Job Discussion Forums

[TwinCentre]

Hello all

I have a great deal of experience in the world of EFL, and have worked around the world. One day, I'd like to write a short book/ebook advising newcomers - helping to solve the problems they have understanding the world of TEFL.

What would you want this book to be called? What advice would you want me to give? What information would be valuable to you? Would you want me to focus on the job market? Teaching? More personal stuff? career paths?

Or should I give the book a miss and take up gardening? lol...

[tttompatz]

Take up gardening.

There are already hundreds of blogs telling all about the world of TESOL, the good, the bad, the ugly and the humorous.

.

[Glenski]

Ditto to ttompatz. What makes your book so unique? You're the one with the experience, so how would you figure that? You're going to have to sell such an idea to a publisher first anyway...

What does "great deal of experience" mean anyway? How many different jobs have you had, and in how many countries?

[denise]

Sorry to add to the negativity, but I agree with the other two replies! There is no way you could cover EVERY school in every country/region and keep the content up-to-date. The most you could do is offer generalizations and list a handful of schools--like what Susan Griffiths (is that her name?) did in her book back in the '90s. I wouldn't even buy a new issue of her book anymore. All it did was offer a very vague background, and then I had to do the actual research on my own. The internet is a far more useful tool. Potential teachers can google every school that they apply to.

d

[spiral78]

I agree that there are too many variables to write an effective book.

[Guy Courchesne]

A Mexico City friend and teacher put together an e-book this year covering his near 6 years teaching here.

http://garydenness.co.uk/teflers-guide-mexico-city/

I wouldn't call it a TEFL guide but rather a diary of blog posts, organized into sections relevant to a new TEFLer in Mexico. He put it together with little effort.

Will it sell? Probably not, but I think he created it more for the simple joy of creating it.

So Twincentre, maybe stick to the personal stuff and don't bank on making money from book sales. Treat it as a fun project?

[naturegirl321]

I agree, there's so many books out there. WHat about ebooks or blogs? Those are easier to update.

[nickpellatt]

I think writing a book is a good idea, and the real value (to me) is in the actual writing...I like writing things, so Im always going to be positive about this kind of idea.

I dont think there is much market for a general book really. Not unless you are really lucky and get picked up by a major publisher. If you dont, something general is not likely to have much appeal IMO. Specific books might .... A decent sized ebook about one mans adventure teaching in China would have had appeal prior to me first job in China, provided it was keenly priced and well written. You'd probably end up being a bit of a pest on the forum but imagine plugging a $2 ebook about Japan to every newbie that turned up on the forum LOL. I reckon some would buy it!

The other thing that I think would be worth doing (again if price etc is right) would be an ebook of tried and tested lesson plans. I know these exist, but I think they are of interest to many people. Id be keen for example.

Id love a book that was something like '50 tried and tested grammar/language point lessons' and most of the things I have seen are a bit pants, so there may be a market!

Im thinking a format like this - Grammar/target language. How it works and why its used. Typical student problems. Setting schemata. a tried and tested listening class/writing class/speaking class. 2 related games'. You produce this, Ill buy it!

Ive self published a book on lulu.com, its only a simple travel ebook about my trip to Kilimanjaro, and the ebook is only �1 (its called 'a letter to kimberley' BTW) and I havent sold many copies, but I have sold some ... and had a night out on the proceeds. Plus I enjoyed writing it ... so thats OK. I think a TEFL guide might be the same, a fun project, that might make a few pennies, but you wont get rich from it. Not unless you are really lucky!

[naturegirl321]

lulu.com is great for self publishing. I have a book out there as well. Don't think I'll make a profit, but if you're looking to publish a book and don't want to look for a publisher, lulu.com is a good place to go

[artemisia]

(nickpallett)

[Zero]

On books in general: There are a lot of naysayers saying there's no market because there are lots of books already out there. But think of it this way. Are there plenty of travel guides to China out there? Are there plenty of books about how to free yourself of co-dependent relationships? Yes and yes. Will new books on those same topics appear on the shelves of Barnes & Noble this year? Of course. There aren't many new topics under the sun. Simply new spins on tried-and-true ideas.

