Teaching English as a Second lauguage?

[mohave_steve]

Hello All,

I am sure I am not the only one to get enthused after reading Liz Tonosi's
article in this months L&A entitled "Cruising & Teaching around the World".

I promptly looked into the TESL/TEFL certifications and it looks quite straighforward. (TESL=Teaching English as a Second Language)

While I do not have fromal teaching credentials I do have a great deal
of experience leading training classes teaching employees to
operate new computer systems as well as one on one instruction.
I enjoy teaching.

Here is the question to those of you who have been out there living the dream: Is there really enough demand out there for TESL instructors
out there that I could rely on the work to put beans on the table?

What do you think?

Thanks

Mohave_Steve
Still searchng for the path out of Purgatory....

[mangomuffins]

Hey Steve,

Didn't I see your post on the Belize forum??

Regarding TESL; we have some friends who had great success with this. One couple spent 2 years in Japan and had a great time. Another friend spent 2 years in Taiwan. Apparently, both of these situations involved helping with pronunciation mostly. We considered it is a way to get out of the country for a while, but are currently looking for something that would allow us to practice our profession (Oriental Medicine). I believe it is worth pursuing if you are trying to find employment overseas. As you may know, it can be difficult to get permission to work regular jobs in other countries...like Belize.
There are several different companies that hire teachers...some, apparently, better than others so do your homework.


MM

[harpoon5.2]

I think there is a healthy demand for TESL. I have a friend from Korea that came to the states to go to school and learn english, and he told me that I helped him learn english better than the classes he was taking here. I was actually all set to go and live in Korea for awhile working teaching english, but something came up. My roommate is leaving for Greece to teach english as a second language.

[mudnut]

A person I knew years ago aquired a job teaching english in Japan,he only had 4yrs of highschool education,nothing to flash.His takehome pay was around $2,000 after only 3% tax.That was 10yrs ago.Mudnut.

[unbusted67]

Very cool, My girlfriend and I were just discussing this as an option to help fund our cruising. She loves teaching and is pressuring me to get a captain's license to do chartering.
Any thoughts on teaching subjects other than english as a second language? My girlfriend is an ABA (advanced behavioral analyse) specialist; which pertains to autism. As I'm sure many of you have heard autism has become a problem of epidemic proportions and she has not had a hard time finding work in the states, any thoughts on this as a job in more remote destinations?

[sluissa]

I've heard several success stories involving english teachers overseas. Most of them happen to be in asian countries, South Korea and Japan mainly. They may be the easiest places to get english teaching jobs, but I'm sure you could find a job in many countries whose primary language isn't english. Be aware though that some places teach the British dialect while others teach the American dialect and while they aren't that different, you might have some trouble if you have to deal with english as a second language students that have been taught in a dialect you havn't had much exposure to.

As far as other subjects go, if you have a degree from a reputable college in the subject, and have a fair command of the language where you want to teach the subject, and they have a need for teachers in that subject there, I don't see that it would be too hard to get a job. I've had several college professors who were from other countries, but I don't know that much about how it goes in other countries.

[unbusted67]

Originally Posted by unbusted67

My girlfriend is an ABA (advanced behavioral analyse) specialist; which pertains to autism. As I'm sure many of you have heard autism has become a problem of epidemic proportions and she has not had a hard time finding work in the states, any thoughts on this as a job in more remote destinations?

My boyfriend of 4 years doesn't know what I do for a living I am an ABA (applied behavioral analysis) therapist.

[cferger]

I taught English in Japan for 4 years. My last year I made almost $50k (us) and only worked 14 hours per week. When I was there you had to have a 4 year degree in anything to qualify for a visa. You can work on the JET program and work in public schools, you can work for a Conversational English school or if you have a masters or higher work at a college.

The jet program likes young recent college graduates and you can end up with a very easy job or working your ass off. Full or part time at a college probably pays the most per hour.

I started out with a company that paid 250,000 yen per month ( to get the visa, they have to pay a minimum i believe) and then they took 50,000 for my rent. The big money comes from teaching private lessons (privates). I charged a minimum of 5000 yen per hour. I also had my own classes 1 kindergarten class of 10 kids for 1000 yen per head and a Ladies class taught at a community center for 30,000 a month.

I left Japan 12 years ago (now I feel old) and at the time Japan was where the big money was. I know people who taught in Korea, others in Taiwan and they didn't make the same money. I love Thailand and breifly looked into teaching there, but the money wasn't there.

