Teaching Abroad

1. 49

   Karin Thomasposted 13 years ago

   Hi All,
   
   I wanted to start this thread, not sure if it's quite the right category, but I've recently fallen in love with Vietnam and I decided that I am going to leave my boring job in England and JUST DO IT! 
   
   It seems like we all sit around in our western countries and stew over our lives and wish they were better.  I regularly vacation in continental Europe, but that is getting a little bit boring.  It just seems like traveling and going on vacation is not enough to satisfy the craving for what I consider to be freedom.  Freedom from unpaid overtime at my office, freedom from the gray sky and the unrelenting drizzle, and freedom from the media and the persistent rubbish that they feed us!
   
   Anyway, I've been looking into teaching English.  Maybe it's the most obvious thing, but most people that teach say it's a good way to live in another country for a few years and get a chance to live life before it's over!
   
   I'm basically seeking advise for anybody who has taught before, or who knows stuff about how to get started.  There is so much TESOL stuff around and all that, CELTA etc. etc. but I can't really sort out which things are rubbish and which things are real.  If anybody knows how to get started, or can offer any advise that would be much appreciated.
   
   Cheers!
   
   Karin

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2. 60

   recommend1posted 13 years ago

   A TEFL  Teaching English as a Foreign Language certificate is useful if you want to teach in a private school but not necessary.
   
   I would advise starting at University in China where the normal salary is more than adequate and they give you apartment and services including a computer - and the teaching is relatively easy.  This means you can just get here and you will be looked after while you get into the place and teaching.
   
   When you have the experience and a year teaching behind you then is the time to adventure out on your own.
   
   If you genuinely want a job now then email me here in China - now You can be on your way in a couple of weeks.

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3. 82

   Paul Kuehnposted 13 years ago

   Have you had any prior teaching experience?  I am presently teaching EFL in Thailand.  I never took any CELTA or TESOL because I first learned this line of work in the 70s when I was living and working in Taiwan.  I don't know about Vietnam, but a lot of the TEFL teachers here have never studied education and many of them have bogus degrees.  A CELTA or TESOL is nice to have, but having a college degree is more important.  I wouldn't get any work lined up from an agent who will place you in a job.  I've heard too many horror stories from people in Thailand who came here through the aid of an agent.  If you are really daring and outgoing, come to Vietnam with at least enough in savings to tide you over for a couple of months.  Come on a tourist visa, and if you get a job you can have it converted into a non-immigrant visa like is done in Thailand.  And if things don''t work out in Vietnam, Thailand is always looking for TEFL teachers.  A good website for tefl teachers in Thailand is www.ajarn.com .

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4. 82

   Blond Logicposted 13 years ago

   My husband and I moved to rural Brazil  after seeing our lives getting progressively worse in Britain. We moved with the idea of setting up accommodation for kite surfers. For various reasons that didn't work out but now we are farming tilapia.
   
   With regards to teaching English, I am sure you will have many people that will want to learn, but just because you speak English doesn't mean you can teach it. I help a woman with her English here and she helps me with Portuguese. Teaching English to foreigners is difficult, especially to children.
   
   I would say definitely go, and keep an open mind about opportunities.There is so much to see outside our comfort zones. There are interesting articles on Expat sites but don't let the negative comments dissuade you, as you said, Just Do It.

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   1. 48

      Rachel Wellsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      i'm also new to teaching and i found this one www.teflexpress.co.uk they said they have CELTA and also TEFL and TEFL weekend.  im also not sure which one to start on cause there are lots of companies doing the same stuff it seems like

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