Comments on: Why TEFL Newbie? http://www.teflnewbie.com Tips for Teaching English Abroad Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:38:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ted http://www.teflnewbie.com/why-read-tefl-newbie/comment-page-1/#comment-8047 Ted Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:30:41 +0000 http://www.tefldaddy.com/teflnewbie/?page_id=6#comment-8047 Hi Jim, You might also want to take a very good look at the first tier international schools where your previous experience (and math skills) will be highly valued. You would earn much more money, work fewer hours, get better vacations and benefits. Take a look at www.ISS.edu Put all that experience and education to work! If you wish to do only EFL then with a good TEFL cert, you will be valuable anywhere, but you might want to look more at university and college positions where your age will be an advantage as will your previous experience. Go get 'em! Ted Hi Jim,
You might also want to take a very good look at the first tier international schools where your previous experience (and math skills) will be highly valued. You would earn much more money, work fewer hours, get better vacations and benefits. Take a look at http://www.ISS.edu Put all that experience and education to work!
If you wish to do only EFL then with a good TEFL cert, you will be valuable anywhere, but you might want to look more at university and college positions where your age will be an advantage as will your previous experience.
Go get ‘em!
Ted

]]> By: Jim D http://www.teflnewbie.com/why-read-tefl-newbie/comment-page-1/#comment-7996 Jim D Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:29:50 +0000 http://www.tefldaddy.com/teflnewbie/?page_id=6#comment-7996 Hi, Ted. I have been browsing ESL sites most of the evening and I am so glad that I stumbled upon yours! I really enjoy your from-the-heart, from-experience, insights. I have an MS in secondary education, over 15 years experience teaching math and social studies at the secondary level, and I have been deployed to Afghanistan where I worked on a literacy project. I really have the itch to get back into the classroom, but without question, I want to do it overseas and see more of the world. I am going to get my TESL certificate at a satellite campus of the U of Texas and then start pursuing my dream. My first act of "narrowing down" to appealing locations has me thinking of: Thailand, Vietnam, Poland, and Czech Republic, but open to other considerations as I continue my research. Any comments, thoughts, suggestions about those locations as well as how I would fare in the competition for quality jobs, given my credentials? Thanks Ted! Jim Hi, Ted. I have been browsing ESL sites most of the evening and I am so glad that I stumbled upon yours! I really enjoy your from-the-heart, from-experience, insights. I have an MS in secondary education, over 15 years experience teaching math and social studies at the secondary level, and I have been deployed to Afghanistan where I worked on a literacy project.
I really have the itch to get back into the classroom, but without question, I want to do it overseas and see more of the world. I am going to get my TESL certificate at a satellite campus of the U of Texas and then start pursuing my dream. My first act of “narrowing down” to appealing locations has me thinking of: Thailand, Vietnam, Poland, and Czech Republic, but open to other considerations as I continue my research.
Any comments, thoughts, suggestions about those locations as well as how I would fare in the competition for quality jobs, given my credentials?
Thanks Ted!
Jim

]]> By: Ted http://www.teflnewbie.com/why-read-tefl-newbie/comment-page-1/#comment-6355 Ted Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:24:39 +0000 http://www.tefldaddy.com/teflnewbie/?page_id=6#comment-6355 Hello M Meyer, A few countries do require a certain passport to issue legal working papers for an English teacher, but not many (Korea and Indonesia are examples). China, Thailand and Japan don't require a specific passport and those are three of the four largest employers of EFL teachers. It is an issue, but once you have some experience on your resume it will become less of an issue. I hope that helps. Ted Hello M Meyer,
A few countries do require a certain passport to issue legal working papers for an English teacher, but not many (Korea and Indonesia are examples). China, Thailand and Japan don’t require a specific passport and those are three of the four largest employers of EFL teachers. It is an issue, but once you have some experience on your resume it will become less of an issue.
I hope that helps.
Ted

]]> By: M_Meyer http://www.teflnewbie.com/why-read-tefl-newbie/comment-page-1/#comment-6321 M_Meyer Wed, 07 Dec 2011 07:45:43 +0000 http://www.tefldaddy.com/teflnewbie/?page_id=6#comment-6321 Hello Ted, I just discovered your site as I browsed through teaching opportunities abroad. Just wondering though, what is the prospect of a citizen of a non English speaking country to work as a TEFL teacher? You mentioned in an answer to Kate that some countries based their hiring decision on passport. I graduated from an American University, but I am not a citizen of any English speaking country, so I was wondering if this is a field I want to consider. Hello Ted,

I just discovered your site as I browsed through teaching opportunities abroad. Just wondering though, what is the prospect of a citizen of a non English speaking country to work as a TEFL teacher? You mentioned in an answer to Kate that some countries based their hiring decision on passport.

