Teaching ESL

altzilla

I've always wanted to try teaching abroad, and I have quite a bit of experience working with both kids and at risk youth, but I lack a degree because of one sob story or another. Now, I know that some ESL recruiters these days don't necessarily require a degree, though from what research I've done that tends to equal more hours for less pay. Does anyone know if some of the better quality places that normally only recruit people with a bachelors will take someone without a degree if they've got a year or two of ESL experience? As in, work for one of the lower paying companies for a while, get some experience, and then trade up? Thanks for any input!

MagicToaster

What country do you have in mind? Do you speak any other languages?

DAKBARBER

Hello,

I teach in South Korea. Usually they only accept people with at least a bachelors. But you said you have at least a year's experience. That will help.

Do you mind saying your age? Gender? Ethnicity? Unfortunately these things matter.

Do you have any TEFL qualifications? A CELTA will help you a lot.

Having connections in the country you want to teach will help as well. Having a bachelors is no substitute for having experience. Which you have. By my logic that would make you considered for a job. Unfortunately recruiters in South Korea do not always follow that logic. I've also heard that the Ministry of Education makes it a legal requirement to have a bachelors. So, you could get work at a hagwon but you'd run the risk of being deported if they found out. You'd have to come over on a tourist visa and keep getting it renewed whilst being paid under the table.

Teaching anywhere in Asia will require a really good photo. Being young and attractive will help a lot. A lot of jobs now require an introduction video. If you have any videos of you teaching that will be really useful as well.

You will struggle to get decent jobs without a bachelors. But it can be done.

A quick use of google-fu suggests Indonesia as a good place without a bachelors. There are jobs in China as well.

Good luck. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

chickenscometoroost

I can't promise anything, but when I was teaching in Hong Kong I was swamped with offers from various other secondary and primary schools: the impression I got from speaking with these other schools as well as my own employers were that English teaching jobs in Hong Kong are in high demand and very easy to pick up if you have teaching experience and are a native speaker. Sorry I can't give you any specific names, but if you look around sites like ESLCafe.com you should be able to find something.

Also, and this is COMPLETELY absurd, but I had a friend from Germany who ended up with a job teaching English (a language she's only mildly skilled with) in Central China simply because she was a pretty white girl. Depending on your ethnicity, physical appearance and willingness to work for less-than-reputable tutoring services in mainland China, well, you might have some options open.