Posted: April 28th, 2016, 2:53 pm
-----
Our Message: You Can Transform Your Life and Solve Your Problems by Escaping America for a Better Life & Love Overseas! Discover Friendlier People, Social Connection, Saner Cultures, Lower Cost Living, Healthier Food, Greater Freedoms and More!
https://www.happierabroad.com/forum/
https://www.happierabroad.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=26979
Yeah, it really helps me because I get a different perspective on things and gather different opinions on my situation. I really appreciate it.Ghost wrote: Sure, hope it helps in some way.
That's a lot to leverage, then, speaking Spanish and having a connection to Mexico. Have you ever been abroad before? If not, you could start with Mexico and see if it works for you.
Yeah I'll look into continuing Graphic Design. I don't like it a whole lot to the point where I want to be stuck in front of a computer for hours though.But the thing is, you can do graphic design / art without a degree. If you can figure out a way to use it in real life, you may have a way to do what you like without needing a degree. It may mean many unpaid nights working at home, freelancing, etc. but if you truly like it, you'll be able to press on and find some success. And eventually some income will come, but if it would be enough to live abroad, I don't know. So it seems a good idea to either try that or finish your degree and teach English.
Good idea, that didn't cross my mind until now. TSFL?lolSince you're a native Spanish speaker, you might also want to look into teaching Spanish as a foreign language. There is some need for that around the world, though not nearly as much of a demand as for English instruction. That would add a whole new level to your resume that most TEFLers don't have.
One question, is it necessary to have a degree and a TEFL certificate to teach English abroad or is a TEFL certificate without a degree enough?For long term English teaching, you'll want a degree and TEFL (CELTA, TESOL, etc.) certificate.
They also do job postings online like here in the US? I didn't know thatYou could probably get a job fairly easily in either Russia or Ukraine. I often see job postings for International House in Russia, and for Ukraine there is American English Center, which I have read accepts newbie teachers without experience.
Thanks, I'll do just that. Simple activities like those really do help a lot. Your info/tips are gold to me, thanks. Can I add you?Keep doing those as stress-relievers and ways to get your mind off being in the West. Focus on your art/ graphic design as your money-maker.
Yeah, will do.Ghost wrote:Sounds like it's not quite your "true love" so to speak. If you can, find that thing you enjoy so much that you could devote an entire day to it and feel nothing but good when it's done. But definitely continue with graphic design to. I think that has a lot of transferable skills.
Ok, gotcha.Yup, it does exist. Sometimes those types of jobs show up on sites for EFL teaching too. I've also seen ads for teachers of German, French, and Japanese. Any major language has some demand for it.
Oh ok, so a degree in anything(even if its graphic design)+ a TEFL certificate will give me much more opportunities when trying to land a teaching job abroad?In some countries you can teach either without a degree or without a TEFL. However, it's better to have both, as the trend is to require both these days. And there's no teaching job you can do with one or the other. A degree will open up more doors than a TEFL, but a TEFL will strengthen your resume compared to those without a degree. I got a TEFL anyway, even though I majored in English Education. And one more tip: if you get a TEFL, do an on-site course and of at least 120 hours and make sure at least 10 of those hours include practicum/practice teaching.
Ok thanksYup, tons of job boards out there. You could start with http://www.eslcafe.com and http://www.eslteachersboard.com.
On here, as a friend?Add me to what?
Oh ok, so I guess I'm going to have to finish Graphic Design. I only have 1-1.5 yrs left to finish. Thanks for the insight.Ghost wrote:Yes, a degree in anything is sufficient. A degree in English/Education/Linguistics/etc. will help of course, but mostly for the better jobs. For most entry level jobs, just a degree in anything is fine.
Yeah, I already added you. Idk I've never used it either until now. I guess it's just to stay in touch.On here, as a friend?
Hey, ghost can you message me please? I want to talk to you.Ghost wrote:If at all possible, avoid racking up debt when finishing your degree. If you can't avoid that, it might be best to go slower and pay as much as you can as you go. I know that's kind of shitty advice since jobs are scarce and pay shit, while tuition costs are always rising, but debt is a killer and destroyer of futures.
Ok, thanks for the advice. I'm actually lucky enough to have qualified for financial aid those 3 years I went to school awhile back so I didn't have to pay a dime. Hopefully I'll still qualify when I get back into school. Either way I plan on working for a couple of months up to a year to save up money so I can pay for gas/food/personal expenses,etc, while financial aid covers my tuition. It's difficult to juggle school and work at the same time so that's why I'm going to focus on one thing at a time. And yeah you're right about debt destroying many people's futures. The statistics of loan debt is crazy. Especially among college graduates.Ghost wrote:If at all possible, avoid racking up debt when finishing your degree. If you can't avoid that, it might be best to go slower and pay as much as you can as you go. I know that's kind of shitty advice since jobs are scarce and pay shit, while tuition costs are always rising, but debt is a killer and destroyer of futures.
No problem, and will do.Ghost wrote:Thanks. After you've read it, if you want to tell me what you thought about it, I'd appreciate it. Hope it can be of some help.
Also see the Return of Ghost thread here:The West is dying. We can't make America great again. There are a lot of dystopian possibilities coming down the line: full unemployment, runaway technology, a post-civilized West. What is there left for a man to do?
Expatriation Ragnarok explores why the West has declined so much, what nightmarish changes are probably coming to society, and how expatriating is perhaps the last and only way for a man to mitigate any of this - his last chance to experience freedom.