Job Discussion Forums

kellrobinson · Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Posts: 33

I'm a recent college graduate, in my fifties (unusual, I know). I have a B.S.E., which is an "interdisciplinary" engineering degree. No certification or experience in teaching English. I'm motivated by a desire to get away and travel.
I've been spending time reading the forums. I guess Asia is the obvious choice. I get the impression that in Latin America it would be a struggle just to get by. I need to be able to save at least a little.
I'm going to keep reading the forums and gathering information. Just wanted to introduce myself. I'm not going to ask any specific questions in this my first post, but given what I've said about myself, if anybody has any suggestions I'll be very glad to hear them.

EFLeducator · Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 3:00 am Post subject: Re: allow me to introduce myself

kellrobinson · Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Posts: 33

Thanks, EFLeducator. I'll take you up on your offer after I've made enough posts to use the PM feature.
Something I've had in the back of my mind... I'm wondering if my engineering degree would open up some opportunities beyond the average English-teaching gig. The combination of engineering and English might be very attractive to a lot of people. Maybe tutoring engineering students that would like to be able to come to the U.S. or U.K. for graduate study or work.
Maybe there's even an established program somewhere for English teachers with an engineering background. I haven't seen any mention of such a thing on any of the forums I've looked at. I'm going to keep my antennae out.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

My thoughts for what they are worth. If you are able to teach and have a specialism then sometimes you find a niche. Even if the niche doesn't come immediately, a teacher with some experience of life is useful for business English as well as general English.

So, you get the most widely accepted TEFL course. As you will note from other threads, these are the CELTA and the Trinity certificate. This will give you the rudiments of how to teach, both theoretical and practical.

Then you apply to suitable places. Possibilities include oil towns in Russia (consider both western Russia and Siberia). Coal mining cities in Ukraine. Places with major logistics companies. Etc. Other options are of course capital cities.

Then consider your strategy. One possibility is to take up a one year contract at a school. Gain some general teaching experience. During that time, make contacts in the town and then either do additional work for the companies or get the companies to hire you direct (who knows, it may well be much better paid than working for the school). Another possibility is to apply to companies directly, but I suspect the lack of experience may be held against you and you may feel a bit more vulnerable without that first year's general teaching experience.

Hope that helps.

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

Why is Asia the "obvious choice" for you?

Also, Asia is a big place. Have you settled on any country(ies) at this point?

Lastly, at your age I would expect that you have work experience that certain teaching employers would benefit from. They are called business English agencies. Get hired by them, and they farm you out to clients whose businesses are in the same field you were in, so that when you teach the English lessons, you are familiar with their potential usage situations and jargon/terminology.

Also consider that if you get hired by regular conversation schools, you may be twice as old and almost as experienced in teaching as your boss.

kellrobinson · Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Posts: 33

Thanks for the suggestion about business English, coledavis.
Glenski, I think I focused on Asia because Latin America doesn't pay, and as an American I can't legally teach in the E.U. I didn't really think about Africa, and I didn't get a good impression of Russia from some of the stuff I've been reading on the forums, though in light of coledavis' post maybe I should consider it. I didn't really give it a lot of hard thought, Asia just seemed to fall out from the process of elimination. Korea sounds like a pretty civilized place with relatively good pay.
But going to Russia or the former Eastern Bloc is an interesting idea, if the pay is worthwhile and I could be sure of not getting tangled in some shady operation. I like the idea of getting a gig teaching business English. Do you have enough familiarity with business English agencies to point me to some links? In the meantime I will do some searching.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

kellrobinson · Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Posts: 33

Which town or part of Russia or C.I.S. do you teach in, if you don't mind my asking?

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

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 9:42 am Post subject:

Is the Ukraine actually a member of the CIS?

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Indubitably. Former Soviet Union countries. At the moment, I believe it comprises Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 12:39 pm Post subject:

I think there is some issue as to whether or not the Ukraine really is a member. They themselves do not seem to think so...

At least, that is what the authority that is wikipedia says:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Independent_States

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Yes, you're right, it says de facto but not an official member. That's the first time I've come across that.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 5:40 am Post subject:

I think Georgia pulled out a while back too. Something about the minor border clash seemed to upset them...