Job Discussion Forums

[wayne1523]

(I copied this post from my other thread "Education Major vs Just Any Degree" because I was starting to stray off topic. )

"I'm just thinking quite long term right now. I'm wondering if what I'm doing right now is really efficient for building this from an average job that almost any university graduate with a BA can get to an actual career that gives better benefits/conditions/pay for the more settled lifestyle when I figure it's time for that.

I graduated from a Canadian university exactly a year ago and I've been working at a public elementary school in Busan, South Korea since September and the program has been great. I'm probably going to extend one more time before I go back home and do my CELTA. However, given that I'm still young I'd like to keep travelling to different countries (Taiwan, Thailand, or Vietnam as my next place after Korea) and keep working at entry-level jobs which only require a BA and a CELTA. So, my question is, am I wasting my time just waddling around at the entry-level positions with not much to show for on my resume for that university-type job which I desire in the future? With only a BA and a CELTA, is there any middle ground between entry level-type jobs and a university/international school job that would allow me to keep travelling for now while building a more impressive resume with more advanced forms of experience? Should I perhaps hold my travelling down and pursue a MATESOL now?This is where it'd be really helpful to get different answers from more people.

What is the breakdown of the ranks of the overseas ESL teacher? There is entry-level, which is where I'm at right now, and there is university/international schools. Where does everything else lie?"

Thank you =)

[Zero]

Here's the question: What is your real goal? You mentioned eventually getting a higher-level job and you mentioned a good-looking resume. Why do you want those things? The answers may sound self-obvious, but that's where a lot of people go wrong. Is it that you want to earn more money? Or is it that you want more status and recognition in the world? Those two items do not always go together, especially nowadays and especially in ESL. Which one do you really want?

Tell me what you want, and then I can venture my answer as to how to get it!

[rtm]

[Glenski]

[wayne1523]

I was just wondering if there is some middle ground between entry level jobs and say a university level/international school job that requires only a CELTA and a BA to work with for now which would make my resume stronger as I go along and eventually qualify me for a university job abroad. Apparently not?

From your responses, I guess what would work for me is to travel for now and then when I decide that the time is right to progress up the ladder, then I will pursue whatever's necessary. An MA TESOL would allow me to gain a university job teaching ESL, correct? Besides attaining a CELTA, what else would I need to get before I try to get an MATESOL?

[rtm]