Last year (after about 2 years of considerng wheter I should or shouldn't) I finally did a TEFL course. After alot of work (and procraastination) I finaly got my certificates to teach. After I started applying for work and in September I started a job in Spain. So here I am until June. The thing is, I now find myself at a crossroads, I don't have a degree and it seems for nearly everything I apply for (for when my contract is up) that I need a degree, good knowledge of their language annd/or 2-3years teaching experience. It's not an option to go back to Ireland and do a degree as I simply can't afford it. The only way I can do a degree course in another country is through transfer from an Irish college (which as stated before I can't do in the first place). I will only have 1 school year of expierience when I finish and will need to find some work in summer and for the next school year.
I'd love to go to Japan but that really doesn't seem to be an option without a formal degree and/or alot of money to take enough time off and look there.
So my question to anyone who reads this is (as the title reads) what should I do??!
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I always found things by Googling "TEFL jobs in _________" as this always brought up whatever country I put in the blank allowing me to weed through countries I didn't want to bother with. I personally hardly had good results from Dave's but most people do. I was looking for jobs in not-so-common countries.
Good luck!
Well that's great news! If you could direct me towards some of these job listings I'd be most grateful!
Actually, most of China you don't need a degree. That's one reason why i-to-i promotes China and other Asian countries as degrees normally aren't needed. I find job listings all the time in countries around the world where degrees aren't needed.
I believe most of China need a degree, doesn't seem to be an option to renew the contract at the mo and I can't wait till I'm out of a job to see.
Honestly, it is all in what country/countries you wish to work. Japan seems to require a degree or x-amount of experience. Some countries will accept a TEFL certificate and nothing else. Some want a degree in anything, normally for visa requirements, and maybe a formal TEFL course i.e. i-to-i.
If you managed a job in Spain, that is a decent accomplishment. From my understanding, Spanish schools can be a bit picky. First you have to have an EU passport, something us Americans cannot get. Without an EU passport we have to have a degree minimum. So being in Spain means you could probably work in Italy, France, Germany, and probably most of Central Europe.
I would honestly just rummage through the Job Boards online and look for various options with what you'll have when your contract ends. If you don't mind where you go, then just post a map on a wall and throw a dart. See if there are schools in that country that would hire you and go for it!!
Good luck!
PS: Don't be discouraged! I don't have a degree. I am in Belgrade, Serbia. However, for me to get into the schools I want to teach in.. mostly high schools and colleges I have to finish my degree, which will luckily be in July. I'll need the hirer paying schools to pay back my student loans. American colleges are just too outlandishly priced. 4000EUR is an awesome price. But I do understand not having it.
I am only just completing the TEFL course, and when I read through some of the requirements to be able to teach in a foreign country i.e the degree!! it freaked me out, the way this course was put across to me was once finished I would then have the cert to go and teach. . I wish they would have told me that I would also reqiure a degree as well, I loooked into it and it will cost around £4000 to do it and take about 1 year!!! Which by the time its done I will have forgotten most of what the course has taught me. . I dont know what to do now either. . If you find anything out, could I be a pest and ask you to let me know. . Thank you and kind regards Jason
What about China? I don't think they require a degree or can you re-new your contract in Spain?
I'd love to go to Japan and if 2 years expierence elsewhere gets me there that's great. I don't mind where I go at the moment as long as I'm safe, healthy and I have some work.
Did you just want to try and find a job in Japan? Or would you be willing to go somewhere else for another year, giving you two years experience and then perhaps you could go to Japan?
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