Teaching opportunities

[aakpome]

I'm currently awaiting response to my application for a teaching job with the Singaporean Ministry of Education. Lately, I've also learnt that teaching English as a foreign language could be a really lucrative profession in Singapore and much of South East Asia. I have great competencies in English, but I'm Nigerian.

While awaiting the result of my application from the MOE, I'm considering moving over to Singapore to undertake a teacher-training course (in teaching English to foreigners - TEFL, ESOL, etc). My calculation is that by the end of such a course - about 10 weeks - I should be able to secure a worthwhile job, having upped my certification and being where the action is. How likely d'you guys think this will work out?

Appreciate you kind comments.

[Claim your $1000000]

Being Nigerian is a problem. The general view of Nigerians is that they are all criminals of one sort or another. You may find it hard to get employment with a private company.

[sad but true]

They would prefer native English speakers, I think.  There will not be much of a market in Singapore but it is worthwhile to look at the rest of South East Asia. The Jet programme in Japan is worth a look too. My Singaporean friend had a wonderful experience teaching English under the Jet programme.

[Kapitan Obvious]

Opportunities? Yes.

Do Asians prefer white people to teach them English? Yes.  Even though skin color has nothing to do with language proficiency, but it's the image.  I met a Romaninian English teacher in Thailand - I would rate his English at about 7.5/10, and I wouldn't have wanted him to teach my kids.

Lucrative?  No.

[True]

I'm afraid what the others have said about skin colour is true - people here tend to prefer whites because they perceive them as the only 'real' native speakers.  This preference for native speakers is justified - It is an important consideration when choosing a teacher, especially if you want to progress beyond pre-intermediate level.

Some teachers I know have problems because they are of Indian descent, even though they were born and grew up in the UK and their first language is English.  They have excellent qualifications and are good teachers but the adult learners and parents routinely complain.

Depends what you mean by lucrative - some places pay very well in comparison to others but with the recent sharp rise in accommodation costs in Singapore, a lot of teachers I know are finding it tougher and tougher to make ends meet. Most of my unmarried colleagues are now sharing accommodation and quite a few have moved elsewhere in the last year.  But as a teacher, I am sure your definition of lucrative is different from a bankers! :)The salary range is quite wide - say from $2000 - $7000pm, depending on the institution and number of contact hours.  Universities offer a higher hourly rate, but then it isn't full time work and you need a Masters degree.

Do make sure that you choose a well recognised TEFL course which incorporates a certain amount of teaching practice.

[winters]

I think it's something that people will advise you not to pursue a career based on skin tone.  Is this 2008 or 1968? And this advice from educated people.

[cheese]

No, winters. We are just telling the OP the news from the ground. The last thing anyone need is to come halfway across the world, spent loads of money on a qualification and find employment here few and far between.

It may sound archaic to you but yes, some people's views are archaic. Sad but true

[tina3004]

I am also looking for a job in Sg. Is apparently more difficult than I thought now that I am applying.

But know what, I heard it must be very easy to get an English teaching job in Thailand! There seem to be lots of jobs, you can earn good money and can even teach without a work permission as authorities are not so strict (but be careful, is surely better to HAVE a permission).

And maybe people there are not so concerned about the skin color...

[international schools]

Might be worth trying the international schools.  Try

United World College
Overseas Family School
ISS international school
ACS International School
St Joseph's International School

Not a good time of year to be looking as the jobs are usually advertised later in the year.  If you google you will find their websites and can see if they have any vacancies.

Good luck

[oh gawd]

No way would an international school hire someone without teaching certification/qualifications. They all require bachelors degrees, and many prefer masters for specialist positions. Have a look at some schools websites and see what these teachers hold. Certainly not a 10 week course from the british council!

As for the skin colour comments - the reason this guy will not get work here is not completely due to his skin colour (good grief - any of you been to England, America or Canada lately?! There are plenty of second and third generation teachers in Singapore.) It is because he is not a native speaker. A blonde scandinavian would not be hired here either! Singapore is not Thailand - the standards and expectations are much higher.

[Read again]

The OP is a qualified teacher already.  He was considering doing a TEFL course in addition to his teaching qualifications.

Your point about wanting native speakers is exactly the point that was being made.  Read carefully.    This isn't America, the UK or Canada - a non-European is perceived as a non-native speaker, thus they are unpopular with students. 

[Qualified]

The OP is a qualified teacher already.

That point is not clear from OP's post. "I have great competencies in English" is not equivalent to being a qualified teacher.

[aakpome]

Thanks for all your great posts.

The OP is a qualified teacher already

I do NOT yet have teaching qualifications. I have a B. A. in English though and I've been teaching here at home for some time. (My current job is teaching).

Since I've not got a positive response from the MOE over 2 months after I applied, I assume my application to be unsuccessful. But as I stated in my original post, I've other ideas for upping my qualifications. There's a certain Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics course I could enrol on. After this - four months - won't my chances of employment be boosted? And if may ask, what kind of salary should I expect?

Thanks again.

[good luck]

It is doubly hard without proper teaching qualifications.  Grads with BA in teaching subjects usually need to go through a few years of teacher's training via NIE, before being farmed out to local schools.

[PG Dip]

Take care with your choice of diplomas (unless it is through a uni as the first year of a masters program) - there are only really two that are acceptable by mainstream companies - the DELTA and the Trinity -  and they are pretty rigorous - you normally need two years post certificate experience, and only certain certificates are acceptable.

Teaching EFL is not as easy as it seems if it is done properly - a BA in English does not adequately equip you to teach it as a foreign language.  If you are happy to start with the less respectable institutions and get yourself a recognised cert and then a recognised dip, then you can expect a job at a good institution at a good (relatively) salary.

Take care with jobs you look at in Singapore too - living costs are high.  A few of my colleagues have recently decided to leave Singapore because their standard of living has dropped drastically with the increase in rents.

I don't want to sound too negative.  If you are after an opportunity to travel and don't mind less than perfect working and living conditions, then go for it.