BootsnAll Travel Community

Has anyone experience with this dilemma? The dilemma of about to graduate from university and wondering if it is really a good idea to go to the interview you set up with Nova to teach in Japan? Or, wondering if they should actually sign the contract to teach kindergarten in Taiwan for a whole year?

Has anyone ever done ESL in Japan, or Taiwan? I know other people around this discussion have had some experience with ESL jobs, you know who you are, did you expect a work/travel experience and end up with a whole bunch of work in an expensive foreign land? These questions haunt my post graduate prospects.....

Imagine if you could start teaching High School Social Studies the fall after you graduate here in the U.S would you teach ESL? If you ESL teachers/once teachers/or others, had the opportunity to start a career or do ESL for a few years , think back to the days when you were 24, or forwards if you can, what should have you done at this time, or future time...carer oF esl? On the flip side, were you happy with what you did? Or would have done, or would do? To travel/work for awhile or to start working. Does life stop at 26? Confused? Me too....any insight? Thanks....

Travis

Nothing to add. Just hope to hear the answer myself.

D

Much like piecar i'm anticipating the anwser to your questions. I am 21 about to start a TESOL course so that next year I can go teach english (hopefully in China) but i'm not sure if i'm doing the right thing I would love to hear from anyone who has done it and what they thought of the experiance. Also where are the best places to go?

I can tell you this - there are lots of ESL teaching opportunities here in Taiwan.

Peace, We have a great Working Abroad forum that discusses teaching in foreign countries.

I've always wanted to, and some day will, teach English abroad one day. However, I am pretty sure I will never sign a one year contract. I've heard the horror stories. I'd rather not teach English to corporates but to kids and I've found in my research that it's the corporate ones that tie you in to a contract.

TEFL Section has some good tips from people

We've also developed TEFL interviews which will hopefully add more light to the subject!

Court

Thank you court, I just didnt find my answeres to the questions I had on the TEFL page. The TEFL page was helpful in selecting a possible degree to buy, thats for sure. But if people could please chime in on there experiences and advice I would appriciate it!

BootsnAll Blogs have a few teachers...check out the Asia-based ones and see if they have something that can help!

Thanks, I will try that court.

To TEFL or not to TEFL, that is the question.

A website that was set up to answer a lot of newbie questions is TEFL Daddy

The website has about 95 of the most commonly asked questions answered by a former Peace Corps Volunteer - and experienced EFL teacher who has taught in Korea, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand.

It is worth a look.

someone posted a link to eslcafe.com not long ago; the forums there are pretty helpful.

Heres a tip.

If you have a real teaching degree, and you get a few years under your belt, you'll be miles ahead of the people with TefL degrees just out of college.

You'll get placements in real schools, with real employment packages. It'll be a civilised job, instead of hunting for schools that won't rip you off.

If you feel you must go now, by all means, go. You will find a job. Otherwise, waiting a few years can't hurt your chances overseas at all.
It vastly opens up your volunteering opportunities, for one, giving you berths in responsible and choosy organisations.

SAP - there are a lot of of jobs in Japan and Taiwan, and Dave's ESL Cafe is pretty helpful, check out the forums. Are you getting a CELTA, TESL certificate, MA in TESOL?

Anyway, I have funded my time abroad in Korea teaching English, and have had no certificate. It may have been easier to find a job at an institution, but there are still so many jobs available. I know of people, who are not native English speakers, who have taught for years in Taiwan, without any certificate. But, times probably have changed.

Currently, I am obtaining my teaching credential and want to teach in US high schools for a few years before I make my way out to Europe or somewhere else. I had considered teaching English as a way to finance it, but for me and where I am in life -- it's not what I want to do. So I am willing to wait a few years.

I'd consider what everyone else has said. If you just want to go abroad, then go. But don't sign your contract w/o reading it.

Good luck!