Are English teachers getting credit crunched???!!!
Hello everybody,
Happy New year to you all! We hope that wherever you are, life is treating you well, and hopefully you are enjoying teaching English. In fact, what we would really like to know is how life is for English teachers in these times of economic crisis. Where are you teaching and do you feel secure in your job? Would you recommend that our CELTA or DELTA trainees head your way on completing their course, or is the credit crunch likely to catch up with them there? Do you think fewer people are studying English? Does the economic crisis encourage you to stay away from home, or do you feel it will force you back there?
A lot of questions I know, but we would really like to hear from our ex-trainees to see how the land lies for English teachers and to pass on any useful information to fellow professionals out there. This blog could also give you the chance to catch up with some of your ex-CELTA classmates too!
Bye for now.
The Teacher Training Team
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Marsha McDonald, Korea said,
January 28, 2009 @ 9:12 am
To current CELTA students: I urge you to consider Asia. Education is the last expenditure to vanish here. You WILL get work. But gone are the days when a teaching job here was a lark, or a way to finance a party lifestyle. Age is respected here, especially in Vietnam, Korea (though this is changing), and China, which is good news for mature grads. Your students and your student’s parents will expect a lot from you. But the people! I have a deep place in my heart for both the Spanish and the Korean people. Both cultures share a rich and blended history and a passion for life.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government is constantly looking for teachers. These are good jobs with good hours and include reimbursed airfare, healthcare, pension, and a modest place to live. If you are an American (can’t speak for other countries) you don’t pay (but do have to file!) US taxes, and receive your Korean tax monies and pension funds back after your stint. If you have a Masters as well as CELTA, you can teach in University writing centers and some smaller universities and private academies. Hagwons (Korean foreign language schools) are also an option.
You will not get rich, but you will save some. Currently the Korean won exchange: 10,000 won = 7.13USD, 5.50Euro, 5.17 British Pounds. The won has been hit hard by the crisis.
Calvin Shabb, Lebrija, Spain said,
February 12, 2009 @ 6:46 am
Hello to all the CELTA grads. I’m from Winchester, Virginia and I am a graduate of the June class of 2008 at International House Seville. I took the CELTA class to supplement my work with the Spanish government and for future TEFL jobs. I am working with a program called Grants for North American Language Assistants through the Spanish Ministry of Education which is not through a private academy. My friend Eric, who is a Finnish citizen, had the same luck.
Spain is experiencing a recession which now in its second quarter. Unemployment is now hovering around 14%. From my own experience and a friend’s, I don’t have encouraging news.
When I arrived last September I spent a month looking for a job in Seville and Jerez de la Frontera which is an hour and a half south of Seville by train, but had no luck. In part this is because I am not a citizen of the EU. However, when I approached an academy they said all positions were filled and they’d be in touch if anything came up.
My friend Eric came to stay with me and he is now in Madrid giving a few private classes. Eric stayed with my roommates and I for two months while he searched for jobs in Jerez and Seville. He has a Finnish passport and is from Colorado in the US. He had no luck and is now searching for work in Madrid. Through e-mails he has told me that work in an academy is hard to find right now in Madrid.
Hope I helped everyone get a bit of a picture of the situation here in Spain.
A good idea is to start the job search as early as possible. There are still places to be filled and so a thorough search is always the best bet. Anything else I can tell you, e-mail me.
Un saludo (best)
Calvin
Lisa Senecal, Istanbul, Turkey said,
April 2, 2009 @ 3:30 pm
Hey CELTA peops!!!
My name is Lisa Senecal, I took the CELTA with Calvin in June ‘08. I found a job at a summer camp in Sevilla for a couple of months and made just enough to live. Then, I found a job in Istanbul and started in October ‘08.
I am working for English Time. I don’t highly recommend it; it is more of a corporation than a school…but I have stayed because I really like the students. The money is pretty good, but the hours are very strange (am and pm…in a place where there is no siesta!!! How dare they?). A full time contract requires a minimum of 25 hours but you can work as many as you want…and you are paid by the hour.
I was very lucky to sign a contract in October when English Time was offering a bit more than they are now. But at the moment, a teacher can expect to start around 20 TL. I am making just a bit more…but there is also a housing allowance each month which does help (it is just under half of the cost of my rent, but if you share a place with friends it could totally cover the cost).
Istanbul is a vibrant city, and now that we are entering spring it is really coming alive!! The culture is enigmatic–so many contradictions and yet it makes so much sense. The food is fantastic! And like I said, Turkish students, although at times very lazy…are quite amazing. There is a serious respect and love for teaches. It does make me feel positive each day…I can honestly say I enjoy going to work each day!!
As far as prices and the cost of living in this city…teachers make more than enough to live comfortably. And again, since you decide how many hours you would like to work each week…most of it is up to you (at least at English Time).
And I hear that many other schools are looking for teachers…
I hope that this helps.
Good luck to all!!