Don't we have some DUers who have been ESL instructors abroad?

Shakespeare

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Thu Oct-05-06 02:20 PM
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Don't we have some DUers who have been ESL instructors abroad?

I'm considering pursuing this in the next year or so, and would dearly appreciate any comment/advice/anecdotes.

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philosophie_en_rose

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Thu Oct-05-06 02:28 PM
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1. I had some friends that went to Japan to teach English with Nova.

It doesn't take much training, and they told me that Nova likes it best if you actually don't know much about Japan. That's because they advertise interacting with someone from an English-speaking culture, and apparently aren't impressed with wannabe-Japanese applicants.

It's affordable, if you live simply. Japan is an interesting place to live, to say the least.

Whatever you do, read the contract carefully and get as much information as possible. The pros and cons of the big companies are all over the internet, but working for a shady little company in the middle of nowhere has the risk of the unknown.

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Shakespeare

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Thu Oct-05-06 04:25 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. I'm hoping to go somewhere in Asia.

Probably not Japan, though, as it highest the highest cost of living (aside from maybe Singapore); one reason I want to do this is to be able to travel around the continent while I'm over there, and the more of my income I have available to do that, the better. I certainly intend to visit Japan, though!

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LostinVA

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Thu Oct-05-06 04:35 PM
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3. Try JET if you're under 30

Top notch -- I had a friend who was in the first group who ever did it.

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MrCoffee

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Thu Oct-05-06 04:41 PM
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4. I very seriously considered Beijing for a year...

MrsCoffee is conversant in Mandarin, and we really considered going for a year. It's one of my very short list of regrets of things i didn't do pre-kid.

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Shakespeare

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Thu Oct-05-06 05:31 PM
Response to Reply #4

5. I'm at one of those now-or-never points, and I think I'm going for it.

I have an MA in English, and have taught before (but not ESL). I'm looking at a couple of certification courses, and will probably enroll sometime after the first of the year. I may be Asia-bound by this time next year...

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MrCoffee

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Thu Oct-05-06 05:41 PM
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6. FWIW, i say go for it.

We researched it and even took an exploratory trip to Beijing. We met some people there who had been teaching conversational classes for TOEFL students, and not one of them had anything negative to say about the experience.

Like I said, it's one of my *very* few regrets.

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Shakespeare

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Fri Oct-06-06 12:23 AM
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7. A little late night/overnight kick.... n/t

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Shakespeare

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Sat Oct-07-06 03:20 PM
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8. And, one weekend kick. n/t

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EFerrari

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Sat Oct-07-06 04:14 PM
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9. One of my favorite friends went to teach in Honduras.

He taught rich people's kids and basically had to live in a secure compound. The money was good and he had very few expenses.

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