Job Discussion Forums

[cheshir3]

Hi everyone! I'm looking for job advice from all of you seasoned professionals

I'm a current graduate student in a M.Ed. program in Special Education. Due to extenuating circumstances (my school's course schedule is not well-designed) I'm probably going to take a year off starting in June. I wanted to possibly find a job teaching overseas to travel and save some money while gaining teaching experience (I'd like to teach SPED in an international school once I graduate).


About me:
-1 year left in SPED program; working towards initial licensure
-English BA (*beep* Laude)
-I tutored elementary students in high school and have recent experience tutoring university students with disabilities
-I'm a graduate senator at my school and the graduate representative of the school's committee on disability issues, some I have some community involvement experience
-I have A LOT of student debt (~$80,000) and would like to save atleast $500 a month
-I'm open to any countries

1. What are the best countries to save money in?
2. Is it possible to teach while still in grad school and just explain my circumstances, or will employers look down on my sabbatical?
3. Does anyone have any recruiters/employers to look into?


Thanks for the help!

[tttompatz]

ESL is NOT a great place to pay down student loans if you are only doing it for a year. Unless you head to someplace like Korea, where your housing and airfare are part of the package, your setup costs (airfare, housing deposits, etc) will exceed your potential savings in the first year.

As to your qualifications - you have none. You have no classroom time (other than as a student), are not certified (rules out all but bottom barrel international schools), do not have any qualifications for teaching EFL (no cert or experience of any kind). You are going to start at the entry level as an ESL/EFL teacher - just like all the rest of the undergrads coming out this spring with their shiny new parchments.

1) Korea, China (if you can't do a full year). Do be aware that your timing is off for most countries in Asia. The school year in many countries does NOT coincide with the US school year.

2) Employers won't care as long as you do your job and complete your contract.

3) Very country specific. Pick a corner of the globe and work from there.

.

[EFLeducator]

[cheshir3]

Thanks for the replies. I'll look into South Korea.