Job Discussion Forums

dpickett84 · Joined: 27 Feb 2011 Posts: 2 Location: California, USA

Hello,

I've started this post about a dozen times trying to get it to sound just right but I'm gonna just put everything out there.

I'm David. I'm 26 years old and I've always wanted to see other places in the world. I'm about a year away from finishing my degree in Human Services from the University of Wisconsin. I'm a First Aid and CPR instructor for the American Red Cross.

I had a friend of mine just come back from China after spending 2 years over there teaching English and suggested I look into this. She suggested that I look into Asian countries as some places won't require me to have a degree or certification.

So here are the basics.
I'm male, 26, about a year from graduating, no certifications in teaching.
I have a current passport.

I'm open to anywhere honestly and very open to suggestions. I'm approaching this as open as I can!

Thank you in advance, I'll be checking this often.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

If you're just one year away from finishing the degree, most of us will probably suggest that you finish it first. Having a degree will open many more doors abroad.

tttompatz · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 12:04 am Post subject:

Finish your degree!

Without your degree your options are SEVERELY limited, pay is substantially lower (usually less than $1000 per month with no benefits) and in many cases the work is NOT LEGAL (no work visa, permits, etc).

WITH the degree completed, as a US passport holder, you are able to LEGALLY work in ALL of Asia, Africa, Central/South America and even parts of Eastern Europe and parts of Africa.

You CAN enjoy your time abroad AND save enough cash during your "gap year" or two to even pay off your student loans (decent jobs in China, Korea, Taiwan and Thailand will allow a fun year AND, depending on the job you accept, save up to $1000 per month.

.

dpickett84 · Joined: 27 Feb 2011 Posts: 2 Location: California, USA

I understand finishing my degree would open more doors, more pay, perks ect. I just feel burnt out and honestly need something exciting and different to do.

So you are saying that not having a full college degree would make me illegal or is that for just some places?

I'll looking to see what i could do right now as i stand with the information given.

EDIT: added the fact I also have a valid Passport.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Passport's taken for granted here Smile

There are many Asian countries where a degree is a legal requirement for a work visa.

It's legal for Central/Eastern European countries to hire US citizens (forget Western Europe) and degrees are not a legal requirement.

If you want to consider Czech Rep, Poland, Slovakia, etc:

You would absolutely need a certification from a CELTA or equivalent course (google for details), which you could obtain from in-country. This is an expense, of course, but as the vast majority of newbies on this job market have such a cert (plus a degree) it's a serious disadvantage not to have one.

You would also have to plan to pay the up-front costs: flight over, accomodation and board until you find a job and your first paycheck is due. Accomodation is relatively expensive in this region (can be from 30 - 50 percent of net pay).

Keep in mind that pay rates are subsistence level here and if you have debt to pay off back home, it won't work, most likely. Also - it's a tight job market and UK teachers have a huge advantage in that employers do not have to help arrange visas for them, as they do for non-EU member teachers. Timing is vital - most contracts are Sept - June, and being certified and here on the ground at the end of August gives you the best chance to land a job in time.

If you're interested in this, also google Schengen zone for info regarding the 90-day rule.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

tttompatz · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 1:12 am Post subject:

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

Depending on your financial situation, consider going to China as a student of the Chinese language. Tuition and room-and-board are not all that expensive. Some students teach a few local people English for cash in order to defray the costs, and some probably even pick up part-time hours in a language institute, but none of that is legal. So don't do it, because you could end up burning in Hades.

If language-learning is not your thing, there may be options for a student visa for study of traditional Chinese medicine and such. I am not sure.

rafaella · Joined: 22 Feb 2011 Posts: 122

It might not be what you want to hear but I agree with the other posters here - finish your degree. It's very easy to get out of the habit of studying but not nearly as easy to get back into the habit. If you don't get your degree now, you will regret it at some point. You only have to look at the post by tttompatz to see all the places that are off limits to you if you don't have a degree.

You said you feel burnt out but remember that teaching abroad is not an extended holiday. Yes, there is the excitement of discovering a new country but you still have to show up for work on time, teach well and plan your lessons.

You could look into getting some teaching experience by working at a summer camp or volunteering to find out if you would even enjoy this type of job.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

As others have said, slog through and finish the degree. If you "take a year off" you will find it very difficult to return to studying and get back into a studying mindset. Also, once you have that magic piece of paper, you'll find your selection of EFL jobs to be much improved.

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

artemisia · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 875 Location: the world

I tend to agree with everyone else and would say if the degree is only a year off then it's worth seeing it through now. However, if you're really feeling so burnt out that you can't face going back then there's a chance you'll be very half-hearted about it and that's not a great situation. You don't want to end up dropping out.

I'd say this: forget about English teaching for now. I can't see how that's going to work out for you easily without a degree. You could suspend your studies for a year and, as an American, what about saving enough to get started with travelling to South America and beyond and do a working/ backpacking holiday? Look at possibilities like farmstays where you can work and get free accommodation and food. Possibly you won't find that there but there might be similar options. Also bar work in cities and so on. I don't think a break right now with your studies is ideal but if you make a commitment to return and finish, then one year out could be what you need to get a break.

If you decide to do this, then take the time to check out places and make contacts for wherever you think you might go post degree (if you want to continue the English teaching idea and bearing in mind what's feasible with passport restrictions).

tttompatz · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 11:52 pm Post subject:

Captain_Fil · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 10:20 am Post subject:

justcolleen · Joined: 07 Jan 2004 Posts: 654 Location: Egypt, baby!

Ninety percent of a university education is the determination required to finish it, so do it. As others have said, it is a requirement to work legally in most countries.

Not only that, but maybe, just maybe, your wanderlust will come to an end and you'll have to ask yourself what you will do when that happens.

It's only a year. The world will still be here when you're finished, and you can see it then.