BootsnAll Travel Community

Hello all,

I've been cruising a few TEFL sites, and there seems to be plenty of opportunities in SE Asia, but I"m not really interested in SE Asia right now.

However, I am interested in the ME, but all the jobs seem to be in Saudia Arabia and the UAE. Do any of you know if it's possible to get TEFL work in Iran, Syria, Jordan, or Turkey? I'm most interested in Iran, but any of those countries would be great.

Oh, just to let you know...I"m not certified, and I don't have a BA. Since I"m an old fart (32) and have to work for a living, it'd take me at least 4 or 5 years and thousands of dollars to get a degree, so I don't think that's an option. Is it possible to teach with just a certification? Also, it seems most Asian countries require a BA. If you don't have a BA but have experience could you work there, or does the experience not matter?

Thanks!

I'm not particularly knowledgeable about working in the Middle East, but my impression is...

of the countries you mention, I'd expect the most abundant efl work to be had in Turkey. I have heard that there is a lot of interest in standardized English testing - specifically IELTS but possibly others as well (toefl, cambridge, etc.)- in Iran. However it would just surprise me if it's any easier to work there than to travel there.

As for a degree - in general/worldwide, some schools want it to meet work permit requirements, others just want it and with a large pool of applicants they feel like they can just make it a criteria. I think in countries where it is not legally required for work permit purposes, experience would certainly help, but I don't think there are many lists/methods of keeping track of which countries don't require a degree, so it's more a matter of looking specifically at and perhaps getting in contact with school in the place you'd like to work in.

It's a guess but I'd suspect that in countries where native speaker teachers are less of a tradition, more qualifications tend to be required. It's my impression that many jobs - at least in proportion to jobs elsewhere - that exist in the Middle East prefer a Master's Degree even from teachers with experience, a tefl certificate and a BA.

I think there are teachers who work without the correct authorization in Turkey - but aside from the fact that it's basically violating the law, it also leaves teachers quite open to exploitation in the form of getting paid late, not getting paid the full salary, pressed to work more than they'd like, etc.

This site gives a good rundown of regulations in Asia, which may include some countries which don't require a degree and, if you find that schools in the countries you're interested in would accept experience in lieu of a degree, it could be a place to start (though I'd still say it's wise to get a tefl certificate first). I also think it couldn't hurt to get in contact with individuals in the countries you are looking at by contacting schools and such.

It does strike me of course that going to all this trouble - working in another region for a year or more to gain experience, etc. - may be a bit much if your main goal is to experience the culture there. I wouldn't say it's impossible - especially in Turkey (and I don't know much about efl the other countries) - but it might be an uphill battle.

Thanks for the response maam.

Yeah, I reckon it would be a huge uphill battle. Blah! Ah well, I'll just have to realize it ain't gonna happen and forget about it

I'm sorry if I sounded too discouraging. I think it's a possibility but there would be a lot of work involved - and you'd have to look into the specific regulations in each country.

And oh man, you called me maam?

Would you like it better if I called you sir? (duly noted, will not refer to you as maam ever again!!)

However, things may not be so discouraging. I don't want to give away too much yet (it's just a remote possibility at this point) but I've heard that there are plenty of opportunities for native English speakers in Iran. I will post more when I find out more.

I'm not sure how things are now, but when I was in Turkey a friend of mine got a pretty good job with a CELTA and no BA. His only other academic qualification was a GED from the State of California, Department of Corrections.