Job Discussion Forums

[mancboy84]

Hi all,

I'm currently a trainee in the professional services industry, qualifying in the next couple of years. I have a degree (BA) and post-graduate vocational qualifications.

I'm looking at the possibility of taking a year out to TEFL, subject to how the general economy and job market is at that time. I'll take the CELTA course in the UK, and am looking for recommendations of where to go after that. Sadly I have no prior teaching experience.

Can anyone recommend a country, locale or school/programs where:

1. The students actually want to learn, and the school's establishment is conducive, foremost, to their education, as opposed to profit at any cost;
2. I will earn a salary that is sufficient to cover my expenses (not bothered about saving);
3. I will have the opportunity to take some paid leave during the contract to explore parts of the country;
4. Whilst teaching, I will be able to live as locally as possible (distance from the school and in terms of lifestyle).

I have no preference as to country at this stage, as anywhere is most likely somewhere I haven't been before.

I have EU citizenship and a white male aged in the mid 20s.

Many thanks in advance.

[nickpellatt]

To be honest, and this isnt going to be helpful, I reckon pretty much anywhere in the world has the potential to satisfy your requirements, at least the ones you have listed! It isnt going to be a country that fails you in that regard, but some employers may.

1. The students actually want to learn, and the school's establishment is conducive, foremost, to their education, as opposed to profit at any cost;

This is the thing that could be tricky, but its not likely to be specific to a single country, or even a single type of educational setting. Some may say language centres/training schools are likely to chase profits first and foremost, but many of the students pay the fees to attend them, so they are certainly students that want to learn. Some state schools may focus more on education than profit, but students may only be in your class because they have to be.

My answer, and I reckon most answers to this question, will be a little vague, simply because the question is too broad. You do sound like you have time on your side, so I would think long and hard about a country first, even a region. Consider also the age groups you want to teach. Then when you have narrowed down a search ask the same questions again, but prefixed with 'I would like to teach in Country X, and work with groups of students aged Y, in a city of less than XYZ people ...'

If you really cant narrow down a country yet, think longer about you, and the things you like dont like?

Would you enjoy the long cold winters of Poland or Siberia? Would you hate the sticky hot summers of Thailand and Vietnam? Would you like the chance to learn a new mysterious language like Korean, or would you be happy with something more familiar like the French you learnt at school? Would you like the cosmopolitan feel to a city like Barcelona, or would you be more interested in the cultural adventure of China?

[coledavis]

Siberia. Holidays would have to be school hols, especially new year.

[mancboy84]

Thanks for the advice, though no so sure about Siberia!

I'm ages away from this course of action yet so may well be posting far too prematurely.

In the experience of forum users, when would the best time to apply for jobs be:

1. x weeks/months before enrolling on CELTA;
2. Whilst doing the CELTA (in addition to network with peers and teachers);
3. After the course, either before leaving the country or in-country (assuming I've chosen a country before choosing a job)?

Many thanks!

[denise]

#2 and #3.

Option #2 is better if you take the course in-country, because your course provider can help you set up interviews. Mine had a recruiting day during which many of the local schools came to us to set up interviews. I had a job before I even finished the course.

#3 might be more realistic for you, since you're taking the course in the UK. There are some jobs that hire from abroad, but for others, you're better off being in-country.

d

[mancboy84]

My current idea is to take the course in the UK, as I can live at home whilst studying, saving on overheads.

However, the course is around �1,650. I've seen courses in Thailand that equate to less than half that, including accomodation.

I might do an online trawl of countries, their CELTA & accomodation prices and put them in a spreadsheet. I appreciate that those factors ought not to be determinative of my decision, but it is certainly an aspect to consider (especially as I presume that CELTA is CELTA, throughout the world?)

[chinaroman]

If you are only planning to spend a year teaching abroad why bother with the expenses and hassle of the CELTA course. China could be good for your situation. It is not the most glamorous country to teach in, but the requirements are minimal to none, and the jobs are plentiful. Plenty of vacation time to see the sights and an extremely stress free life.

[nickpellatt]

�1650 is expensive! I did a Trinity course in Eastbourne in 2008 for �950, and the CELTA at a local college is slightly less than that. Shop around with other local course providers.

