Job Discussion Forums

harr8060 · Joined: 04 Mar 2010 Posts: 2 Location: Washington State

I am a college graduate with a degree in Elementary Education. I have roughly two years of experience and am interested in teaching abroad. I am not picky about the country. Basically I am wondering how to get this process started. I created a CV and a cover letter, now I am just wanting to find reputable websites for teaching abroad.

Another thing that I am running into is a great deal of information on teaching only English abroad. I am not closed to this idea but I'm wondering if this is the only option. If so, should I be taking a TESOL course? Finally, are online TESOL classes adequate or should I take one in person? Thank you for any advice you can offer me.

Shannon

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Don't misunderstand me, I am not advising AGAINST training courses, but in China you won't NEED it. It won't hurt to have it. (The reason I'm being so adamant is that I said something similar in another post and it was misunderstood.) No, teaching English would not be the only option in China (it would be by far the easiest). I know a Russian man who teaches art, a US citizen who teaches art history, etc. Get a list of schools from the internet and contact them. I AM advising against recruiters. Your degree is a HUGE plus, especially if you're a Caucasian in China; your face is your resume and you have the credentials to back it up. I said IF, I'm not assuming you're Caucasian. I AM assuming you want to teach children. Parents want the white face in front of their kids and the schools know it.

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

I edited my last post.

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

With your experience you should be looking at international schools. They are taught similarly to their foreign counterparts, so you may be able to teach elem ed in the same way and not have to specialize.

Look at job fairs.
Search Associates, ISS (International School Services) and CIS (Council of International Schools).

chimsect · Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Posts: 9 Location: Seoul

A certified elementary school teacher from an Anglophone country will do very well somewhere. No need to be picky, like you said, but you could look at that from a different angle and say that everything you've got going for you just broadens your scope of options.

You could look at some of the programs in East Asian countries that place people in elementary schools - the JET program in Japan and/or the NET program in Hong Kong would probably be woth a shot as they're both well-established and well-compensated. Not sure what kind of a role you'd be playing there (i.e., content-based stuff vs. pure English instruction), but perhaps you'd be OK either way.

The Middle East might be another place to check out, but I only know they pay very well in most of the countries in that region, based on what colleagues and friends have reported. Look at it this way - you may not feel like you need the money right now, but you'll definitely thank yourself later.

Good luck and have a great adventure wherever you go.