Job Opportunities

(Click on the links to the left)

If you have ever dreamed of traveling to far off lands, learning another language, or experiencing other cultures, teaching abroad is probably your best bet.  Opportunities abound for Native speakers of English with the inclination to teach in foreign countries. Often all you need is a BA and a passport. Many employers supply the rest. They can help with obtaining a work visa, on site training for the classroom, salary, living stipend, and sometimes even airfare. Currently, Eastern Europe and Asia have the highest demand for English teachers, but that's not to say there isn't a demand in other countries. It's just a bit more competitive.  Thanks to the World Wide Web, finding a teaching position is just a mouse click away.

                                                           Choosing a Destination

The first step to getting on your way with an international adventure is deciding where to go. Sounds easy, but it's a mighty big world. The biggest favor you could do yourself is to do a little research before choosing your destination. Too often people come to their selection of teaching position based upon the salary offered without really considering what they are committing to. On paper, teaching in Taipei, Taiwan for $3,000 a month plus airfare sounds like a dream come true. If you do a superficial Google search you will find that Taiwan is part of the Republic of China, a subtropical island off China's East Coast. Taiwan is south of Japan and north of the Philippines. Subtropical island? Bust out your grass skirt and beach towel, right? WRONG! Taipei is a bustling city of nearly 23 million people; that's three times as many people as live in New York City. In fact, more people live within the city limits of Taipei than in the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and Arizona COMBINED! It is a very industrial and commercial kind of place. If you like big city life, this is the town for you.  Read up on possible destinations before you apply. If you don't do your research you could end up in Taiwan wearing flip-flops and sunglasses when you should have brought a suit and tie.

                                                             Landing a Contract

Once you have come up with a list of your top five dream destinations, you are ready to find a teaching position. Now there are a couple of ways to accomplish this. The first way takes some considerable courage: get a passport, get a tourist visa, buy some language tapes and a travel guide, and just show up. The up side to this is the ability to negotiate a higher salary and a shorter contract. If you are very brave and can afford to buy a plane ticket as well as a couple month's spending money (to live on while you are looking for a job), this is your most lucrative option. The down side is coming up with the initial cash and the possibility that you might not get hired.

Another way to go about finding a teaching position is through the Internet before you leave the U.S.  Navigating these TESOL sites can be a little tricky, so I have given you a few to start with. Particularly reputable are Japan's JET program, France's Teaching Assistant Program, and the Peace Corps Master's International Program. Dave's ESL Cafe is also a wonderful web site with tons of different job listings. Be careful when applying through any website that charges you for membership or that wants you to get a special ESL certificate that only they offer. Expect a minimal application fee, but research the program thoroughly before shelling out any money. The upside of securing a job before you leave The States is, of course, having a place to go to once you get there. Many employers will help you organize getting your visa, living arrangements, and pay for your airplane ticket over in exchange for a one year contract. The down side is that you pay for the convenience with a year-long commitment.  Be sure to consider any contract carefully before accepting its conditions. If you plan on looking for another teaching position after your contract is up, make sure that teaching at a competing school has not been ruled out by your contract.

                                                        Educational Opportunities

If you feel that there is no time to lose in beginning a graduate study program, but the thought of missing out on an international adventure is killing you, don't fret. There are options here for you also. If you are interested in getting a Master's Degree and at the same time would like to live abroad, I cannot recommend the Peace Corp's Master's International Program highly enough. Click on the Peace Corps Link on the left to find out more about this opportunity. The application process for this program is rigorous, but worth every ounce of effort. If this option is appealing to you, your research should commence immediately as the application process for this program can take up to a year.

If you were thinking more along the lines of a semester abroad, CSUS offers many different programs and resources. For anything from studying Renaissance Art for a few weeks of the summer in Italy to studying Spanish for a year in South America, check out CSUS's Global Education web site for more information. <http://www.csus.edu/oip/Study%20Abroad_General%20Information.htm >

You can travel with a group of students, with a friend, or by yourself. The beauty of doing a study abroad program through CSUS is that you are still eligible for financial aid even from across the world. You can have your travels and have someone else pay for it too!

                                                       Departures and Arrivals

One of the perks of being a student is discount travel. You still retain your student status up to six months after you have graduated. Your valid student identification card grants you access to discounts on everything from  airfare and train tickets to hotels and youth hostels. If you have a valid International Student I.D. you can also get discounts on things like museum entrance fees and sometimes even theater tickets.

STA is the student travel agency located in the Union, right here on campus. This is a world wide travel organization dedicated to providing students with low cost travel.  Not only will you find their offices on campus but they also have offices in most major international cities. Visit their website at     <http://www.statravel.com/ > for more information. 

Another good website for student travel is  <http://www.istc.org/sisp/index.htm> The International Student Travel Confederation or ISTC has been around since 1949. They can help you get an International Student I.D. card and/or a student visa. They can also arrange airfare and accommodations.

This should be enough information to get you started on your way to having your own international adventure. If you think you don't have time to travel and live abroad, ask yourself what time would be better? When you have begun your career and can't get enough vacation time off? When you have five kids? As a student you have the incredible opportunity to use your financial aid and student loans to study in a different country. As an English speaking college graduate the opportunities to teach abroad have never been better. Don't let this chance pass you by. Experience another world, experience another culture. Happy travels!