Logistics advice for a complete newbie
Posted: 16 Aug 2011, 21:25
Hello Lucy,
I am a 27-year-old prospective TEFL teacher based currently in Newcastle upon Tyne, struggling with the logistics of becoming a teacher in EFL.
At the moment, I am contracted to a job finishing in November, which is fine as I intend to take the four-week intensive CELTA course at International House in Newcastle between 14 November and 9 December.
My worry relates to finding employment soon after the course as I would prefer to work in Europe but I am aware the academic term in most countries runs September to June. I know that there may some limited intakes in January 2012 but this is further compromised by a rather personal situation: I am best man to a long-time friend whose wedding is on 17 March 2012 with a stag-do organised for February 2012. Both the wedding and the stag-do would probably require me to be available over the whole course of a long weekend (i.e. Fri-Sun) and I presume that any prospective employer would require holidays to be taken at the end of a semester.
Is it likely that I may complete a course in December but struggle to obtain work until March due to my circumstances, and then struggle after March until the following September because the end of the academic year is so near ?
If so, would you suggest that it would be better if I delayed my intention to go on a CELTA course and teach until there is less interference from my personal life?
Sorry for the garrulous nature of this post and apologies also that my query rather puts you in the role of a careers advisor than a TEFL advisor. I hope you are still able to help, though, and I thank you in advance.
Regards, Peter.
I am a 27-year-old prospective TEFL teacher based currently in Newcastle upon Tyne, struggling with the logistics of becoming a teacher in EFL.
At the moment, I am contracted to a job finishing in November, which is fine as I intend to take the four-week intensive CELTA course at International House in Newcastle between 14 November and 9 December.
My worry relates to finding employment soon after the course as I would prefer to work in Europe but I am aware the academic term in most countries runs September to June. I know that there may some limited intakes in January 2012 but this is further compromised by a rather personal situation: I am best man to a long-time friend whose wedding is on 17 March 2012 with a stag-do organised for February 2012. Both the wedding and the stag-do would probably require me to be available over the whole course of a long weekend (i.e. Fri-Sun) and I presume that any prospective employer would require holidays to be taken at the end of a semester.
Is it likely that I may complete a course in December but struggle to obtain work until March due to my circumstances, and then struggle after March until the following September because the end of the academic year is so near ?
If so, would you suggest that it would be better if I delayed my intention to go on a CELTA course and teach until there is less interference from my personal life?
Sorry for the garrulous nature of this post and apologies also that my query rather puts you in the role of a careers advisor than a TEFL advisor. I hope you are still able to help, though, and I thank you in advance.
Regards, Peter.