New to teaching or getting burned out? Being a teacher overseas can be exciting and rewarding but there can be problems. Poor organization, no texts, no resources, lack of school organization, curriculum or even schedules can be overcomed.
The secret weapons of the TESOL job hunt:
- good preparation
- effective organization
- flexibility
- a sense of humour
Preparation
Consider getting TESOL qualification. Courses are available online, through distance learning, residential overseas programs, or traditional means of study in your country. Although no formal teacher certification is often required to teach overseas, taking a course is definitely going to make your life much easier. Choose a course based on a minimum 100 hours training and at least six hours supervised practice teaching.
Before committing to any course, find out how it’s regarded both by TESOL practitioners and potential employers. Research now can save you problems later. Go to some online ESL employment sites to check what qualifications employers require. See if there is any advice by teachers about good or bad courses. Talk with former students in the course.
After you’ve completed your qualifications and are ready to find a job, go with Footprints. You will have the assurance that you will be supported for the year and you know that they have a track record with that school and that they have done what they can to make sure the opportunity is safe and reputable... hopefully obviating some of the headaches you may encounter elsewhere at other schools. If you want to teach in a country where Footprints doesn't have opportunities, consider getting a year under your belt where Footprints has a stronghold and then ask your Footprints Placement Coordinator for information on jobs in the country you were initially interested in. Footprints offers special alumni placement services to their alumni which means you could get a second year placement in the country you first wanted to go to.
Once you know what country you want to teach in you need to consider your audience.
Are you best at teaching adults or kids or do you want to teach students of all ages?
Do you want to work 5 days a week, mornings or afternoons, are you interested in split shifts, longer holidays, shorter working days. Perhaps working more traditional hours, even with a lower salary, is more important for you. Do you want a salary at all?
Organization
Once you’ve thought over the possibilities, make sure your resume is current and line up some references. It is best to get these letters of reference scanned. Reduce the size of the scans and images so that when you email them they are relatively small.
Make sure you have the following prepared:
- a current resume - highlighting all teaching experience you have. Make sure there are NO SPELLING MISTAKES.
A valid email address and telephone number are necessary so potential employers can contact you. To avoid confusion, leave a summary of the positions you applied for by the phone with a pen for note-jotting.
Don’t stop researching just because you’ve sent out a heap of job applications.
Keep visiting the ESL sites, browsing current jobs, reading, and making posts. Ask questions about your potential employers and try to establish a network with other teachers, particularly those who live where you would like to go. Read as much as you can about places you want to visit and the people you will meet.
Accommodations: Free of charge or how much? Will you have to share? Are utilities extra? Is there access to the Internet? Are linen/furniture/drinking water/kitchen utensils/cooking and washing facilities included?
Teaching: What are your hours? What is the normal salary and overtime rate? What are your duties? What resources does the school have? Is there a set curriculum or will you have to create your own? How many pupils are in each class? What educational equipment will be available? What free days will you have?
You’ll probably have many more questions, gleaned from your preparation. Make sure you have the email address of an employee at the school whose job is to answer your questions. Ask for the email address of a TESOL teacher already working there who can answer different questions, such as ones about living and working conditions. Do an Internet search on the school and town. Invest your time and energy now to avoid possible problems later.
Flexibility
Good preparation and organization can manage about 90 percent of the details of your job. Flexibility is needed for the remaining 10 percent. There will be surprises.
Being flexible means you continue until you find a compromise or solution. Perhaps you contact your network, asking for ideas. Make an appointment to see your principal with a bilingual staff member. Ask colleagues about a local solution to your problem. If all else fails, extricate yourself from an impossible situation gracefully.
Sense of Humor
A well-developed sense of humor is your suit of armor.
A quick note- if you can be friendly with your students over the inconsistencies of the English language, you’ll be one step closer to understanding them.
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“Thank you so much for all of your hard work :) I am truly happy in Daejeon. My schools are amazing, and I honestly couldn't ask for more. I really appreciate all of the work that went into me being apart of Daejeon MOE. Based on the circumstances, it was pretty difficult managing things, and I am happy we were all able to make it work together.”