I graduated from an American University, but I am not a citizen of any English speaking country, so I was wondering if this is a field I want to consider.

]]> By: Ted http://www.teflnewbie.com/why-read-tefl-newbie/comment-page-1/#comment-4001 Ted Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:55:41 +0000 http://www.tefldaddy.com/teflnewbie/?page_id=6#comment-4001 Hi Andrew, What you are finding out is that - it is a GREAT jobs market out there for teachers. HUGE. The jobs you are finding sound about right. There is great demand. Realize that when a school advertises they will pay 5000-9000RMB, what they really mean is they will pay 5000! Maybe 5500. Graduate degree and ten years experience then maybe 7000. So - don't put too much stock in it. It costs nothing to interview and when you interview you can get a feel of the employer and if they seem real or not. My opinion after only 20 years overseas is that the incidence of "scams" is highly overrated. Be careful, of course, and if someone offers you five times what everyone else pays - then you should perhaps wonder, but otherwise it is a pretty solid market. I hope that helps. Ted Hi Andrew,
What you are finding out is that – it is a GREAT jobs market out there for teachers. HUGE. The jobs you are finding sound about right. There is great demand. Realize that when a school advertises they will pay 5000-9000RMB, what they really mean is they will pay 5000! Maybe 5500. Graduate degree and ten years experience then maybe 7000. So – don’t put too much stock in it. It costs nothing to interview and when you interview you can get a feel of the employer and if they seem real or not. My opinion after only 20 years overseas is that the incidence of “scams” is highly overrated. Be careful, of course, and if someone offers you five times what everyone else pays – then you should perhaps wonder, but otherwise it is a pretty solid market.
I hope that helps.
Ted

]]> By: Andrew http://www.teflnewbie.com/why-read-tefl-newbie/comment-page-1/#comment-3999 Andrew Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:29:12 +0000 http://www.tefldaddy.com/teflnewbie/?page_id=6#comment-3999 Thanks for the response Ted. Well I did happen to find a posting for a chemistry teacher at the Shanghai World Foreign Language Middle School but saw no indication of pay/accommodations etc. The only stated requirement was having a college degree in chemistry. Does this seem legit? To be honest I am a little overwhelmed by the sheer volume of positions in S. Korea, China, and Japan. The job market situation appears to be the inverse of what the market for chemists here in the USA (few jobs for chemists, many jobs for foreign teachers in Asia). In the postings for positions in China I am surprised by the sheer volume of listings and by the often times scant requirements (ie no degree w/1yr exp, a degree w/no exp, no TEFL required) and sometimes the offers seem a little to good to be true. For instance the ****** Company has a posting in Beijing for 5000-9000RMB/month, housing, airfare, Mandarin lessons, free visa, and free TEFL certification. I have seen several positions with similar promises. Are these too good to be true? Thanks for the response Ted. Well I did happen to find a posting for a chemistry teacher at the Shanghai World Foreign Language Middle School but saw no indication of pay/accommodations etc. The only stated requirement was having a college degree in chemistry. Does this seem legit?
To be honest I am a little overwhelmed by the sheer volume of positions in S. Korea, China, and Japan. The job market situation appears to be the inverse of what the market for chemists here in the USA (few jobs for chemists, many jobs for foreign teachers in Asia). In the postings for positions in China I am surprised by the sheer volume of listings and by the often times scant requirements (ie no degree w/1yr exp, a degree w/no exp, no TEFL required) and sometimes the offers seem a little to good to be true.
For instance the ****** Company has a posting in Beijing for 5000-9000RMB/month, housing, airfare, Mandarin lessons, free visa, and free TEFL certification. I have seen several positions with similar promises. Are these too good to be true?

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