Teaching the world, growing as a writer...

[christicehurst]

I'm a young 21 year old writer and I believe teaching overseas would be the best thing for me in my life. I love to travel and see other cultures and write about the experinces. I''m also good with children as they always like to come up and chat to me for some reason lol.

I'm in Australia at the moment and only have the Year 12 Cert. I've never gone to Uni and problem is it would take years before I can actually get to go overseas be around the age of 27 before I get something in return.

I have been looking at Global TESOL which has been changed to Australian Training Academy TESOL. I don't mind getting getting top dollar for my wages and as the Aussies here know, being paid compared to Youth Allowance or Austudy would be better then anything.

Can it be done where I can do a TESOL Cert and work in different countries? If I do want to see other countries, I could just take a week holiday there (Eg: Teaching in China, let's take a few days off holidaying in Japan!). My main focus in my project is to teach people, experince the culture and get a decent wage where I can just feed myself and be able to go out and see things.

I need everyone's thoughts and ideas together and help me to decide what is the best path for me. Is Australian Training Academy TESOL the best way to do it? Could I build my teaching experince in China and use that teaching expereince to gain access to other countries?

That's all from me now but please dfo comment and give ideas/help etc.

Cheers

Chris Ticehurst

[english grammar man]

Welcome Chris!

Originally Posted by christicehurst

I'm in Australia at the moment and only have the Year 12 Cert. I've never gone to Uni and problem is it would take years before I can actually get to go overseas be around the age of 27 before I get something in return.

Not having a university degree will close many doors for you. Many of the countries in Asia require a mniimum Bachelor degree in order to be granted a work visa. If you want to teach in China, then you can get away without having a Bachelor degree. However, you will get better money with a university degree.

You could always head to China now and teach, whilst completing correspondence studies with a university. That way you can experience the thrill of living overseas, and at the same time attain your university degree. However, I don't think this will suit you as you mentioned you want to enjoy life, travel and have fun. Studying full-time wont allow much time for playing.

So which is more important to you? Enjoying today, and being content with the fact that many doors will be closed, OR studying today, with the goal to enjoy tomorrow with more money?? Sure, I can tell you which course of direction to take, but you need to consider your own objectives, as everyone is different.

If you want to enjoy today, then I suggest either Australian Training Academy TESOL or the weekend TEFL courses by i-to-i.

This is the bare minimum for someone that wants to teach abroad yet doesn't hold a Bachelor's degree.

Apart from teaching in China, am sure you would be interested in teaching in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. All close proximity to China, yet totally different cultures and experiences. I would forget trying to teach in Japan, Korea, Taiwan or Hong Kong, as a Bachelor's degree is required.

[english grammar man]

On a further note, as you don't have a uni degree, you may consider doing a longer 4-week TESL course. Will look better on your resume than just having a 2-day weekend course.

[christicehurst]

Could it be possible to really do a correspondence study with a university. I think personally I would love to have the option to teach in different countries. I think the mere fact that being in another country would be big enough for me!

Is it possible and what way would people take if you were in my shoes?

[english grammar man]

Possible to study via correspondence, however very difficult. Uni's make a lot of money from correspondence students that enrol in a few subjects and then quit without ever graduating.

You need to be dedicated and sacrifice your free time to study.

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't do correspondence studies in another country. I would enrol in a local uni and complete your 3 years of study before heading abroad. During your uni holidays (quite lengthy at times), I would head abroad to teach for a few months.

[christicehurst]

Doing the uni degree would be tough but also be good for my future. Does becoming a Undergraduate student getting my first degree would be the best way and if that degree was TESOL, would be very helpful?

[english grammar man]

Definitely a degree in Education would be best if you want to pursue a career in education.

Whilst you are young, it's so much easier to find the time to study. You will be glad you did in years to come.

[christicehurst]

Sadly I have found out from the Uni, that I can't do the course because well I'm not smart enough. Also I would need to do another course in order to do the degree and it drags life on. Actually I can't do any course they said. This was a real downer...

Can these certificates by private business can a another way there. I know all about the closed doors, but what about the open doors?

[Margy]

As you are 21 you can enter uni as a mature age student in Australia. I find it hard to believe that the university rejected you because you are "not clever enough".

Go for a private college then and get a Diploma Certificate. This is the next best thing, and along with a TESL Certificate, you can likely get a work visa abroad. Even better, get a TEFL (or equivalent) Diploma.

[christicehurst]

So you believe TESL is better then TESOL. I don't know what's difference, is it just names or something more.

I will look into the Mature Aged student idea and see what private colleges are there. Any ideas on good private colleges?