Category: Jobs

Demand and Supply Dictates the Earnings of Teachers

Alexander R. Ford Leave a comment

The demand for teachers is great in Asia

As of January 2017, the population in Asia was over 4 billion people. That is more than 50% of the world’s population.

It is therefore understandable why the largest job markets for TEFL/TESOL holders are in Asia. English is more than a language for non-English speakers. It is a skill. A skill they must spend years to learn. The level of English a person in an Asian country can speak will decide their wages and mobility level.

The demand for English will always be high in Asia; even with the rise in popularity of other languages, it will be sometime before we see English replaced as the world’s language –It certainly will not happen in our lifetime.

Moving to Asia

It is definitely possible for any native English speaker to move to Asia. However, each country has requirements that an aspirant worker must fulfill. Please look at the chart below to view these.

Chart showing requirements and salaries in some Asian countries.

To get the full picture go here.

In 2018 there is no reason for you to be unemployed if you have a degree. Start your journey today.

You Can Improve Your Career in 2018

Alexander R. Ford Leave a comment

Learn from the Experts

The year is still new; you can still set new goals and achieve them in 2018. Some decisions, however, require good advice and we all know how hard it can be to receive this.

I am always on the lookout for fresh information ( I am a multi-open window-internet-browser), I am proud of this as it has given me tremendous results over the years.

This habit led me to Mandy Menaker, a career expert. Mandy shared some practical ways on how to improve your career in 2017 and I think these are still relevant in 2018.

The following are a few of the tips she outlined:

• Perform an annual career checkup
• Give your online profile a makeover
• Build your professional network
• Learn new skills
• Become an expert in your field

You can read more of what she had to say here.

 Improve Yourself

There are very few things that feel worse than the feeling of being stagnant in life. That is because we all have a desire to succeed — the soul weeps when it is unable to soar.

A person who is a native English speaker with a degree has no reason to feel stuck; there are many jobs for native English speakers with degrees.

What a degree holder need though, is the right advice. Sometimes we need others who have blazed a trail to show the way.

This website is dedicated to helping people improve, especially those who have a degree. I remember what it felt like when I felt hopeless. I felt as if my world was coming to an end. It was not easy to stay motivated (happiness was parallel to my life).

Many of you are trailblazers in your families. You were the first of your kin to break the education barrier. You can still do, you are strong and worthy.

Teaching English in Japan changed my life and I am sure it could do the same for you. When you are unemployed and broke there are great feelings of pessimism and doubt. You will question yourself –Why did I study this? Why didn’t I take the opportunity to do computer programming? Etc, etc…. But the truth is, that was not what you wanted then and no matter how hard you wish or try, you will never regain that time.

You may even question your sanity at times but there is no need to do this. Being broke is just that, being broke. It is not a sentence on your life.

Don’t give up on your dreams or hopes just yet. A little effort can work wonders in your life.

Take the leap, and start the process today.

2018 Is Not Phony, It Will Be Your Best Year

Alexander R. Ford Leave a comment

2018 Will be Your Best

2018 is here and I have great news for you. Yes, you. This is your year to rise and shine.  You can travel the world if you have the will to believe that you can. An ITTT certificate can change your life. In 2012 I embarked on a journey that has been life changing. I moved to Asia and everything in my life changed.

Before moving to Asia I was unemployed. If you are unemployed moving to Asia is one of the best things you can do to change your life. Do not let life pass you by. You are special and you should live a special life. Many persons are being the best them, why shouldn’t you?

 

Via YouTube

Show Me the Money !

Alexander R. Ford Leave a comment

coins

Show Me

Like Rod Tidwell, we have all said ‘show me the money’ (unless you have a money bag like Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather), at some point in life. If you are like me you have said it well over 100 times. Regardless of how you might feel about the money we all need to make money.

Teaching is not an easy job and for this reason, we all need to get the right compensation for our valuable hours. ITTT knows this, and with this, in mind, they have created a money chart.
However, it is also good to remember that money is not the only important thing in life. But in the meantime please feel free to examine the following figures.

TEFL Salaries –

Chart showing the pay rates and cost of living in various countries.
Panoramic view

Thailand is Waiting for You

Alexander R. Ford Leave a comment

Teach in exotic Thailand

Traveling is for the rich and for those of us who are not rich, the next best thing is to teach in locations that are exotic. Thailand is one of the most exotic countries on earth to teach English.