On e-books: They get you none of the prestige of traditional publishing. They rarely earn much money. Are they worth doing? If you like writing, I guess.

On traditional publishing: New books on ESL will continue to come out, even if naysayers say the market is flooded. Will yours be one of them? You have a chance, if you have the right idea and can carry it out. Your idea needs to be similar enough to other books that there is a logical place for it in the bookstore. But different enough that it's worth publishing. The ideas you floated sound too general to me. You need your own angle.

[TwinCentre]

Thank you all for your replies, but especially those of you who had something positive to say.

I am toying with the idea of 'Americans Working in Europe - What You Need To Do'

or

'How To Teach English Abroad With No Degree'

(I'm not American and I do have a degree)

These are things I know the answer to, and others might like to know in a concise document.

[spiral78]

I am toying with the idea of 'Americans Working in Europe - What You Need To Do'

While I'd entirely applaud a comprehensive and definitive answer to this question, I'm afraid I think that things change too fast for the answers today to remain relevant for long.

Consider the evolution in the Czech Rep, for example. While the general answer for Americans has been 'yes' for some time and remains so - it's getting extremely difficult, and a worrying number of newbie US teachers have not successfully found work there over the past couple of years. Just this year, regulations have changed regarding health care requirements, and this may (unclear yet) further compound the problems for new non EU member teachers on the job market in August/September this year.

Consider Poland, where the Schengen zone laws of 90 days in the zone and 90 days out technically apply - but some border officials kindly stuck to the old ways back in 2010 and allowed weekend border runs to re-start the 90 day tickets - but not all of them!! Enforcement can be random, with either positive or negative consequences.

What exactly would you say that's really accurate and up-to-date? I think this would be an ongoing, full-time sort of job. The only real definitive answer I know is 'marry a local within the 90 day time limit.' Then, at least you'll have forever rights to work in your spouse's country!

[Zero]

I believe "Americans Working in Europe - What You Need To Do" is still too broad.

Here's what I think would sell: "Breaking Through: How to Live and Work in the EU as an American." I would research until I had identified all the options, whatever they may be: work-study abroad programs, marrying a local, getting sent by a multinational company, working under the table, freelancing/telecommuting, finding a high-demand technical niche, claiming citizenship based on a grandparent, etc. Maybe you could devote a chapter to each method you identify, describing the how-to along with the pros and cons. I would interview various Americans working in the EU and intersperse their stories throughout. Maybe Spiral78 would even agree to be interviewed. You could also have a chapter or two on the "next best thing," working in the "other" European countries, Eastern Europe etc.

This book would be like catnip for American hipsters! Maybe I should write it myself!

[spiral78]

I've already tried to post a reply to this, but it's gone into some kind of limbo

I think the problem would be the ever-changing laws and conditions.

For example, the answer for non-EU member citizen teachers in the Czech Rep is technically 'yes.' However, the market being pretty saturated and the legal hoops and expenses for employers being fairly high, it's getting very difficult, and I know of US and Canadian newbies who really had to go home in 2010 because jobs weren't to be found.

Further, new health care regulations may add to the employers burden - this is a brand-new thing and I am not sure anyone knows how it might impact the market for non-EU teachers.

Also consider Poland. Though they are part of the Schengen zone area which allows 90 days in the zone, then requires 90 days out of the entire zone, in some cases border guards did allow old-fashioned weekend border runs to re-charge the 90 day time limit in 2010. However, who knows if the border guard 'you' encounter will be kind or not? I also know of people who have been deported.

Working under the table? No longer a viable option, I think. Publishing a list of multinationals might be a decent idea, IF the companies would agree - likely only if they desperately need staff. Local language skills would be a factor here - many of them want primarily bilingual staff who can speak the language of the country where they are operating. Fair enough, but not useful to a majority of newbs....

I think it would be impossible to provide any definitive answers to most of the possible categories, other than 'marry a local swiftly,' or 'enroll in a local university full time.'