Too Old, No Degree, Want To Teach English?

One of the best things about this blog is that I get great questions from people who want to teach English abroad, but wonder about their circumstances and if they can make it happen or not.

Here is a recent email:

I have been considering teaching English in a Spanish speaking country, preferably Spain. If not there then Central or South America. I am 62 yrs old and in excellent health. I have been with [a major international bank] for 11 plus years. I am semi-bilingual, since my wife is Colombian. What do you think of my age? Am I too old? How do I find out if I would be eligible to teach in Peru for instance? I have an Associates degree only (a two-year vocational type degree). I have taught a little in a voluntary setting. Can you share your thoughts with me?

My response follows – and I want every person reading this blog and thinking about working abroad to apply such thinking to their job search.

Hi Bill,

You wrote:

What do you think of my age? Am I too old?

You are only a couple years older than me – not too old – you have a lot to share.

And . . .

How do I find out if I would be eligible to teach in Peru for instance? I have an associates degree only. I have taught a little in a voluntary setting.

For Peru specifically contact Sharon – she is a bit of a Peru specialist – but she also knows Latin America well: naturegirl321 @ yahoo.com

You can tell her Ted Tucker sent you.

BUT – I would say that you can create your eligibility – you have eleven years with [a major international bank]? Teach Business English, teach Banking English, create a few courses, sell yourself to corporations, banks, etc as someone who knows business and Business English – see this page:
http://tefldaddy.com/Your_Special_Skills.htm

Yes, you are going to be limited by your two-year degree if you just go and search for any old regular English job, so focus on your Special Skills.

Start here: www.BusinessEnglishEbook.com — get that ebook and start to create a few courses for the specialties you already know. Go to a new country offering something (specialized knowledge and training) rather than going asking for something (a job).

Good luck! Go get what you want.

TED’s Tips™ #1: Most people have some sort of work history. You can CREATE a demand for your specific skills if you focus your job search in that area. Again see: Special Skills.

TED’s Tips™ #2: Search for a job OFFERING something: special skills, special knowledge or if nothing else flexibility and a willingness to adapt – rather than searching for a job just asking for a job.

What’s up in China? Learn what kind of jobs are on offer if would like to Teach English in China. I help place people in China – it is great fun – and you can start your career often at a higher level in China than you would in Korea or Taiwan.

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6 Comments

• 

  By Trevor Elliott, May 15, 2010 @ 1:18 AM

  Hi, yeah I was wondering about the Associates Degree as well, I have one that I received last year and to be honest I have no specific special area for work history, I’ve become a more Jack of All trades sort of guy (Though my main hobby is computers and IT). I’m only 25 and wondering where all I can teach English at? What countries accept just an AA and where is the best place to look for a job for those places?

• 

  By Ted, May 15, 2010 @ 7:30 AM

  Hi Trevor,
  Employers generally require what their country’s labor/immigration ministry requires. With the exception of Japan, there doesn’t seem to be a surplus of teachers anywhere, thus employers tend to ask for the minimum requirement allowed to obtain legal working papers for their foreign teachers. But labor departments tend to require a BA/BS degree or not. I am not aware of any country that would accept a two-year AA/AS degree as being comparable. Best bet: Cambodia and/or Indonesia. Get a TEFL certification to strengthen your hand. No degree, no TEFL cert – to an employer – just means another backpacker passing through who will have no commitment to their students. Get some training to separate yourself from the crowd.
  Enjoy!
  Ted

• 

  By Bernadette, June 20, 2010 @ 9:48 PM

  Hi,

  I’ve recently completed a Celta course and after gaining some experience here am seriously considering teaching abroad, in a country like Saudi Arabia, in order to earn and save some money.

  I was just wondering if there were any particular countries that you’ve taught in, where being an older woman (late forties) goes against you.

• 

  By Ted, June 21, 2010 @ 12:08 PM

  Being in your late 40s is not a problem anywhere I am know of. Once you hit mid 50s then some countries are a problem. But if you are looking for the Middle East and/or specifically Saudi Arabia – then you will find that they tend to prefer more mature teachers anyway. Females – in general – are also in great demand, almost everywhere as most the people heading abroad to teach English are males and some schools would like to balance their staffing between male and female and some schools just feel women are less trouble than men (be that true or not – I won’t comment!).
  I hope that helps.
  Enjoy!
  Ted

• 

  By darian, August 31, 2010 @ 3:01 PM

  Hi I am 20 years old and trying to figure out what to do with my life> REcently heard about teaching abroad and this is now my goal. Im about a semester away from my associates degree and was wondering whats the next best step i should do. My friend and I would like to do it together is that possible? Being that im only 20 I have no expierence in much. Although i do have alot of expierence working with special needs children could this be a plus?

• 

  By Ted, September 1, 2010 @ 11:02 AM

  Hi Darian,
  Probably the very best thing you can do is stay in college until you finish a bachelor’s degree. The world of TEFL for people without degrees does still exists but it is growing smaller by the day and year. And without that BA/BS you will always be at the bottom of the barrel. If you want to TEFL for a just a year to see if you like it – then get yourself an online certificate and go to somewhere like Cambodia where you can earn decent money and live well. But – rest assured – someday even Cambodia will be looking for a degree. I will likely make this a topic in the near future – thank you for the idea!
  Ted

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