Question:
Can teaching abroad be
the "real deal"?- question asked by someone teaching
in Korea
you asked - so here's my opinion. TEFL can be a
fine career.
My personal experience: After 89-91 in Africa (as a Peace Corps
Volunteer - not EFL) - I decided there was a big wide world out there I
wanted to be a part of - so in 1992 I went to Korea and haven't lived or worked
"back home" since.
I've worked almost exclusively college and university jobs as I have
two master's degrees. But, I have to admit that I had almost nothing
when I started - and now I am much better off financially. I own rental
property in the United States - paid off already. In the process
during these years I've worked in Korea twice, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia and
Thailand. Sometimes for big money, sometimes for peanuts. Most of the
jobs were just fine and with good people and friendly students. But, I
don't apply Western standards to what I do. These are different places
with things done differently. And enjoyably so.
Also during that time, I've had the opportunity to visit many other
countries and usually for extended periods of time. I have rarely had less
than a couple months off per year - sometimes as much as 4.5 months off
per year.
All that said, look at language schools only as an
entry level job and get yourself an MA, M.Ed., MATESOL or something
similar AS FAST AS YOU CAN- if you can. It will make your life immeasurably better, even if it does not immediately increase your income significantly.
You
will be able to increase your time off sometimes by ten fold,
possibly move your work week down to four days and twelve or fewer
teaching hours
- from five or six days and 25-30 hours. It will also allow you to do a little time
in the Middle East and earn some serious money when you want to by a
house back home and quickly pay it off - and/or purchase investment property
or make investments for your eventual retirement.
In this business you will have to look after
yourself. The government isn't here holding your hand. There is and will be
racism, sexism, ageism and just about every other "-ism" you can name.
But, in the end - we are all responsible for ourselves and you can feel
proud of what you create for yourself.
Research, plan carefully for, and get good medical insurance, plan for
your own retirement (the world is your option now!), and even consider
disability insurance (most people don't know that, for example, if you
are totally disabled overseas and haven't paid into [the USA] social security
system for five years - you are NO LONGER covered by SSI!). Don't let these
things be the responsibility of your employer or home country, or
parents - or you
WILL at some point be left out in the cold. Educate yourself in all the
fine points of being responsible for yourself while living overseas.
It's not all that difficult, it's just a time to grow up and pay attention
to the details of your life.
We have to be big boys and girls out here. But it's good for us.
Frankly, I'd be going crazy back home.
If you don't mind the challenges - go for it.
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PS: I added a little edit here - as the poster asked a LOT questions .
. .
Just my opinion: Owning property overseas is always a bit of risk. Laws
and protections vary from place to place and are almost non-existent
some places. After a lot of thought I kept all my investment in my home
country. I think that you can get
a better return on investment - more worry free that way. For example:
I, too, looked into buying property in Thailand. I found that by
investing the same amount of money back home - the net net rental income
from back home would rent me MORE house in Thailand than my cash would
have bought. AND, I didn't need to worry about shady titles, forged
deeds, lack of zoning (with a karaoke joint opening next door) and other
issues. [edit later: as time goes by . . . I have purchased an
apartment in Phuket - for investment purposes - but I invested no more
money that I could afford to lose (a very common measure for buying
property here).
This area is what I meant above by researching the many issues that will
come up. Thailand has NO title insurance - one mistake and your entire
investment is lost. Or, not even a mistake - just a powerful politician
decides they want the land your house is on . . .
And one small final edit: For God's Sake - don't limit yourself to just
one country - there is a big wide world out there! Teaching in a variety of
countries will greatly enhance your understanding of the world - and
broaden your teaching skills. Taiwan taught me how to teach
pronunciation better, Saudi honed my discipline skills and showed me how
important structure was, Thailand taught me how to inject more humor
into the classroom - it will all add up and make you a better teacher.
After all, the bottom line is delivering a good product to those happy
campers in the front row. Doesn't matter if the front row is in a
university, a corporate classroom, or a language school.
You asked about an MBA, [my second master's degree]. While I would actually prefer to
teach business - Biz English can be a productive sideline. But, most
corporate jobs won't give you near as much time off as a college or
university job.
Sorry to be so wordy - but I do love this career and all it has done for
me - so I take your questions seriously - and would like to encourage
you.
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Question:
Could the people you
left behind at home do this job - live this life?
The people with the real cojones are those who stay
home, work the mortgage, drive the SUV, pump out the kids. There really
is something to that discipline.
I don't know how they do it.
I gots me wanderin' shoes on . . .
Question:
What about an on-line
or distance
TEFL Certification?
Distance learning is better than nothing, but . . .
I don't know if it is an option for you, but most any course that you
attend in person will give you a superior experience. Especially in the
area of supervised teaching.
Personally, I have several certifications, but - you will find
that one with supervised teaching is worth about twenty of the online/distance ones.
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Question:
Benefits of Getting a CELTA Certification [vs
others] in Thailand?
What follows is just my opinion - other people
often hold very strong opinions on some of the issues.
