Job Discussion Forums

MartyDog · Joined: 15 Apr 2012 Posts: 1 Location: United States

Hello all!

I am currently a student at a University in the United States. In August, I will be graduating with a BA in History (approx 3.5/4.0 GPA) from a decent public school. I have always been fascinated with other cultures and have enjoyed teaching (well actually tutoring) in the past and feel that TEFL may be an interesting route to pursue upon graduation from school. With this in mind, I have several questions that, while I am sure have been answered in one form or another this site, I am looking to answer.

First, I do not have a CELTA but will have the money to take a course after graduation. Also I have no debt and will have around $4,000 in savings. Would it be better to get the CELTA in the United States or in the country I desire to work?

Second, where to work? Something I am hoping to gain through teaching abroad is foreign language skills. Currently I am at an intermediate level in Spanish (6 total years of part time classes). Thus I am leaning toward a Latin American country. However, I have thought of looking to Asia and picking up a language there (is this even plausible?).

I have not decided if I will pursue this a career. At minimum I will be dedicating two years to this endeavor. I can provide more information for those interested. Thanks for any advice and support!

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

IMO, unless you are very adept at learning new languages, one just does not "pick up" a new one, especially when one is trying to adjust to a new living and working FT environment. Keep this in mind.

Also, do not write anything about learning the local language in your cover letter. Employers are not impressed with what you want; it is they who have the overriding needs: a teacher who will do their best to teach. Any hobbies or interests you have take second place to that.

USAMATHMAN · Joined: 01 Oct 2009 Posts: 72

I taught in South Korea for a year and think that the country would be a great option for you based off of your credentials. I know a few teachers who obtained positions without the celta. The pay is decent, plenty of opportunities for nightlife and travel, and many opportunites to take Korean language classes.

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

You'll feel more confident if you get the CELTA, and it won't do your job opporunities any harm at all. Even if you start off in Korea, where it generally isn't required, it can help you find work in other countries, once you get sick of kimchi.

I did the CELTA in my home country, and managed to find a centre in a city close enough that I could stay with my parents while doing the course. Try and do that, if you can, as it really cuts down on accommodation costs.

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

Basically I would check out the options and see which option, for the CELTA, will entail the least cost in tuition and lodging. All other things being equal do it in the country where you want to teach, as the CELTA center might have connections with local employers.

I would not bother with a language. In five years, 10 at the most, language-learning will be obsolete as immediate-translation apps take hold for mobile devices. They'll be so fast, accurate, convenient and affordable, it won't make sense to spend time studying. Kind of argues against getting into EFL, I guess. On the other hand, maybe you want to get a couple of years of EFL in before the field goes extinct.

Good luck!

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 4:56 pm Post subject:

Language-learning isn't going to die off any time soon, if ever. This faith in gadgetry is all well and good, but the predictions are about as reliable as such predictions ever are. Reminds me of the horse-manure predictions which claimed that New York's population would be capped to a few hundred thousand.

http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/our-economic-past-the-great-horse-manure-crisis-of-1894/