Are there many mature (older) teachers out there?

I'm taking my weekend course in August and I'm older than you are. I am looking forward to getting started and even though doing some 9 month to a year placement is out for me...I have responsibilities you know.....I am looking forward to helping some local people learn better English so they can get better jobs and have a better chance at passing their citizenship tests. I'm also planning short trips, say up to 6 weeks, in new places again to help people learn English so they can have better lives.

Being 'mature' I think will help me find work. Employers dont have to worry that I'll meet some young stud and run off and get married. I also wont have the homesick problems.....I left home a long time ago and I live in a different country than where I was born. Living someplace else is no big deal...I have learned to make my fav foods from scratch, what else do I need?

Use your age to your advantage and go for it. Do this for you not someone else. I mean, really, when was the last time you did something for you? This is a great job opportunity and you have so much more to offer than just English.

I'm taking my weekend course in August and I'm older than you are. I am looking forward to getting started and even though doing some 9 month to a year placement is out for me...I have responsibilities you know.....I am looking forward to helping some local people learn better English so they can get better jobs and have a better chance at passing their citizenship tests. I'm also planning short trips, say up to 6 weeks, in new places again to help people learn English so they can have better lives.

Being 'mature' I think will help me find work. Employers dont have to worry that I'll meet some young stud and run off and get married. I also wont have the homesick problems.....I left home a long time ago and I live in a different country than where I was born. Living someplace else is no big deal...I have learned to make my fav foods from scratch, what else do I need?

Use your age to your advantage and go for it. Do this for you not someone else. I mean, really, when was the last time you did something for you? This is a great job opportunity and you have so much more to offer than just English.

Thanks for that. It's really helpful to know :).

Sheridan,  I would suggest the highest course you can afford to take both time wise and financially.  The more practice and education you get, the better.  Most places prefer 100 hours or more of course work, especially if you tell them you have an online certificate.  Since the online course thing is fairly new many places in certain countries haven't adapted to it yet and do not know of the quality of the difference courses.  And depending on the country/countries you want to work in will also have an effect on what course you should take. :)

Good luck!!

Thanks guys for the comments. I'm definately going to sign up to do a course but I'm not sure which one yet. Hopefully this time next year I will be teaching in another country. It's so exciting to think this is possible! 

Hi,

Don't worry about it, I'm 52 and happily living and working in China.

Many of the Uni's, schools prefer a more 'mature' approach to the students and believe that an older person has more to offer (life experiences) than his younger counterparts. As long as you are still energetic and fairly fit then no problem! I work with many other teachers, young and old, we all get on fine with the students and with each other. Age limit here is 60.

MadGee

Of course there is. I am currently in Japan and one of the ALTs who also teaches in the same city as me is 34.

When I did the i-to-i weekend course most people were 30+ and one person was retired.

When I did my induction here in Japan the eldest was 39 (there was only 17 of us but in Tokyo they have about 200 people for the induction)

Asia and Africa seem to be the main places the maturer people go but some also go to Italy and France. These countries are hard to get into because teaching contracts are short which is why maturer people take them on because they are considered more reliant and its easier for them to get a job over a young person.

some countries do have an age limit but that is normally due to the visa regulations

so you will fine...go for it...