CELTA yes, is well recognized. However, my guess is that you will not
end up well compensated for the improvement in your qualifications.
Few schools in Asian countries (other than Thailand - which is quite
certification focused!) seem to really
appreciate a certified teacher. However, I know a few qualified teachers
and I suspect that they are MUCH better teachers (in general) than those
with no training at all.
As a former TEFL certificate teacher-trainer, something I can tell you
is that of all the certification schools in Thailand the content is
about 70+ per cent the same. So, look for a good positive teacher who
has experience teaching kids and adults (or whatever population or
specialty you'd like to teach) and with whom you find a
positive chemistry.
Even the six week courses are very intense and if you don't like or
can't get along with your primary teacher(s), it will be a miserable time. As part
of my training as a TEFL-cert teacher-trainer I observed several different
teacher-trainers, all teaching the same material. Most were okay, but one
or two were great and I would have wanted to take a course from them,
as I would have learned a lot more. But
then I am an experienced and picky teacher.
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Most TEFL schools in Thailand will let you, or even encourage you, to sit in
for a day or two without paying. Do that, but first (as you'll probably
get sold right away) talk to the different teachers that are available.
Picking the right teacher(s) can double the value of your experience.
Again, only my opinion, but the variation between different teachers can
be so great (the variation in content will only be moderate) that you might want to
make your school decision based on the teachers. I KNOW, as many people
will yell later, that CELTA is the old workhorse, but you find many
people with generic (and much less expensive) TEFL certifications who have no trouble picking up even some of the
very best jobs. In my opinion, it really doesn't matter.
Are there a few employers who want only CELTA certs? Yes, but then there
are a few universities that want only MATESOLs, and what of us with
M.Ed.'s with PGCE's in TEFL? Or what of MATESOL people when certain
schools want/prefer a PGCE? There is some of that in the industry - but
not enough to make a real difference. Most employers (at higher levels
anyway) will make their choice based on what they perceive as your
ability to handle the work. Not on your specific qualification (beyond a
minimum requirement anyway).
Finally, sorry for such long note!, getting the right training (and
teacher) can well make the difference between deciding that you will
love this career (I do), and pursue it for most of your life, or just do
it as a lark for a few years. Once you are out there teaching you will
be able to see the difference.
One last note - CELTA is adult focused - and much more expensive that most
other programs. Other
schools can probably give you more experience with children. Check to
see if a TEFL certification school will give you a variety of teaching experiences.
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Question:
Wondering
just how much weight is assigned to the
AGE FACTOR by prospective employers in Thailand?
I'm "only" 56, but look in my sixties
plus and I haven't had any trouble finding work in Bangkok, or Phuket.
Phuket takes more time as it is a smaller market - and you have to be more
picky as the wages are often poor - and the competition for jobs greater.
I think how you present yourself is probably more important. I am a high
energy teacher (and person) - and I think that comes across.
The places that are just looking for the blond-haired blue-eyed models in their 20s - aren't
usually good places to work anyway.
A quality school will place more value on your life experience, patience,
people skills, etc.
Question: Please tell me how this scenario (a
rough one with big
classes in a Thai public school) compares with other
Asian countries.
The real problem is that you are teaching in public schools - pretty much
the worst option in any country - even in my home country I would be
loath to teach a classroom of 40-50 young people.
Try the language institutes. Thais generally are great fun to teach,
particularly as you state, they love to play games. I've often thought
you could get them to do very hard physical labor for days without pay -
if it only involved a game with points! If it works - use it.
Compared to other countries in Asia (I've taught in Asia, only in Korea,
Thailand, Taiwan, and Saudi Arabia), Thais are the most fun and relaxed. Of the
other countries Taiwan might be the best compromise of students, student
respect for teacher, student discipline, and decent income.
Best advice - get out of the public schools - to somewhere where you
will have decent size classes - that meet at a frequency where the
students can actually learn something.
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Question:
Any advice for a teacher just arriving?
Types of
schools that are good, bad? Is there a particular website that you like for job ads?
In addition to this forum
(Thai
Visa) - read the forums at
Ajarn.com and
eslcafe.com
. Also at
eslcafe.com
is what they call the "job information journal"
[edit: it may not be there anymore - I am not sure] -
read that section on Thailand as well.
There is a great amount of information (and just plain crap) out there -
and you are right: much of it is contradictory and confusing. However, a
move to a new country and a new job is worthy of a bit of research (call
me old fashioned!). However, once all that is read - many common themes
will be found - and a general idea of where to go and what to do will
evolve. Then, perhaps, your friend can ask a more focused question.
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If you are unsure
how to pick a TEFL school and of all the things that should be considered,
check out the guide I wrote:
How to
Pick a TEFL School
Would you like my opinion on which TEFL
Certification Course offers you the greatest benefit?
Ted's Recommendation
Learn More about
Teaching English Overseas - TEFL as a Career at:
TEFL Boot Camp
: Free Online TEFL Training
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first job
