Going to Thailand!
My first real decision about how to proceed in this plan of mine to go and teach English overseas is to choose a school from which to earn a professional certificate to “teach English to Speakers of Other Languages”.. AKA a TESOL certification. Now, there are LOTS of sources out there from which to earn a TESOL certification. I’ve found internet-only courses for as little as $180 that will grant anyone one of these necessary credentials. Locally, the University of Washington offers a certification which when done on nights and weekends, would take me 18 months and cost over $3000. The former example is pretty much useless in the country where I want to go. The latter is a bit overkill and more than I can afford anyways.
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| Wait… Why can’t I just Photoshop this image and put my name in it? |
It’s generally agreed internationally that the ‘gold standard’ of certifications are the Cambridge University issued “CELTA” and the equally well regarded version of the same thing issued by London’s Trinity
College. Both of these British institutions offer these certifications worldwide, including a couple places
here in Seattle, but they require 6 weeks to 3 months of full time education, i.e., you can’t have a job like mine and be able to be a fulltime student at the same time? Not to mention that their
tuition requirements are $1300 to $1700!
College. Both of these British institutions offer these certifications worldwide, including a couple places
here in Seattle, but they require 6 weeks to 3 months of full time education, i.e., you can’t have a job like mine and be able to be a fulltime student at the same time? Not to mention that their
tuition requirements are $1300 to $1700!
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| Heh.. they didn’t even spell “Center” correctly. |
What to do?
Looking closely at various teaching jobs in the country I
want to eventually end up in, Indonesia, I see that the better paying jobs want
you to have some kind of TESOL certification which incorporates at least 120
hours of in-class learning as well as a significant amount of in-person, real
life experience teaching in schools.
120 hours at 40 hours a week is 3 weeks.
120 hours at say, 5 hours a week is 4 months… I was hoping to find a course like the latter
where I could spend a semester or so part-time and still be able to work.
want to eventually end up in, Indonesia, I see that the better paying jobs want
you to have some kind of TESOL certification which incorporates at least 120
hours of in-class learning as well as a significant amount of in-person, real
life experience teaching in schools.
120 hours at 40 hours a week is 3 weeks.
120 hours at say, 5 hours a week is 4 months… I was hoping to find a course like the latter
where I could spend a semester or so part-time and still be able to work.
No such courses exist around here. It’s either full immersion into the learning to
teach or a useless internet certification that might get me a job in Korea or
China (two countries notoriously desperate for English teachers) but not where
I want to go…
teach or a useless internet certification that might get me a job in Korea or
China (two countries notoriously desperate for English teachers) but not where
I want to go…
I’ve found something better.
The 3-week 40 hour a week thing followed immediately by a teaching job
in SouthEast Asia. I’ll get my TESOL certification with all the prerequisites
for hours and in-class experience, and
immediately start earning experience that I can turn into a better job later. I
won’t have to worry about how to mix working fulltime with going to school, nor
struggle to figure out how to pay a month of USA expenses without income while
I learn here.
in SouthEast Asia. I’ll get my TESOL certification with all the prerequisites
for hours and in-class experience, and
immediately start earning experience that I can turn into a better job later. I
won’t have to worry about how to mix working fulltime with going to school, nor
struggle to figure out how to pay a month of USA expenses without income while
I learn here.
Best of all, I get to go learn my new trade in a little place called Phuket, Thailand.
If you’ve not heard of Phuket (prounced FOO-ket, not fuck-IT, although the punning possibilities therein are endless), it’s one of paradises of Southeast Asia. It’s the Bali of Thailand. Beautiful beaches. Laid back culture. Very friendly people.
After completing my education on a BEACH SIDE resort in Phuket, I will be stationed at a yet-to-be-determined school in Thailand. I could be teaching adults English, but more likely, children. The pay is US $1000 per month during that latter period, and whereas I make that now every week, accommodations are paid there and the cost of living is significantly
less. You have to complete a one semester contract as part of this deal, which costs $980 up front, plus I gotta buy my own plane ticket (US $800).
less. You have to complete a one semester contract as part of this deal, which costs $980 up front, plus I gotta buy my own plane ticket (US $800).
I’ve always wanted to see Thailand. Not only does this educational opportunity totally fit my needs as a modern working American living paycheck-to-paycheck, I should be able to leave there (if I want to) and move on to Indonesia after a year without having to have dipped into my financial reserves, and Thailand to Indonesia, heck, if I were going to
Northern Sumatra, I could swim there!
Northern Sumatra, I could swim there!
The program in Phuket begins April 15th. This shortens up my timeline significantly. Lots to do! Lots to get rid of.
Oh, I might as well put this out there now, now that there is a definitive plan with this… Would anyone like to adopt a wonderful, loving, independent, fluffy and mild mild mannered 6 year-old female kitty cat?
If my cat wasn’t Mean, Hateful, and hates other cats and it wasn’t so far from Seattle to KY, I would.
The Thailand move sounds good. Wishing you the best.
I often thought of Bali as well. I really hope you get what you want Joko. You really deserve it!!!!!!!! Hey I might end up being a neighbor one day.
“Ukelele’s and pugs invade Thailand”.
For the baby I recommend a no kill shelter or contact a cat rescue who usually have foster parents ready till a permanent home is found. That’s what we did, foster care that is. Finally adopted off the Sheltie,Charlie, we had almost a year. After Charlie we put off foster care for now. I am too making some drastic changes in my life, for the long hall. Going to start a bucket list and also want to relocate permanently. I will have to post it when figured out.
Goodluck….. :love: ❗
Well… The deed is done! I have applied for the program! I should hear from them within 24 hours.