Job Discussion Forums

[donovanbaldwin]

Sorry to beat a dead horse, but searching through all the posts for info pertinent to my desires and situation is a bit daunting.

I am 67 years old, semi-retired, have a BA in Accounting but want to teach English (TESOL) overseas, preferably Europe. I have a background in languages (trained in Polish and German) by the U.S. Army, and also experience in training (classroom and hands-on) but not in English.

I do NOT require a huge income from this as I have enough retirement coming in to meet my needs with a little left over. Any income earned would primarily go to sustain me in Europe.

I want to teach adults, and, with a background in accounting, think I might have a foot in the door to help others learn English relevant to that area.

I wanted to get a certification from a local university, but lack the funding to take their program. I can do a CELTA course through a college in Houston, TX, however, I have some obligations that will delay attendance there by about a year.

There seem to be some independent training programs, such as that offered by Jeff Mahomed, who apparently works the CELTA program in Houston. I thought I might take his courses while getting in position to do the CELTA training next year.

I have two questions for those with experience in the field:

1. Do you have any input about Jeff's course?

2. Will such training help me get a job in TESOL in Europe, if I have to delay the CELTA training for some unknown reason?

Thanks for the input.

Don

[BadBeagleBad]

If you are an American citizen only, my understanding is that it is difficult to get a work permit in Europe, with a few exceptions. What country were you thinking about?

[spiral78]

The Beagle's correct (predictably)

You might usefully read through a few of the country-specific boards below - your questions have been answered in detail there.

[tttompatz]

Truth be told, at 67 years young, unless you hold citizenship for another country other than the US your chances of working (legally) abroad are just about "0".

= You are past the mandatory retirement age for many/most countries.

= As an American without hereditary ties (have or can obtain a European passport) to the a country in the EU, western Europe is pretty much closed to you other than as a tourist.

= You won't/can't get a work visa / permits for employment in most of Asia (for age related reasons). I suspect (without actual first hand knowledge) the same will be true for much of Eastern Europe and Russia.

And to finally answer your questions:
1) don't know of the man or his "course".
2) no, it won't help you in Europe (or anywhere else for that matter).

.

[naturegirl321]

As people have mentioned, your age and nationality work against you. If you want to live abroad, you might want to look into retirement visas. Spain for example, has this scheme

You will need a criminal background check and medical certificate both issued within the last three months and from your country of residency when you apply. You also need proof of income of at least $20,000 a year and medical insurance. All documents must be translated into Spanish. The embassy has further information.

As for the quetsions, number 1. I've heard good things about Jeff's course, but I've never taken it, so don't know firsthand.

[SahanRiddhi]

Don't some of the retirement programs allow a bit of part-time work? I'm thinking that maybe Malaysia does? I know that's not Europe, but just saying. Or Mexico?

I'm definitely thinking that one of the retirement programs is the best option. There are several.

[BadBeagleBad]

In Mexico you can work independently, that is get a visa to work, but not tied to an employer. You are then free to find students on your own, by advertising, word of mouth, or working with an institute that will place you in classes. I have a friend close to your age who is working in Mexico, and has to turn classes away. *I* would hire her to work for me, if she were available, and I am sure others would too. Some won�t, and some employers even specify an age range in job ads. But I have never had it come up, directly, in an interview. Though, of course, it�s easy enough to get a rough estimate just based on a person�s resume.

[Isla Guapa]

I believe I am that friend that BBB mentioned in her last post. If you have any questions about applying for a visa that allows you to work in Mexico independently, ask away!

[naturegirl321]