Opportunity of a Lifetime

Note: This was a story that I wrote for journalism class a few months ago. It was part of a larger project...

It's a gutsy move leaving Canada and accepting a contract to teach English to strangers halfway around the world. It's even gutsier to do this in a country that has a completely different language and culture from North America. Yet every year, thousands of Canadians are picking up and moving across oceans to teach English in foreign countries.

TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) is a program designed to instruct individuals on how to prepare to teach effectively overseas. It was established in 1966, and courses are taught in every province in Canada.

Peter Herbert, 26, graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor’s degree in 2006. By the time he finished school, he was ready for something different and exciting.
“I kind of had it in my mind for a number of years that once I graduated I wanted to teach abroad,” he explained. “I saw the name TESOL for years and years while I was going to school, and figured it was worth a try.”

Herbert took a TESOL course through Oxford Seminars at Global TESOL College on Notre Dame Avenue in the summer of 2006. Each course takes 60 hours, and is taught over 6 days. The company primarily targets university graduates, but anyone at any age can sign up for the program.

In Winnipeg, the next session begins May 8. In many countries – including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia – the school year begins annually in September. It is possible to take the course in May, find a job, and begin work in a new country a few months later.
Jeffrey Schultz, also a TESOL graduate, explained that even though the course costs $995, it’s worth the money.

“They teach you things you wouldn’t otherwise think about,” he said, with a smile. “One example is when we were instructed to contact the bank and embassy both in Canada and the country we move to. That way, if you suddenly disappear, someone will know where to start looking.”

Shultz took the course last year, and has already received three job offers.

“I’m waiting until I finish school this year to go overseas to teach,” he explained. “But I know when I want a job, it will be there. Once you’re a TESOL graduate, they help you find work.”

Herbert went through a number of interviews, and ultimately decided to work in Thailand. He left Canada in April of 2007, and didn’t return for 20 months. There were roughly thirty English teachers working in his office in Bangkok, and almost half of them were Manitobans. His coworkers were instrumental to his success during the first few weeks.

"They give you lots of advice, like to never touch someone on the head unless you're Thai. It’s a Buddhist country. The holiest part of the body is your head, and the worst is the bottom of your feet. You never open the door with your foot in Thailand – never use your feet to do anything but walk."

The school days are typically the same as in Canada, with class beginning between eight and nine a.m., and ending after three. Most teachers work in designated English language schools, and are assigned the same class for their entire contract. Teachers usually sign a contract for twelve months, and if they complete it, an extra month’s salary is provided as a bonus. Salaries vary considerably depending on the country, but an individual with a university degree could make up to $6000 a month in a country like Japan or South Korea.

Herbert took his TESOL instructor’s recommendation to begin learning Thai almost immediately after arriving. He was going to be there for over a year, and wanted to have an easier time communicating with locals.

"Even just making an effort to learn their language goes a long way in garnering their respect towards you," he explained.

Gary Bosomworth, managing director of Hess Education Canada, an ESL teacher training and recruitment centre in Vancouver, has taught in both Taiwan and Indonesia. He explained that it is not mandatory to learn the local language, but highly recommended.

“I did not know any Mandarin when I moved to Taiwan or Indonesian when I moved to Indonesia,” he said. “You learn. Some people learn really well, some do not. It is a personal choice.”

Today, Herbert is back in Canada, and planning to take Education at university. He went back to Thailand last fall to visit his former students and his girlfriend, whom he met while teaching. Herbert recommends the TESOL program and teaching overseas to anyone who is craving a bit of change and adventure.

“TESOL courses are by no means a magic tool that will transform you into a teacher overnight. That comes only with experience, and the amount of dedication you are willing to put into the job. However, TESOL courses do help you answer some of the bigger questions one may have about teaching, and at least give you a running start for when you begin.”