A friend of a friend actually lived on his boat. He just found a place to tie up up a river, paid nothing and no one bothered him. He had no visa and every 3 months he would take the ferry to Korea to get another 90 days.

The funny thing is that after 4 years in Japan, I went back to Montana and that is where I met my Japanese wife...

[unbusted67]

Originally Posted by unbusted67

My boyfriend of 4 years doesn't know what I do for a living I am an ABA (applied behavioral analysis) therapist.

Wow, I am an idiot. From now on I will try to keep my domestic disputes with my girlfriend off of this forum, it makes me a little nervous that she knows how to sign in under my name Yikes, time to check the bank statement.

[Lancerbye]

Tesl teachers are in great demand in the Middle East(UAE,QATAR) and the pay is good. Housing supplied etc. Need a degree for colleges but not for schools. Big demand in China and Korea now. I am not a TESL teacher but I know a lot of them. I teach a different discipline. You can tell by my spelling. LOL

[Boracay]

I worked as an ESL teacher for 5 months in Korea some years ago.

Good Points:
-Got to know Korea really well. It is a beautiful country that one could never find as a tourist.
-Excellent paid holiday.
-Got to know Koreans really well. Most are really nice people.
-Lost weight.

Bad Points:
-Discovered I had a problem with alcohol (Soju!!!!!).
-Employers regard payment as optional.
-No rights.
-Mostly isolated from other westerners.
-Social interactions limited and restricted.
-Employment skewed towards the young and blond.

[swami maximus]

Originally Posted by unbusted67

Any thoughts on teaching subjects other than english as a second language? My girlfriend is an ABA (advanced behavioral analyse) specialist; which pertains to autism. As I'm sure many of you have heard autism has become a problem of epidemic proportions and she has not had a hard time finding work in the states, any thoughts on this as a job in more remote destinations?

Autism has become somewhat watered down diagnosis in the states IMO (my wife also worked with Autistic children in the school system). If a child is problematic in some uncertain way they are labeled as autistic (because that label opens them up to special services and insurances coverage- while a legion of other [possibly more accurate diagnoses] would leave them with out assistance.) This is not to suggest that autism is in anyway an exaggerated problem, just that it may be going the way of ADD/ADHD in the states. Which means to say that, while cruising abroad you might not find the same epidemic... it might be more an endemic epidemic to the States.

[swami maximus]

I have a TESOL certificate that I got while traveling in Thailand. I have taught English in China, Thailand, India, and leave Monday for Brazil (to teach). The demand is out there anywhere you go... But as with anything you need to be aware that not every demand is the same, nor is every employer. I think in answer to your question... Yes, you can travel on "teaching English." I have done it now for quite some time. There are loads of websites that can help you, classified sections in local English speaking newspapers, and even more certification programs (of which some are a lot better than others). Do your research, speak with people and choose wisely, and you should be fine.

[unbusted67]

Originally Posted by swami maximus

Autism has become somewhat watered down diagnosis in the states IMO (my wife also worked with Autistic children in the school system). If a child is problematic in some uncertain way they are labeled as autistic (because that label opens them up to special services and insurances coverage- while a legion of other [possibly more accurate diagnoses] would leave them with out assistance.) This is not to suggest that autism is in anyway an exaggerated problem, just that it may be going the way of ADD/ADHD in the states. Which means to say that, while cruising abroad you might not find the same epidemic... it might be more an endemic epidemic to the States.

hmmm. Parents of children who are learning disabled may wish this to be true but I would have to disagree. It is fairly difficult to get a diagnosis which places a student on the spectrum. The diagnosis is made by well trained specialists not the parents trying to get the care. These sepecialists are well aware of the strain an influx of special needs students places on an already taxed school system, this logic suggest that the tendencey, if there is any, would be to go the other way. Which isn't to say I haven't heard of frustrated parents getting lawyers involved when the diagnosis doesn't go their way, it's just that it rarely happens.

And just to keep the thead on track: blah blah blah sailing blah bla blah

[swami maximus]

Yes back to sailing... But before we do, I would just like to qualify and contextualize my statement. Merely stated that outside of the US, your girlfriend will find less work with autistic children than she will in the states. The reasons are for more complicated than could be entertained on this forum and opinions drastically varied. Speaking as a not-yet medical expert [less so as an expert in autism and social policy] yet with personal experience in these matters, I do not think within the field of working with autistic children, she will find as much success as she might in the states. However, this experience, when marketed as teaching, will surely impress a great many would be employers of English instruction.
Yo ho ho and a bottle of Sierra Nevada...
S.Max