Job Discussion Forums

krem1234 · Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 14

Hi - I have a CELTA which I earned about a year and a half ago, and did a little teaching in Russia and at this point am interested in transitioning into a teaching career. Including the US (I'm a US citizen), I was curious what countries people felt would be a good place to start as a career teacher? I've heard many people mention Korea but I'm not very keen on going there. My main concerns are quality of life and getting a decent position as a teacher with decent students/boss etc. Additionally, I'd like to continue in some self-employment, so the possibility part-time positions would be nice. I'd plan to get a MA after one or several years of teaching and then look for full-time positions.

Thanks for any advice

tttompatz

krem1234 · Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 14

Should have mentioned that - I have a BA, MA, and Ph.D. in fields unrelated to TESOL.

tttompatz · Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 1:28 am Post subject:

PhD = teach at the university level in your field virtually anywhere on the planet.
MA (unrelated) = teach ESL uni in countries like China, Korea (decent money and not that bad for post grad degree holders - don't believe all the horror stories you hear - they are the same as anywhere else and about at the same frequency), Thailand, Vietnam.

BA, US passport and CELTA means you can teach EFL anywhere outside of western Europe.

Any other criteria you may wish to add (age (yours; ageism is alive and well in the industry), age (what level do you want to teach at?), remuneration (in some countries you can live well on the local economy but won't save anything for your return to the states), weather, (hot or cold climates prefered), cultures of interest)?

.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Since you have a PhD, you could teach at university level, just teach that subject. Check out
chronicle
higheredjobs.com

krem1234 · Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 14

I've thought of teaching soc/stats using my degree, but teaching English to adults appeals to me a lot more for a number of reasons.

Also I'm 27 and would like to teach adults. Pay isn't a huge issue as at this stage I wouldn't be making much teaching away. Weather's not a big deal for me either. Regarding culture, I had thought a lot of going to Japan, but the market's been pretty bad there for a while, plus I doubt I could get visa support there for anything part-time. Beyond that, I think that Central and South America would be interesting. I'd like to work in Western Europe also if it wasn't for the visa issues.

MotherF · Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 4:09 pm Post subject:

How's your Spanish?
Do you have any teaching experience (even if it's not in ESL)--say years TAing while in graduate school?

Mexico would be a viable option, though more if you have teaching experience, A couple of years teaching somewhere else would make up for your MA (and PhD being non-related). I think Mexico would be a long term viable option for someone in your situation, but just keep in mind it may take a couple of years to get yourself into a long term position. Check out the Mexico sub forums.

krem1234 · Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 14

My Spanish is OK, I took it during HS and could get by. I find Spanish pretty easy compared with other languages I've studied so I think I could become conversational after not too much time.

I've taught about a dozen college courses as a grad student and also as an adjunct while in grad school.

I have read about Mexico before and it seemed like a decent choice, I'll have to check out that forum and do some more reading. Have you taught there?

Thanks

MotherF · Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 9:33 pm Post subject:

I've been teaching at a Mexican university since 1998.

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

krem1234 · Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 14

I'm preferring part-time work as in my original post, I'd like to continue in some self-employment (I currently work about 50 hrs/week). It pays much better than teaching so my preference would be to look for a full-time teaching position after getting a MA.