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cmozes
Joined: 01 Feb 2011
Posts: 3
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 Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:47 pm Post subject: Help with job search |
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I am a 54 year old female currently looking for an ESL teaching position.
I do not have teaching experience, however I do have a TEFL certificate.
I have 10 years of experience owning my own business, and 20 years of professional sales experience.
I am really struggling with getting responses to positions I have applied for, and am looking for some advise.
Does my age have a significant bearing? Or is it my lack of teaching experience?
Any feedback would be welcomed!
Last edited by cmozes on Tue Feb 15, 2011 11:17 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Any countries in particular that interest you? Help narrow down the advice... |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 6:21 pm Post subject: Re: Help with job search |
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| cmozes wrote: |
I am a 54 year old female currently looking for an ESL teaching position.
I do not have teaching experience, however I do have a TEFL certificate.
I have 10 years of experience owning my own business, and 20 years of professional sales experience.
I am really struggling with getting responses to positions I have applied for, and am looking for some advise.
Does my age have a significant bearing? Or is it my lack of teaching experience?
Any feedback would be welcomed! |
You have a TEFL cert.
Next 2 questions will help narrow it down a lot.
Do you have a degree (in anything)?
Where are you from (country of passport).
IF you have a degree AND come from one of:
US, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand then ALL of Asia is on the table as is all of the Americas from Mexico south.
IF you are from the UK or Ireland you can add Europe to the list (even if you don't have a degree).
Beyond that it will be a combination of age and lack of experience (depending on where you have been applying to).
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cmozes
Joined: 01 Feb 2011
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 9:26 pm Post subject: help with job search |
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I am most interested in Latin America.
I have a BA in Environmental Science, and I hold a US passport.
Last edited by cmozes on Tue Feb 15, 2011 11:16 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 9:46 pm Post subject: Re: help with job search |
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| cmozes wrote: |
I am most interested in Central America, South America, and Latin America.
I have a BA in Environmental Science, and I hold a US passport. |
Central America and South America are part of Latin America, along with Mexico.  |
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Trebek
Joined: 30 Oct 2003
Posts: 401
Location: China
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 9:55 pm Post subject: |
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I can see you working in Central America.
I can see you working in Columbia.
You can work in South America.
Do you want to work in Latin America?
Sorry, just taking the piss....
You would be better off locating an area you wish to work, then go there and knock on doors. Make sure you can demonstrate your teaching ability. If you have no training, take a course that includes a bit of student teaching before you go. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:57 am Post subject: |
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COme to the Latin America boards! mexico might be an option. I know there are a couple of mature teachers there. Is money is issue?
With age comes wisdom and experience, and I believe you can get your own Fm3 visa. Check the Mexico boards. |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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| Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 3:08 am Post subject: |
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| naturegirl321 wrote: |
COme to the Latin America boards! mexico might be an option. I know there are a couple of mature teachers there. Is money is issue?
With age comes wisdom and experience, and I believe you can get your own Fm3 visa. Check the Mexico boards. |
I second naturegirl's suggestion. Come join us on the Mexico Forum!  |
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dragonfly58
Joined: 09 Jul 2010
Posts: 10
Location: U.S.
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| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 12:23 am Post subject: Let me know how you progress. |
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I am also having a problem getting on. I am 52, undergraduate and a graduate degree. Before putting the money into the certification for esl I was hoping for a contract from China . I know of others who are teaching there without experience or a TEFL.  |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:27 am Post subject: Re: Let me know how you progress. |
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| dragonfly58 wrote: |
| I am also having a problem getting on. I am 52, undergraduate and a graduate degree. Before putting the money into the certification for esl I was hoping for a contract from China . I know of others who are teaching there without experience or a TEFL. |
State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs = SAFEA
http://www.safea.gov.cn/english/
Lots of positions are open to you at the tertiary (college/university) level or within your area of expertise.
IF you want to teach English then get a TESOL/TEFL certificate.
