem is generally that the language schools tend to provide free accommodation, but normally just for one person. Unless they're looking for a couple. Then both you and your wife would need to have the relevant qualifications.

Re qualifications: most jobs for couples (I noted one in Japan recently) are likely to be in schools for children rather than adults. So, of the two most well-known qualifications, CELTA and Trinity, I'd go for Trinity as it specialises in teaching English to children.

[coledavis]

I'm not sure about this strategy of using TEFL as a way in to teaching in mainstream. Generally speaking, mainstream teaching requires a full teaching qualification, regardless of your experience. Unless perhaps you're thinking of going into the private sector, where your experience would help; I know this could work in the UK, but I can't say anything about other countries.

As for supporting a family, well, the problem is generally that the language schools tend to provide free accommodation, but normally just for one person. Unless they're looking for a couple. Then both you and your wife would need to have the relevant qualifications.

Re qualifications: most jobs for couples (I noted one in Japan recently) are likely to be in schools for children rather than adults. So, of the two most well-known qualifications, CELTA and Trinity, I'd go for Trinity as it specialises in teaching English to children.

Another thought, however, leaving aside TEFL for a moment.
I do believe that there is a shortage of teachers of science subjects and mathematics (and as an engineering graduate, you should be ok) in the UK. Why not research UK education? Go to the www.tda.gov.uk They take people who have trained as a teacher in other countries (I've even seen Russians doing it). Contact them. If they think that you're likely to get employed, then it may be worth doing your training. There is even the possibility of getting a job with training on the premises, although this would mean making contact with individual schools. I would suggest looking into this. It might be a shorter route than TEFLing.

[nickpellatt]

Kinda intruding on the thread a tad so apologies for that.

Cole, Trinity doesnt differ from CELTA in terms of teaching adults or kids. I noted a post mentioning the same thing elsewhere (not sure if it was yours?)

I completed a Trinity last year ... It definitely isnt about young learners, and a friend also did a Trinity with another training provider and says the same thing. I think I had one 45 min input session on young learners in the whole 4 weeks.

[coledavis]

In that case, I apologise to all and sundry. It looks like things have changed. Sorry again, and thanks for pointing this out.

[Chancellor]

[naturegirl321]

1. 120 hours with 6 hours of teaching. SIT, Trinity and CELTA are the big three. There are other generic ones that are good as well.

2. teaching, tutoring, coaching, they all help

3. China is a popular place for newbies. the EU is hard, if not nearly impossible to get into unless you have a passport from an EU country, or marriage to a citizen to work there.

4. China, Korea, Mexico, are good places to start. High prospects, just about anywhere. Once you stay in a country for a while, you-ll get contacts and people will offer you jobs or opportunities. Altough I really don-t like Peru, after five years, and such a small TEFL community, people start to get to know you, tell you about jobs, offer you free books, or give workshops at conferences. We save everything I make and live off my husband-s income, which is less than mine.

About supporting a family. It is kind of hard. Right now, I-m trying to find a job that will give my husband a visa. I-ve had a couple places flat out refuse and say that he couldn-t even live with me. But, on the other hand, at least for China and Korea, I-d say most places will get him a visa to come with me, not to work, and will allow him to live in the housing there. supporting a family could be hard. We-re lucky in the fact that we have property here in Peru and that would help us. Also, we-re pretty used to scrimping and saving, and don-t really go out much, so are confident we could save there.

5. HOnestly, try to get something in engineering. TEFL is good, but it-s hard to find good paying jobs and it can be pretty stressful.

[JZer]

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

[Dancing Monkey]

Come to China.

We will love you.

[Glenski]