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deniserita
Joined: 03 Nov 2009
Posts: 50
Location: Chicago, IL
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 Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 5:28 am Post subject: Advice on location to teach abroad.... |
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HI All,
Newbie here! I have been reading you advice on here...
I had always dreamed of going to teach in Italy, but as I do more research I am learning that this is one of the harder places to teach in.
I have been teaching for 12 years and was just recently approved a leave of absence in my district to teach abroad next year for just one year.
I do not have my TESOL certificate, but do have 2 master degrees and an endorsement in ESL. I have been teaching ESL in Chicago for 4 years to students from refugee camps in Asia and Africa.
I love teaching and am looking for a new experience in a different part of this world.
I have been doing my research on different countries and still have not been able to find that perfect place for me.
I am looking for a warm climate - it doesn't need to feel like summer all year but could use a break from a Chicago winter (it was -5 degrees today!) And of course safe for a female.
I'm sure you guys have heard this question a million times...but where should I go????
Any experiences /advice that you could share with me would be great.
thanks so much. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 9:32 am Post subject: |
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HOw about SE Asia? OR Taiwan?
What about teaching exchanges or fellowships that arrange everything for you? Fulbright? |
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Captain_Fil
Joined: 06 Jan 2011
Posts: 604
Location: California - the land of fruits and nuts
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| Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 5:30 am Post subject: |
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A warm place to teach?
There are plenty of places. Countries in Latin America and Southeast Asia certainly have warm tropical climates and seem to have opportunities for ESL teachers.
Safe for females?
Unfortunately, no country is completely safe for women. As a female ESL teacher, you must be constantly on your guard.
Good luck. |
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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: Sun Feb 20, 2011 6:05 am Post subject: |
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| Captain_Fil wrote: |
Unfortunately, no country is completely safe for women. As a female ESL teacher, you must be constantly on your guard.
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That's a rather strong statement to make. Have you taught in countries where you found this to be true? I never found it to be true when I've taught in Mexico and Spain, even when some years ago when I was in my twenties and early thirties. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 10:37 am Post subject: |
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| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| Captain_Fil wrote: |
Unfortunately, no country is completely safe for women. As a female ESL teacher, you must be constantly on your guard.
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That's a rather strong statement to make. Have you taught in countries where you found this to be true? I never found it to be true when I've taught in Mexico and Spain, even when some years ago when I was in my twenties and early thirties. |
I'd agree with you on Spain and felt completely fine while in Mexico (for a short time), in Peru I got hassled. I felt physically threatened a handful of times, but mostly it was the self esteem destroying catcalls and sexual harrassment. |
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Captain_Fil
Joined: 06 Jan 2011
Posts: 604
Location: California - the land of fruits and nuts
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| Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:59 am Post subject: |
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| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| Captain_Fil wrote: |
Unfortunately, no country is completely safe for women. As a female ESL teacher, you must be constantly on your guard.
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That's a rather strong statement to make. Have you taught in countries where you found this to be true? I never found it to be true when I've taught in Mexico and Spain, even when some years ago when I was in my twenties and early thirties. |
The world is a dangerous place.
No country is completely safe for men, either.
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santi84
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Posts: 1317
Location: under da sea
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| Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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I felt a lot safer wandering around Cairo (well, pre-2011 Cairo) at night than here in Vancouver  And Chicago is a bit scarier than Vancouver I would imagine.
For the record, the Middle East is actually pretty safe for a single female IMO. Using your common sense (ie. no mini skirts), they are all "talk" and no "bite". The men would not dare touch you. If you are interested in the gulf (assuming your master's degrees are TESL related), you could make a comfortable living there.
Could be a nice experience if you've already been to Asia and Africa. What about South America? The world (except most of Europe unfortunately) is pretty much your oyster with your qualifications. |
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ls650
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 3484
Location: British Columbia
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| Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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With the Masters degrees and the years of experience, you should be able to get a good job anywhere except maybe western Europe.
I'd suggest making a list of a half-dozen countries that interest you, and then start looking through the forums here for those individual countries. This will help you rule out those that don't interest you once you learn more, and narrow down your choices. |
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deniserita
Joined: 03 Nov 2009
Posts: 50
Location: Chicago, IL
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| Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 2:14 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the suggestions...good idea to make a list and then go from there. I have been looking into International Schools so we will see where that leads me.
d |
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Zero
Joined: 08 Sep 2004
Posts: 1402
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| Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:40 am Post subject: |
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| Hey, who knows, with your qualifications you may even luck into something tasty in Europe. Stranger things have happened. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 1:59 pm Post subject: |
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| What are your MAs in? If unrelated, that narrows things a bit. |
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deniserita
Joined: 03 Nov 2009
Posts: 50
Location: Chicago, IL
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| Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:20 pm Post subject: |
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I have a Masters in Curriulum and Instruction and in School Administration. I also have an endorsement in ESL.
So all my education is teaching related....so I should be ok with that. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes, I agree. Good luck! |
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BootOfTheBeast
Joined: 13 May 2009
Posts: 45
Location: SE Asia
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| Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 1:06 pm Post subject: |
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Hi,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is always warm, even when it's raining. Very safe for women IMO, and at an international school you could earn a good wedge with plenty of holidays. Also a good base for seeing the rest of Asia with all your free time and money. Lots of things about the place that might not suit you though. Horses for courses as they say.
Boot |
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TeresaLopez
Joined: 18 Apr 2010
Posts: 601
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Captain_Fil wrote: |
Safe for females?
Unfortunately, no country is completely safe for women. As a female ESL teacher, you must be constantly on your guard.
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No country is safe for everybody all the time. In most places there are more violent crimes committed against MEN than WOMEN. Women may have to put up with verbal harassment, but more often than not that is as far as it goes. A women�s demeanor and mode of dress make a big difference in treatment in many places.
Someything you didn�t mention - what are you Master�s in? That might make a difference in where you want to teach, that is, sraight ESL, or in an International school. The difference in pay can be quite substantial.
And as one who lived for a number of years in Chicago, I can totally relate to the wanting to get away from the winters!
Think about what you want to get out of your year away - learning another language might have benefits for you down the line, for example, of do you just want a change of scenery. How different do you want your year to me? A totally different culture, like in Asia, or something different, but maybe not so foreign, like Latin America? |
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