Heading to Surabaya or Jakarta with no job

[phokas]

Hi to all...looks like great forum here

I am planning on heading to Indonesia to look for work teaching English. I have been reading a lot here about visa problems for those with no degree. I have a 4 week TEFL cert with 20 hours of teaching practice and also 2 years experience teaching Math, Science and English at an elementary school in Mexico. I also have experience teaching robotics to children (I was a robot programmer back home)

Is it still possible to find work this way? turning up and making contacts/friends?

My TEFL cert also has 'Specialist to Spanish Speakers' (I did it here in Mexico) written on it. Would this be a problem?

[kingwilly]

Of course not, loads of Spanish speakering Robotics engineers here.

[phokas]

Great I should have no problem finding tequila drinking buddies

[tjamail]

LOL... TGIF!!

Welcome and good luck.

[phokas]

Thanks for the welcome tjamail

[phokas]

Is a Dip TESOL highly regarded in Indo? is this enough for visa purposes?

[Mas Fred]

A visa agent will get round any 'kinks' in your application if he's any good. The smaller, local schools simply can't afford all the messing around and expense of hiring a bule but loads of places are looking. EF/other language mills seem to be pretty keen on getting anyone but the salary is poor compared to other employers.
All the above answers are valid if you are a NATIVE English speaker.

[Gratilla]

Your English, phokas, is great, but you don't mention your nationality. Mexican? American? There are threads elsewhere discussing whether or not one's nationality is a factor in getting an English teaching position; only British, Aussie, American and Canadian citizens being considered for visas. (I don't remember the conclusion.) Also, teaching subjects other than English, I believe, requires a degree (a masters in some cases).

[phokas]

Thanks for the replies

I am British, I start the Dip TESOL next week although I don't have a degree. It is accredited in the UK and can be used for credit transfer later towards a degree. Usually you need a degree to do a Dip TESOL but I was accepted because of teaching experience I understand that teaching other subjects requires a masters or teachers cert, I fell in lucky here in Mexico and got started as a trainee teacher at a good school. They school liked me and the kids love me too, so they promoted me to a full time teacher and I have learnt a lot from the 'real' teachers the last few years

It is great to know that I can still find some work in Indonesia whilst I improve my own education. Starting at the bottom is ok for me, I can live pretty frugally for some time.

Will I need to do a visa run out of the country if I come to find work?

[SundayMonday]

Welcome phokas! and good luck! but kinda curious here.. when the school like you enough to promote you as a full time teacher and the kids are loving you, why would you leave them and be interested in teaching here? why Indonesia?

[phiss]

... because he/she just feels like a change, maybe?... or maybe wants to broaden his/her horizons? Does there have to be a reason? .... and does he/she have to tell us?

Go for it phokas... it will definitely be a different experience to Mexico....

[SundayMonday]

... because he/she just feels like a change, maybe?... or maybe wants to broaden his/her horizons? Does there have to be a reason? .... and does he/she have to tell us?

Go for it phokas... it will definitely be a different experience to Mexico....

Asking questions based on a simple curiosity is normal, I don't find this insulting to phokas, nobody said phokas have to tell everyone in this forum everything. There are lots of other poster who doesn't mind in sharing their story in this forum. Forum is a medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged after all. thanks for trying to answer on phokas's behalf tho.

[phiss]

Mmm... so you weren't inferring something dark and negative? Interesting...!!

[SundayMonday]

Mmm... so you weren't inferring something dark and negative? Interesting...!!

I'll let you and the rest of the people in this forum decide. besides a simple question sometimes leads to another inspiring/interesting stories. When you have your doubts don't confuse others with it.

[phiss]

Sorry, your answer confused me....