Looking for work - TESOL, TEFL

On June 14 I received my certification from Oxford Seminars to Teach English to Speakers of other Languages (TESOL) / Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). In some areas it is referred to as TESL (teach English as a Second Language) and others TELL (Teach English Language Learners). Regardless of the semantics employed, it is teaching a person English whose native language is not English.

Now that I have my certification, it is time to find a job somewhere in the world to use it. In the Western Hemisphere my interest lies in Brasil / Brazil, Chile and Ecuador. Since I now am partially fluent in Portuguese and Spanish, any of these countries would allow me to make a living and improve my existing language skills. I already know that I adore Brasil so it tops my list. I have spent some time in Ecuador working (legal work) but have never visited Chile.

If I don't go to South America, then I am looking at (in no particular order): Russia, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong and countries in the Middle East. Any of these would be new experiences for me, different cultures and languages than I have previously truly experienced. Yes I have eaten at Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Russian, etc restaurants and know people from these countries BUT it isn't the same as visiting the countries first hand.

Finding information on jobs in South Korea, Japan, China and Taiwan is easy. There in fact may be too many listings so it makes it hard to decide which ones to apply. I'm sure some are bogus.

Finding information on TESOL jobs in Brasil, Chile and Ecuador are more daunting. The jobs are there but the information about them isn't! I really want to have a job lined-up before I leave the country although I believe it when people tell me - just go and you'll have no problem finding a job. Oxford Seminars also has a job placement assistance service but I am hoping to find this first job without using it. Then I could use their service should I need it next year. They guarantee to find you a job BUT they cannot guarantee where it will be. So I am looking online.

IF you read this and know of a TESOL job in one of the countries I have listed, especially Brasil, Chile or Ecuador, leave me a comment please or email me at [ esl (at) timnew dot com ] I spell it out so all the net robots won't start spamming the account :)

Thanks

PS: I spelled Brasil with an "s" on purpose; it is how the country spells its name.

Moving across the border

Teaching English as a Foreign Language or a second language -

A week from now I should be in Cuidad Miguel Alemán. I am moving there next week to teach English to a group of Second Grade children. I have substitute taught the past 2 years at the local elementary school here (Junction City Arkansas - Louisiana). But this will be a new experience (pun intended). No not the Spanish language environment. I have visited and even worked for short periods of time in countries that spoke Spanish or Portuguese. This will be the first time where I was primarily responsible for each day. As a substitute I simply take what the teacher has prepared and it is my job to execute it - in other words I teach what the regular teacher says I should that day.

Starting on January 7 it will be my responsibility to design and prepare each days work. This will be a new challenge. The fact it will be children who are learning a foreign language simply adds a dimension to the challenge. I have already been gathering a variety of "tools" to assist me. These range from Sight Word materials to workbooks and such that have additional phonetic theme work I can copy and use with the children.

One thing I learned as a substitute was that having "fill" material is important. Dead time is not good. Even the best of children with nothing to do will invariably start disrupting the class. Being in a position to give them material that will help them learn the concept we are studying is a goal of mine. A second thing I learned was "be flexible" Some days we will not accomplish everything on the plan. It is more important that the children learn the concepts than that I adhere rigidly to a schedule. And each child will learn at a different pace.

My first challenge on Monday, January 7, 2008 will be learning where each child presently is in their knowledge of English (and grammar in general). And to learn each child's name. It will be important for me to get off on a good relationship with each child. Even as I type this I am thinking of ways to accomplish these goals.

Between now and next Friday, I will be reviewing material and studying Spanish. I know some Spanish but most of it is at the outer reaches of my brain lying in the murky shadows. In other words, I haven't used it and as a result it takes time to recall. I need to expose myself to what I already know to get it familiar again and learn more. I will be teaching English but I want to learn Spanish and gain fluency.

I hope to update this blog weekly if not daily from Cuidad Miguel Alemán. Feel free to drop in and leave any comments. This will be a learning experience for all.