Job Discussion Forums

[Jessb52]

Hello all,

After much researching and investigating I'm about to embark on a career in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, and i've decided on Cambodia as the place to start this exciting new prospect.

Although any general advice and tips on this subject are much appreciated, my main query is: would it be feasible to complete my BA whilst teaching English abroad?

I currently have a foundation degree (basically i've completed the first 2 years of my degree) and there is an option with the Open University (in the UK, a well respected distance only Uni) to do my 3rd year with them and thus completing my BA.

It works out at having to do 2 modules, which I could either do in one year or split over 2.

Obviously there's the cost to consider, but tbh, i'm more concerned that I won't be able to focus enough on completing the course and/or won't be able to focus on the job of Teaching English, I don't just want to be one of those teachers who are there to travel and gain some funds to do it and don't give a damn about the students/quality of teaching!

If anyone has got any direct experience, i'd be really grateful, but if not, i'd also be really grateful on people's thoughts - would there be enough time? Are there, quite frankly, too many distractions to feasibly consider it?

Thanks for your anticipated advice!

Jess

P.s. I've tried searching on this subject but I couldn't find anything so apologies for any duplicate posts!

P.p.s. I've also put this in the Cambodia thread but apologies if it's not the 'done thing' - if not, please let me know and I shall delete

[johnslat]

Dear JessB52,

khmerhit is the Cambodia guy. You might try PMing him, but I haven't seen

him on here for a while.
Regards,
John

[tttompatz]

Finish your degree 1st.

Your options are broader, your pay is better and in the great, grand scheme of things it is NOT that much longer.

There will still be lots of jobs available when you are ready.

Oh, and yes, there will be too many distractions for a young male to dedicate the time to completing your degree while working in ESL in SE Asia.

.

[Jessb52]

Thanks for those quick responses! Will definitely send him a PM (if I can? - I read somewhere you can't send PM's until you have 5 posts?)

Should point out here that I left Uni 5 years ago, so it's not a recent thing. TEFL may not be my future career forever, and that's why i'm interested in doing it now to try it for a year or so to see if it is something that i'd like to do long term.

Oh, and I should also point out that i'm a gal....so don't know if the same distractions apply to me

Thanks,

Jess

[Madame J]

Haha, I wonder what it was about her post that must have come across as particularly "male"?

But yes, male or female I'd probably agree with tttompatz. In south east Asia there'll be far too many exciting things to do to want to commit evenings/weekends to studying.

[Dedicated]

Dear Jess,

If you are working with the UK Open University, you may need to check that any materials for the remaining modules can actually be sent to Cambodia. Some countries are " off limits".

You may have to have a reliable UK address, from which someone can forward module materials.

Good luck!

[Zero]

If I'm not mistaken you're looking at only $9 to $10 an hour job in Cambodia (U.S. dollars -- sorry, I'm American.) That covers living costs in Cambodia, and probably at less hours than you would work in a full-time job in your own country. But I'm not sure it would cover college tuition. Maybe you have funding from another source for that. Still, I think the general stress of making a living in Cambodia, the kind of place where you will have few if any benefits, just a salary, might not be conducive to study. China would be better, as they provide apartments and such at university jobs. But there's the Catch 22, you generally need a degree for China. I'm with the others, I'd do the degree first. Then if graduate study appeals to you, you could do that overseas.

[Jessb52]

Thanks for the input - I think I agree with heading out there, seeing the lay of the land and then seeing if I want/could undertake finishing it off - like I said, it could be done over 2 years which would mean less intensive study. Definitely see how I feel when i'm out there, and thanks for the heads up on the UK Address.

I just think, aside from lesson prep and having the odd night out (weekends mostly though) what else will I be doing with my time? Obviously I don't want to be a hermit, and I don't want to be on the drink every night but I don't want to be stuck in on an evening doing nothing but watch TV which is pretty much all I do here, especially if I could do something else. When i've got days off I plan to see as much as possible though. And also, i'm thinking, i'll be more motivated to get on with it, but these could all be pipe dreams!!

As a side point - people say earning $9 or $10 p/h is a bad thing but that's about �7 or �8 an hour which is waaay more than minimum wage in the UK and living costs are cheaper!

Once again, thanks but more opinions are of course always welcome, tbh, I'd not really given it much thought so just thought i'd through it out there - glad I did

Jess

[tttompatz]

Without the degree the odds of finding stable, LEGAL employment go down dramatically.

Sup to you. It's your money. Just make sure you have a plan "B" to get out.

.

[Jessb52]

tttompatz - in Cambodia? Unless I've really got the wrong end of the stick I thought you could teach legally with no degree? I know it's one of the few places you can teach though, and I am aware of that. Tbh, I wouldn't be getting my degree just to do TEFL, but i'm aware it does give me more options.

Thanks,

Jess

[naturegirl321]

I'd say finish your degree. I did one MA while teaching and am now doing another. It's a pain to have to finish work and come home and study. That being said, I don't. I study on the weekends. I basically come home, do grading, prep work, and sleep.

[fladude]

I'm going to take a different look at this. I am a firm believer that one of the worst things people can do is to go to college full time. Yes, one of the worst. You end up deep in debt with little or no skills. So yes by all means go to Cambodia, get a TEFL or CELTA and teach while you are completing your degree. And yes spread it out over two years. That is fine. Life is not a race, especially when you are young. As long as you are working and gaining job skills then you are on track. You will graduate well ahead of the people who are only going to graduate with a degree and little or no life or job experience. And you will have less debt...... So go to Cambodia, have a good time, get your degree, and then go wherever you want.

[Jessb52]

I stopped Uni about 4 years ago, and I can't afford to go back and finish it at the Uni I originally studied at!

With the OU, i'll still have to work and having being made redundant/resigning (both kind of happened simultaneously) the job prospects in the uk are not that promising so i'll have to work 50+ hours min wage to afford to live and then won't have time to complete the OU! Catch 22, i'm afraid.

Fladude - I think I love you!

I've worked with soooo many people who have degrees but so little life experience. Bbtw, it was my life experience - volunteering, Student Council work etc - that partly led to me being unable to finish the degree but is the reason I got an amazing albeit short-term job. However, I'm completely aware a degree is becoming pretty much essential everywhere.

I've also emailed the OU as well to get their opinions on this.

As always, grateful for your feedback,

Jess

[jpvanderwerf2001]

[naturegirl321]