Thailand is ubiquitous in popular culture. In fact, I am currently reading ‘The Beach’ (Great book, absolutely brilliant) and coincidentally less than two hours ago I was at a ‘Thai Festival’.

                                       Thailand Festival

Thai Festival, Food ,

Thailand is one of the hottest destinations for TESOL teachers. Teaching jobs are always available in Thailand. However, like all countries, there are rules mores, norms and basic things that must be learned before the move.

To find out more about Thailand read the following article on www.Ajarn.com.  

 

Start Teaching English in Japan

Alexander R. Ford Leave a comment

 Teaching

Moving to Japan at the start of the decade, was the spark that changed everything in my life.

Teaching English as a second language is often not seen as a career path worth taking. However, no one can deny that it is a skill. The beauty about skills is the fact that you can use them to get paid. Especially if you are willing to hone them. A honed skill will always lead to professional and financial satisfaction.

Starting out

When you are an amateur( at anything) you must practice in order to gain mastery . You will also need an environment conducive to learning in order to improve your skills. For this reason, no place is better to teach English than Japan.

Japan has the third largest economy in the world. Therefore their professionals must learn to speak the language of business( English). Japan is also one of the world’s most traveled destination. Therefore it is an advantage if citizens learn the most popular language on earth.

Simply put the demand for English is great in Japan.

Your options

There are several ways to start teaching English in Japan but your best bet will be to start at an eikaiwa ( conversation school) or as an ALT in a public school.

Both groups are constantly recruiting. Therefore it is possible to be recruited from your home country.

But before we go any further, please note some differences between the two.

Differences:

  • Pay
  • Work Schedule
  • Time off/vacation
  • Facilities
  • Extra obligations

For more  information please watch the following video:

If you still need more information, click here.

Be proactive

You will never teach English in Japan unless you start the process ( ask questions, do your research, wait and ask even more questions). You can teach English in Japan; you can become a skilled professional.

However, if you want to become a professional you must practice. Luckily, you can do this at your own pace with ITTT.

Why worry about jobs when you have options. Start doing your research today and start your new life within months.

 

 

Start Your First Day Teaching With A Smile

Alexander R. Ford Leave a comment

First Day of Work

It is natural to fear the unknown. The first day of work regardless of the position is a venture into the unknown.

We have all been there; dressing our best to make a great first impression; being anxious to meet our new colleagues and hoping that they won’t turn into devils four weeks later.  The wishes, the prayers, and hopes of being able to use your skills to the best of your abilities.

The One Size Fit all Solution

In all new situations one must have an open mind and a positive attitude. This mood will make it easier for you to manifest a smile.

A TEFL/TESOL teacher must always remember the importance of a smile. A smile will put both you and your students at ease. Simply put, a smile is a serum to remove self-doubt.

Winning Attitude

Zig Ziglar says it best, “your attitude will determine your altitude.” I have a friend who absolutely believes this. She says a positive approach will definitely result in a positive outcome. My friend further states that nothing great has ever been achieved with a pessimistic mind. Don’t allow your fears to stop you from stepping into a bright future. Use your fears to propel you.

Please watch the following training video to get some practical teaching advise for your first day on the job.

coins

School Doesn’t Teach About the Economics of Teaching English

Alexander R. Ford Leave a comment

Teaching English Can be Profitable

 

The Economics of teaching English is rarely discussed. However, economics is a major factor that leads to a teaching career. When economies are booming it is usually difficult to hire teachers. When economies are struggling a recruiter’s job is akin to being a milkman in New Zealand.

With that said it should be noted that people start a teaching career for varying reasons. I started teaching English because I wanted to escape the pit of unemployment.

If you are unemployed and have a degree you should consider teaching English. You can use this skill to put your life on whatever track you want.

Hone the Skill

English is a skill that is needed in many foreign countries. As a native English speaker with a degree, you have a valuable asset. You have a skill that people from all over the world need –Even first world citizens; the demand for English is high.

You can learn how to hone a skill that you have naturally right here.

Don’t scoff at the idea of teaching English. It is a sure way to get out of your parents’ house. Start your change today.

University

A University Degree Can Get You Employed, Even in Trump’s World

Alexander R. Ford Leave a comment

University

Degrees and Work

A university degree used to be the antidote to poverty. These days, however, there is a strong argument for it being a tool that keeps young people poor (student loans).

