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aureliasmith
Joined: 05 Jul 2011
Posts: 8
Location: San Diego
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 Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 4:41 pm Post subject: Starting the Search |
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Hello All!
I'm very new to this and I want to teach in either Thailand or Bhutan. I recently received a credential to teach secondary English in California, and also have a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts. I have been getting conflicting information about whether or not to get TEFL/TESL certified before I begin searching for jobs, or if an agency will provide that for me. Basically, if anyone could please let me know where and how to begin, that would be great. Also, I'm wondering if Federal Funding is available for students to take a TEFL course? Please hit me with any thoughts or information you may have and help me out! 
Thanks!
Aurelia |
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
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| Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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Depends... do you want to teach secondary English or ESL? If you want to teach English literature and/or English to English speakers, then you're probably better off looking into international schools. You've already got the credential, which is the first step. The better international schools will also want a couple of years of experience in your home country, as well.
If you want to teach ESL, then yes, you'd be well-served getting a TEFL certificate. Not all countries/schools require one, but you'd be a stronger candidate if you had one on your CV.
I'm not aware of any funding for TEFL certificates. The programs aren't going to offer you financial aid or anything--you generally have to come up with the funding on your own. That said, though, there are language schools out there that will put you through their own training programs. I don't know the specifics, but unless you find one of those programs, you will have to count on shelling out $2000ish, give or take a few hundred, for the certificate.
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 11:37 pm Post subject: |
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Heading for Thailand you do NOT need a TEFL cert to get a job.
It isn't necessary for the visa.
It isn't necessary for the work permit.
It isn't necessary for finding a job unless you really want to work in a language academy.
If you already have a home country teacher's license you can easily get a Thai teacher's license and skip the grief of the majority of language institutes and dispatch agencies.
There are literally 1000's of schools (not language academies) who would love to have you and sign you on in a heartbeat.
All that said however, teaching EFL (as compared to teaching in English or teaching English Lit/Language Arts) is a very different ballgame. Find a cheap on-line TEFL course to give you some ideas about EFL and get you up to speed. Alternatively, just grab a few books and bone up on the subject.
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aureliasmith
Joined: 05 Jul 2011
Posts: 8
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 4:13 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks! I very much appreciate it! Any idea how long the whole process would take and what my first steps would be? |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 4:51 am Post subject: |
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| aureliasmith wrote: |
| Thanks! I very much appreciate it! Any idea how long the whole process would take and what my first steps would be? |
There are last minute jobs and jobs that require you to plan a couple months in advance. Maybe 2 to 4 months max? |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 5:02 am Post subject: |
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| aureliasmith wrote: |
| Thanks! I very much appreciate it! Any idea how long the whole process would take and what my first steps would be? |
For Thailand the vast majority of jobs are NOT hired from abroad.
Jobs do not usually include airfare and many do not include accommodation (especially not the language academies).
The school year is from May to Feb with a mid term break for the month of October. The bulk of the hiring (for Thai schools) is done from March to May.
There is a minor mid-term hiring bump to find teachers for the start of 2nd term (either to fill vacancies from the 1st term or new hires for schools that didn't have a foreign teacher.
There are also a few openings in International Schools with new terms starting in Sept. These would not be ESL positions and hiring is usually done about 6 months ahead of the term start.
There are always language academies hiring with the slowest time from Dec. to Feb.
The way to start is to get a CBC, scans of your degrees and other certificates and passport then start looking at the job boards (eslcafe.com, MOD EDIT, seriousteachers.com, etc.).
When you find something that catches your eye, send off a resume, cover letter and low res scans of your: degree, passport and teaching credential. You will get offers.
Get a visa, get a plane ticket and head abroad. It's that simple.
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aureliasmith
Joined: 05 Jul 2011
Posts: 8
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 5:11 am Post subject: |
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| You've been very helpful in your replies to all my postings. I really do appreciate it. That whole Bhutan slip was a total brain fart. Thanks for setting me straight and giving me all the helpful tips. Seems you are very knowledgeable. |
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aureliasmith
Joined: 05 Jul 2011
Posts: 8
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 5:14 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks! Sounds good! |
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AGoodStory
Joined: 26 Feb 2010
Posts: 738
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 4:40 pm Post subject: Re: Starting the Search |
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| aureliasmith wrote: |
Hello All!
. . . Also, I'm wondering if Federal Funding is available for students to take a TEFL course? . . .
Thanks!
Aurelia |
Hi, Aurelia,
Welcome! I just wanted to tell you my experience when researching possible funding sources for a TEFL course. The one source I found was a federal program administered through state labor departments. It is aimed at providing retraining to the unemployed to enable them to change occupations. In my state certain other groups in addition to the unemployed qualified--very low income, some "transitional workers" such as homemakers trying to enter the workforce, and older workers. (Various requirements for each category, as I remember.) It doesn't sound as if any of these would apply to you.
Even for those who qualify there are a number of potential pitfalls. There are no TEFL courses on the "approved training" list, so you have to petition for an exception which will allow payment to the TEFL course provider. You also have to find a course in your home state, and if there are none, again petition for approval to take one out of state. And NO possibility of taking a course outside of the US. (I thought the concept of sending the US unemployed to other countries might actually appeal to the Dept. of Labor, but this was not the case!)
This might be a viable option for an older person who meets the criteria and is considering a career change to TEFL. (And doesn't mind jumping through a few hoops.) |
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aureliasmith
Joined: 05 Jul 2011
Posts: 8
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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AGoodStory:
Thanks so much for all your knowledgeable information on funding for programs. Doesn't seem like it's really going to work out for me, but I appreciate knowing that, at least. Did you, then, take a course? If so, which one, and did you find it made you more marketable and profitable? Thanks again for your response! |
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sounion
Joined: 28 Aug 2011
Posts: 30
Location: Bhutan
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 6:53 am Post subject: for bhutan |
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If you want to try teaching in Bhutan, check out www.teachinbhutan.org.
PM me if you want more details about Bhutan or this organization (currently living and teaching in Bhutan  ) |
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