It will make a world of difference and they don't cost that much.
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dragonfly58
Joined: 09 Jul 2010
Posts: 10
Location: U.S.
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| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:49 am Post subject: Thanks for the response |
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| On the cost of the certificate - it's the travel and accommodation that really adds it up. Do you have any suggestions as to where to go? I'm looking at the CELTA or Trinity. If I do the CELTA in Viet Nam I would hope to find employment upon finishing. If it is a matter of completing the course, then returning home and waiting for a contract I would be better off with the Trinity in Europe. I was also thinking of the CELTA in Mexico City, but I'm not sure of their reputation (taking the money and running). Mexico would certainly save me some money. (A precious commodity.) |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 3:48 am Post subject: Re: Thanks for the response |
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| dragonfly58 wrote: |
| On the cost of the certificate - it's the travel and accommodation that really adds it up. Do you have any suggestions as to where to go? I'm looking at the CELTA or Trinity. If I do the CELTA in Viet Nam I would hope to find employment upon finishing. If it is a matter of completing the course, then returning home and waiting for a contract I would be better off with the Trinity in Europe. I was also thinking of the CELTA in Mexico City, but I'm not sure of their reputation (taking the money and running). Mexico would certainly save me some money. (A precious commodity.) |
The CELTA cert (from anywhere) would have the same validity as one from anywhere else (nice thing about that specific brand).
If you have your CELTA (coupled with a degree) you can rest assured that you would probably be working within a few weeks of completion; more dependent on the timing of your course completion than anything else.
If you complete the course during the regular school term breaks (they are country specific) then the chances of finding an "immediate start" position in a regular school are about 100% in MOST of Asia.
There are ALWAYS language academies looking for staff all through Asia. If you don't mind working with kids then jobs outnumber job seekers about 3-1 overall. There are exceptions (like Japan) where jobs are hard to find and china, where if you have your degree and CELTA you can literally choose from hundreds of openings at any given time.
Other options would be to look at your local community/state colleges and see if any of them offer a TESOL/TEFL cert. Save you all the costs of travel until you are done and pick your country of employment.
Skip Europe. As an American the chances of finding legal work (in ESL) are close to "0".
You should also take a LONG, HARD look at staying within your area of expertise (rather than be a teacher) if you are considering China (unless of course your heart is set on an entry level job in ESL).
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Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:10 am Post subject: |
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| I was also thinking of the CELTA in Mexico City, but I'm not sure of their reputation (taking the money and running). Mexico would certainly save me some money. (A precious commodity.) |
International House is the CELTA provider in Mexico City. They have a very good reputation. There is zero chance of 'taking the money and running' with them. |
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TeresaLopez
Joined: 18 Apr 2010
Posts: 601
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Guy Courchesne wrote: |
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| I was also thinking of the CELTA in Mexico City, but I'm not sure of their reputation (taking the money and running). Mexico would certainly save me some money. (A precious commodity.) |
International House is the CELTA provider in Mexico City. They have a very good reputation. There is zero chance of 'taking the money and running' with them. |
I don�t think you would have a problem with any CELTA course provider taking the money and running, they have to go through a fairly rigorous process to be able to do the CELTA course, and most schools that do offer it won�t be new or fly by night schools. |
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dmocha
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 30
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| Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 3:54 pm Post subject: The main thing being older is showing up in person! |
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The main thing being older (I am 60+) is showing up in person. On paper, from a distance, it's pretty tough to get someone to take you on.
To a great extent, work experience in one country is not much valued in another. And you lose valuable connections which can help you move up the ladder.
So put a lot of time figuring out where you want to be. Go there. No point in going to Santiago if you really want Shanghai. Get your foot on the first rung of the ladder.
Given your age, you don't have a lot of time to be starting out in one country then attempting to re-start in another. Get it right the first time. You most certainly will find work if you are determined and organized. Good luck! |
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