Job Discussion Forums

[funktime]

Hello friends,

After what feels like a very long aggravating run around trying to figure out TEFL certification and all that, it seems that the most highly recommended course of action is to take a CELTA course. Especially for Indonesia. The only problem with this is that CELTA is not offered in my area (washington d.c/maryland) which is a huge pain in my ass.

So my question is: how feasible is it to go to Indonesia, take the CELTA in Jakarta, and then seek employment after that in the area or country? Is this reasonable? I already have a BA in creative writing (this is another concern regarding "english degree or nothing" stipulation) and it seems no one regards online courses as worth the paper they are printed on, though they would be my most preferred course of action in terms on convenience as I work full time at the moment so the CELTA it is.

Also, if anyone knows of any CELTA-equivalent courses in the greater washington d.c./maryland area, that would be very helpful as well.

Thanks for any suggestions or advice.

[jaybet3]

funktime,

use this link to find CELTA courses throughout the world.

http://cambridgeesol-centres.org/centres/teaching/index.do

Regarding your plan to come to Indonesia, take a CELTA and then look for a job is possible, but I think getting the training in the states and then looking for a job would be easier.

You haven't mentioned if you've ever been to Indonesia, so have you considered the logistics of living here while you are taking the training? If you haven't lived here before, the culture shock would add significant stress to the already difficult training. You might need to find your own temporary housing (1 month), find places to do your laundry, transporation, meals, etc.

Also, you haven't mentioned if you had any prior teaching experience.

So, if you haven't been here before, my opinion is to get your CELTA in the states and then apply for jobs.

Good luck

[funktime]

Thanks for the reply.

I have not been to indonesia nor had any teaching experience before. I have looked at that link before and there aren't any CELTA facilities in my area. I suppose I can look into temporary residence in New York or Boston to take the CELTA. Still, pain in my ass that the D.C. area does not have anything.

Thanks again for the reply, its pretty much all I could ask for.

[jaybet3]

take a look at the Teaching House in Miami, Florida. The school is on a campus with dorms which are only a few minutes walk from the training center.

I'll be taking my CELTA training their this June.

Logistically, it is very convenient and worth the investment.

[Grahame]

Hi, I'm currently doing a CELTA in Jakarta (with TBI). As with any CELTA the course is FULL ON.

Others have suggested that doing a course here without having been here could be more difficult due to the culture shock. I agree.

However, one other factor very much worth considering is that the infrastructure here can make even simple tasks - like printing a list of words for flashcards - an unbelievably time-consuming process. When you are really been pushed hard you simply don't need stuff like this.

So I'd be saying stay at home, do it, then check out the job boards.

Good luck. G.

[Anordin]

Hi. Long time lurker, first time poster. I don't mean to hijack this thread, but this is also something that is in my mind. Is it possible to take my CELTA in Jakarta and then afterward find employment? The only difference between me and the OP is that I'm currently in Taiwan and would like to transition to teaching in Indonesia. I realize it's going to take a good chunk of cash, but I figure the CELTA would be worth it than what I'm doing now in Taiwan. So is it possible? What kind of visa should I look at getting or will I need to do a visa-run?

The only other reason I'm thinking Indonesia is that the CELTA course is roughly around when my contract in Taiwan expires. I'd have about a week to get used to the area and settle down before the course. A few other courses seem too soon or too late for my situation.

Thanks for any help/advice you guys can give.

[Ragil]

Feasible? Yes. Possible? Yes. Reasonable? A (qualified) yes.

CELTA TBI tends to be somewhat less expensive than those provided elsewhere. The difference would go quite a way toward covering your living costs. Aim for accommodation in the Kuningan area. You don't want to be dealing with too much traffic. Generally, it's just a nice area. As far as possible, don't skimp on your lodgings (during the course, at least).

If you're not totally set on the idea of working for a TBI in Jakarta there's every chance that you'll get an offer on employment at one of their other branches. And it doesn't have to be TBI, does it?

I won't rattle on about any of this. In short, I think it sounds like a decent idea well-posted. Good thinking! And good luck.

[Tudor]

TBI's CELTA courses are now held at their Fatmawati branch, and indeed have been for some time, so staying in Kuningan isn't particularly sound advice unless you want a one hour plus commute each way every day.