If you have an arts or humanities degree more or likely you are staring deeply down the debt barrel. Graduates with these degrees have to work harder to gain employment.

Be an Insider

We live an age where we must keep up-to-date with changes that can get us paid work.

Change is constant and I am sure you have all felt overwhelmed by new technologies. It seems as if we need to change our cell phones every six months just to have the needed technology.

We also live in an age where collaboration is a must we can’t just live in our little corner, gathering dust. We must work with others to achieve our goals.

We must approach our degrees in this manner; we have to update and collaborate with others to get employment -network, network and network some more.

Why do I need to supplement a degree?

The truth is many degrees are only an accreditation that tells employers that the holder attended university. In fact, most employers do not even ask to see your degree. They might do a background check but they rarely ask an applicant to show their degree.

Employers, however, need applicants who can show that they have the necessary skills that will fit the job description. They also need efficient workers.

Gone are the days where OK was good enough. We all need things to be done perfectly – if it is not perfect we will quickly move on to the next thing. This is also true in the working world. Employers will move on quickly.

If employers could replace us with artificial intelligence they would have already. Therefore, you have to counter this by increasing your skill-levels.

TEFL/TESOL Certificates

You may decide to increase your skill levels however you see fit. However, in this article, I will introduce you to teaching English as a second language certification.

It is estimated that over 1 billion people use English to communicate[i]. Also, of the over 3 billion users that use the internet,  over 900 million of these users use English to communicate. These numbers are a clear sign that the language is growing and will be in use for a very long time.

English is still the world’s language. Many of the world’s top films, books, and music are published and produced in English. Most of the content produced on the internet is written in English. Therefore for these reasons and more people from non-English speaking countries will always be clamoring to learn the English language. English is simply the language through which people engage the world.

If you have spent three or four years to earn a degree there is no reason for you not to take advantage of this opportunity. If you get certified to teach English as a second language you will be able to use a skill that is as natural as saying hello. Teaching English might not be a career but it certainly is a skill.

Fear

I know that many of you fear the English language even though you are native speakers. But, why allow fear to stop you from progress? Teaching English in a foreign country will beat being unemployed at home any day. The unemployment rate for recent graduates is now below 5%. However, this doesn’t help you if you are among that percentage.[ii]

There is no need to feel hopeless if you are unemployed. You can start taking charge of your life today. All you have to do is admit that your degree is not a skill and gain a skill that will supplement your years of study. Start your journey today.

 

Resources

[i] http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats7.htm

[ii] https://www.newyorkfed.org

 

What Wikipedia can’t tell you about TEFL/TESOL Certification

Alexander R. Ford Leave a comment

Scams

Although I  sometimes have reservations about using the internet. I will be the first to admit that the internet is the most helpful tool I have ever used –most addictive too. But we must remain aware of the fact that the internet can be a very shady place to do business.

For this reason, I know many persons have reservations about doing a teaching certificate online. However, there are several precautions that you can take to protect yourself.

According to tesol.org, an organization that has been around for 50 years, there are several ways to make sure that your program is legitimate.

These are some:

  • Investigate the institution. They suggest that you should search for the institution’s online history. Look for what others have said about the school online ( In chats and on forums).
  • They also suggest that you should ask for references. You should reach out to graduates from the school that you have the interest to join. If the school offers job placements, you should certainly contact people who have graduated to check if this is true.
  • You should also be cautious as well about “money-back” guarantees for job placements. Even though it might be appealing to sign up. make sure that you check their reputation first. also look into their method of repayment (length of guarantee) before signing up.
  • Last but not least check the validity of your certificate. Ensure that the certificate qualifies you for jobs. Research the validity of their claims. It is easy to do is check. Go to the TEFL/TESOL job sites and ask questions about the various certificates.

In addition to the advice given by tesol.org, you can also watch Alex Stevenson in the following video. He explains the ins and outs of certificates.

A Safe Certificate

As an alumnus of ITTT international, I can assure you that it is possible to get jobs overseas (especially in Asia) after you complete your certificate. However, you do not have to take my word. You can start your investigation about ITTT at the gooverseas.com, an independent website that verifies the legitimacy of TEFL/TESOL programs.

So even though I believe the internet can be a shady place where you can be scammed, I can assure you that there are ways to be careful on the net and I do hope that the tips above will help you with your TEFL/TESOL search.