Job Discussion Forums

[ktbarnes]

Hi. I'm new here.
I have decided I want to teach english abroad. I'm a 25 year-old female from the US. I have a bachelor's in English and will shortly have my Master's in History. I plan to get CELTA certification. I also have cerebral palsy. My cerebral palsy is not severe but I am unable to walk without assistance. I use a manual wheelchair for long distances and quad canes any other time.
I have been to Central Europe. I spent some time in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria. I know I am able to travel as long as there is decent public transport.
I've been asking around about the best places for me to go. People have suggested Japan, but others have noted that the discrimination there, as well as in other Asian countries, against the disabled would be enough to keep me from getting a job.
I have heard that Western and Central Europe would be my best bet and that France, the best place for someone with no teaching experience.
I would like to make this my career and this forum seems the best place for serious advice. So, any advice on where to go? Any advice at all, really, would be great!

[denise]

As an American, you will have a hard time working legally in Europe (unless you can get an EU passport).

d

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

Yeah, what denise said. Those Europeans have sown up the entire game for themselves...competition be damned!

I've worked with a lady here in the Middle East with one leg and she seems to have gotten along well...w/o a prosthetic...

NCTBA

[spiral78]

I have heard that Western and Central Europe would be my best bet and that France, the best place for someone with no teaching experience.

I am not sure where you might have gotten this advice. As the others have pointed out, unless you have a second citizenship from an EU member country, a US citizen stands near-zero chances of getting legal work in Western Europe. This was not true in the past, but over the last five years and notably from January 2009, it's just impossible to get a work permit, and teaching illegally is a much greater risk than in the past.

Central/Eastern Europe is a legal option, but the Czech Rep (Prague in particular) is a competitive job market and I'm afraid employers would likely see your disability as a drawback. Keep in mind that, in many job markets, the bulk of the work is with businesspeople in their offices, necessitating travel around the city all day long to your student's places of work. I was quite fit when I worked in the city, and it made me tired - a typical teaching schedule like mine simply wouldn't have been feasible for someone with mobility issues.

I suggest you may want to focus your search on situations where the teachers are based in a school. This will help to limit the regions of the world you consider, and also to focus the search most likely on children or perhaps some of the 'chain' schools (like Berlitz) whose adult students normally come to the centre (mind, I am not recommending Berlitz and its ilk for many reasons, but the static location would be a big plus in your situation, most likely).

On a more positive note, in the right situation, I'm sure someone like you can be a valuable asset to a school. I by no means intend to discourage you from trying out the profession - though I do think you'll need to cross Western Europe off the list and narrow your search to school-based work in some country where you can get a legal permit.

[AdrianG4]

Why not latin america? Look into Uruguay or Argentina or even a quiet town in Mexico.

[tttompatz]

I hate to rain on your parade but seriously most of the planet is NOT handicap friendly nor is it politically correct when it comes to hiring practices.

Your chances of finding a job in Western Europe are "0" with your entry level qualifications and non EU status. (If you had a PhD it would be different).

Your chances of finding work in Asia are "0" with your handicap.

Your chances of having a decent life in central/south America with your handicap are "0". They are not wheelchair/crutch friendly (access problems not people problems). It would be a considerable struggle dealing with your problem (more than it already is).

Just travel as a tourist, enjoy your stay in France and return home to work.

.

[ktbarnes]

Thank you all for the advice.
And thank you kindly for the pragmatism, ttompatz, but as I have talked with people who have gotten positions with similar qualifications & disabilities, I will continue towards my goal.

[nickpellatt]

ktbarnes, you should mention details of the jobs and people mentioned in your last post. Where they work, what kind of jobs, what qualifications they have. It may help other people who ask similar questions in the future

I think you are right when you mention discrimination in Asia, but I think the bigger problem (based on my limited experience of working in China) would be living there. Reliable transport that is wheelchair friendly doesnt exist. High kerbs, motorbikes on the sidewalk, schools without elevators and impatient traffic will surround you.

I think other posts have covered the EU for you, pretty difficult to break for US citizens.