I just did a quick search here http://www.cactustefl.com/tefl/celta_tesol.php

and I have just saved you �500, with an option of full time or part time courses in Manchester. You owe me a drink

[mancboy84]

Great tips all, thanks!

Hypothetically, let's say I very much get into it and wish to pursue it as a career.

Is it possible to spend a year in one country teaching, then another in another country, or another part of that country, and so on? Or is it preferred, long-term, for someone to stay put in one country?

[nickpellatt]

My impression is that to 'get on', most people stay in one job or country and work their way up the ladder, make contacts and network, and learn local language skills, all of which help.

No reasons why you cant hop from job to job, city to city, country to country either. Lots of people do this, although I think the nomadic lifestyle isnt for everyone, and climbing up through the ranks might be harder following this route.

[Guy Courchesne]

[mancboy84]

Righto, bumping this thread with some more questions if that's ok, as I've drowned a bit after spending a few hours reading these forums!

For connections, CELTA in-country seems to be the way to go.

Lifestyle wise I'm teetotal and generally quite spartan. Interests are Buddhism (heavily - study and practice of a particular tradition, but keen interest in observing/finding out more about others and particularly the country-specific aspects of them), amateur photography and hiking/trekking, though keen to do more outdoor stuff.

Financially, I will have a good base of savings (around $25k USD in today's money) and no debt bar the government student loan, so that hopefully won't present too many problems in getting to a country, setting up and taking the CELTA course. Financially I'm pretty prudent.

In part due to my interests, I'm focusing on SE Asia in the main, and wondered if any forum members have similar interests/lifestyles and can let me know what their experiences, advices and recommendations are please, particularly in terms of the current job market in their country for someone like myself - BA, (will have) CELTA and no experience. If this will result in duplication, please let me know if I should be focusing on particular forum threads instead.

Financially, earning enough to cover my expenses, repay the mandated amount on my UK student loan (if I hit the repayment threshold), save a little in order to take DELTA and beyond if I decide to stick with it, and get to and around various parts of the country for outdoor activities/Buddhist pilgrimages would be the idea, unless that is a totally deluded idea. I work around 50+ hours per week at the moment so wouldn't want to work more than that unless absolutely necessary.

Countries wise I'm now looking at China (mindful of one user's post of the difficulty in actually getting around there though due to difficulty in reading signs etc), Nepal, Taiwan, Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Korea, Cambodia and Vietnam, but am open to suggestions for other countries too.

Thanks in advance - this forum has been a treasure trove of information so far - it's just piecing it together that is the hard part!

[naturegirl321]

I've heard that Thailand and Vietnam have good TEFL lifestyles. YOu can earn a decent amount as well as save a bit. I'm sure you could findmore on those forums. Ther's also Cambodia to consider. ONe poster seems sold on life there.

China isn't really SE Asia, I don't think. BUT, lifestyle is good there too. If you can get into IELTS testing, you can make extra cash as well. They seem to advertise on the job board all the time for testers.

As for teaching in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Burma. I haven't seen any job offers, but I think you might want to consider the British Council. They might be there.

As I said before, Thailand and Vietnam are popular. Korea is very popular, there's a separate forum though for Korea. cambodia doesn't have heaps of jobs, but you may be able to find a couple.

[mancboy84]

Thanks very much indeed naturegirl!

[naturegirl321]

1. No , I can't recommend a place. That would be hard. Many students are learning becuase their parents want them to or it'll get a better job. There are places where students WANT to learn. Every country has students taht want to learn. But let's face it, English is a BIG business.

2. SHoudln't be a problem as long as you budget, don't drink a lot, and don't travell to much.

3. Many countracts give you one or two weeks off.

4. Overrated in my opinion. I've lived like a local and it takes it's toll on you. I like living halfway between a local and an expat. BUt to live completely like a local, or at least the majority of the locals meant bucket showers and no fridge. Both of which I've had to do and never want to do again! No worries though. I don't think many of us, apart from those in the ME, can afford to live completel like an expat, so you'll be living like a local or at least like a local-ish.

Do you care about things like legal work visas, housing, or flights? That could considerable narrow down where to go.