Fatmawati is in the far south of Jakarta and as far as I'm aware there are plenty of accommodation options available. If you decide to do the course there, I'm sure TBI will be able to recommend some places to stay.

[Tudor]

TBI's CELTA courses are now held at their Fatmawati branch, and indeed have been for some time, so staying in Kuningan isn't particularly sound advice unless you want a one hour plus commute each way every day.

Fatmawati is in the far south of Jakarta and as far as I'm aware there are plenty of accommodation options available. If you decide to do the course there, I'm sure TBI will be able to recommend some places to stay.

[Anordin]

Thanks for the advice guys. Just a few more questions before I commit to this idea?

Visa issue: So I heard that Indonesia grants US passport holders a 30-day Visa on arrival, which can be extended one time (correct me if I'm wrong). However since I'll probably be in Jakarta for more than 30 days, is there a visa that I can apply for that will permit me to stay longer than that? Or will I have to just try to extend it? I would rather not have to deal with immigration issues during the final weeks of the CELTA course. (I overstayed in Taiwan and it has caused me more grief than I would have liked. I'm trying to be extra cautious, especially with this new passport).

Housing and additional costs: Is housing cheap? Are there inexpensive places to go for a month period? What kind of ballpark am I looking at here? I'm trying to figure out a rough estimate of how much money I should have. It's already $2,100 for the course. I figure, with the flight from Taiwan, housing, food, and other unexpected expenses, I should have an additional $3,000 to fiance this month of not-working.

Additionally, from what I've gathered, from this forum and others, is that employment opportunities are pretty much walk-ins and see if there are opportunities. But to get this KITAS, I would have to fly out as there is no in-country option. What kind of timetable does that require? I heard three weeks upwards to three months. Assuming you can't work while it's being processed, this also puts me further into the red. Should I factor this into my set of fiances as well?

Again, thank you for any help/insight you guys might have on this. I really want this to happen as I don't want to stay in Taiwan anymore (3+ years) and I can't fathom going back to the US either.

[travelNteach]

its kinda hard to give u answers to the questions u ask. we dont know how much the airfare is from taiwan. also, what kind of accomadations are u looking for? they have everything from cheap kost (rooming/boarding houses) to high end costs to apartments, which are generally very expensive in south jakarta. are u going to eat in western restaurants, local restaurants, or take your chances with food on the street, which can either be great or give u diaherra for several days.

also, u said that u want to transition to teaching. so we have no idea what u were doing in taiwan or what experience u have. do u have any teaching experience at all? do u have a BA? there is a new law requiring one and although it hasnt been strictly enforced yet, they have started implementing it at some of the immigration centers. due to the bad ecomony, loads of people have decided to try their luck overseas. i may be wrong, but i think the days of arriving, visiting a couple of schools, and having a job within days are long gone. there certainly are much fewer job postings and the requirements have increased. there are some people on this site that are DOSes, maybe they can tell u what their schools are currently requriing. maybe a CTEFL is still good enough to get u a job. it has definately shifted from a teacher's market to a schools market.

whatever school hires you should pay for your return flight to singapore or malaysia for the visa run. and yes, it generally takes a month of so for them to get approval for your KITAS and work permit. more often than not, a school will want u to begin working while the paperwork is being processed. this is illegal because u will be working on a tourist visa and will have to make visa runs to renew it. schools that take 3 months to process paperwork generally want to see if u will pass the "probabtion" period of 3 months before outlaying the visa costs and the foreign worker tax. (1200 USD). probation periods are illegal on 1 year contracts for foreigner workers, but they are still commmon in language schools.

the job market is the tightest i have seen in the 15 years i have lived here. even privates or picking up odd classes for other schools dont seem to be as plentiful as before.

i other question, u have stated that u have budgeted approximately 5000 dollars for the course and expenses whiile u take the course. have u looked at the EF salaries lately as they are the most likely to hire u? they are about 7-900 dollars per month with housing, which may be nice or not. factoring in local transportation and moderate food allowances, it will probably take the entire year to recoup these expenses. if u want to go out on weekends drinking or do some travelling, that money will not be recouped. i can understand u needing to leave taiwan, but surely it will be a huge drop in salary for u. indonesia is an awesome place, just hope u dont think u will be improving your financial situation by getting a CELTA and working here.