Customer Reviews

Teaching English Abroad, 6th

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Griffith's book is a very valuable resource for British or Britain-based teachers. However, it is not really very useful for Americans and other non-Brits. because a lot of the information is irrelevant or even misleading to non-EU citizens. For example, the book devotes too much space to jobs in Western Europe and not enough to areas where non-EU citizens can work legally, such as Latin America. It also concentrates on recruitment organizations and school groups which insist on teachers being interviewed in England. So I think Americans and Canadians should look for books which more directly address their job needs. One possibility is Jeff Mohammed's "Teaching English Overseas." It's shorter, partly because it has fewer ads and anecdotes, but it has more relevant information. There may be other similar book also.

I read this book on the recommendation of a friend who lived abroad. Unfortunately, it did not apply in most cases to the 20 countries in which I traveled and tried to find work, not only because I'm American and this book is aimed at UK natives, but because of the brevity of info offered.

Americans and Canadians have a more difficult time finding work simply because of EU citizenship requirements, though it is also true that English taught with an American accent is more desirable. The latter, however, does not mean Americans will be better paid or even employed.

Many times, schools fill positions with natives who studied English abroad, even if their command of the language is quite poor. British natives are often preferred over Canadians or Americans simply because they have no work or residence permit issues if you're in the EU. Americans, at best, can find tutoring jobs through placing an ad in local newspapers (and it helps to write the ad in the local language to attract students) and will not be paid as well...in fact, half the rate in many cases of a native speaking substandard English.

In the majority of cases, some previous teaching experience, credentials and certificates are required in order to be considered for a position. In addition, some knowledge of the local language is extremely useful, often required. This book does not stress this. Standards have changed in the world, and those wishing to find a job simply because they know how to speak English is not enough. Buying and reading this book, however helpful it is in small ways, is also not enough.

As with anything, there are exceptions to the rule. My best friend from California was placed in Poland, well-paid and provided housing for 2 years without any experience, certification or previous interview; last year he taught in Turkey during his vacation under nearly the same conditions. Another woman who contacted me for advice found a job in Romania quite easily and is having a great time. Sometimes it's about connections, sometimes about luck.

If you're American, Teaching English Overseas by Jeff Mohamed is more relevant. Then, take a TEFL course, get a copy of Living Abroad Magazine, check the availability of jobs in local papers of the country(ies) you choose and have an agency place you keeping your options flexible to the many beautiful countries worldwide (South America, Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe). That's more practical and realistic.

I always recommend this book to people who tell me they are thinking of getting into teaching English as a foreign language. I think it provides a fabulous overview of the industry, and the pros and cons of teaching abroad. The book helped me to narrow down what was most important to me in an overseas teaching position. I found the personal anecdotes to be illuminating, and they were one of many factors that eventually steered me away from teaching in Asia or the Middle East. ...

Although the book does have a slant towards a British audience, this book is NOT only useful to Brits. I am an American, and it helped me to get my first job teaching in Europe. It also helped me decide where to get my TESL certificate. I sent away for more information from many of the TESL certification schools listed in this book, and eventually decided to do a Trinity College certification course in London rather than an equally expensive but non-Trinity, non-Cambridge course in the US. I have never regretted this decision for a minute, and in fact it led to an excellent job with excellent perks in Bratislava, Slovakia. (Yes, like most of us unlucky Americans, I eventually had to face reality and give up the dream of working in an EU country!)

It is true that Griffith could spend more time focusing on job opportunities in non-EU countries, especially Latin America. Hence, only 4 stars out of 5. However, this book is an excellent starting point for those considering teaching English abroad. Naturally, no single book can cover all bases. It goes without saying that your experiences in a foreign country will be as unique as you are, and may differ wildly from the teachers quoted in the book. But for my money, this is the best introduction to teaching abroad in one single publication. Read and enjoy, and if you end up in a scrape in some dicey teaching position abroad, don't say that Susan didn't warn you!

I have an earlier edition--the third edition, published in 1997. I have read it cover to cover several times in preparation for my first teaching assignment abroad. It is very well-organized, starting with information on TEFL training courses all over the world, then providing information on how to prepare for your trip--how to get through international paperwork, suggestions on what to pack and which grammar books to try, tips on how to mentally prepare yourself, and finally it presents an overview of the demand for English teachers and the availability and quality of jobs in dozens of countries. Not only informative and well-organized, but also well-written; it is a delight to read.

This book is a great general resource, with complete listings of schools for gaining TESL/TEFL certification and education, as well as potential jobs at schools around the world. The info is very realistic, and talks about the general benefits and pitfalls of teaching abroad, with many amusing first-hand accounts. All the info is pretty up to date, (this edition is in 1999) however the author is British and all references for North Americans are secondary, while info for those in the UK is a bit more comprehensive. Also, the author promotes 2 major schools which are located in the UK. All around a worthwhile investment, though.

In Part II, on page 344, in the section on Middle East, under the heading Saudi Arabia, Philip Dray is quoted:

"I decided against Saudi Arabia. The money was most appealing, but I could not think myself into a situation where there was no nightlife, limited conact with women and no culture or history. A year may seem short when you say it fast, but you could get very depressed in a situation like that. Money is nearly everything but it can't buy you peace of mind. So I opted for a job at a school for boys in the U.A.E. which, from the description, sounds sociable, inviting and accessible."

Griffith elaborates on Dray's quote above, "After Philip's arrival at the Oasis Residence in Dubai, he was well pleased with his decision, since living conditions in his luxury apartment complex complete with pool, steam room, squash court and gym, were just as lavish as he would have been given in Saudi. High salaries can also be earned in the United Arab Emirates."

That is all the author has to say about the U.A.E. She goes into great detail describing how to get a job in Saudi Arabia and many other countries, while warning that you'll probably hate it. She has a separate section for each such country. Then she says under the Saudi Arabia section that the best option is definitely the U.A.E. And yet she made no section for it, and gave no contacts, as she did with the others.

That is not a funny joke played on the earnest reader.

Also, the author agrees with another source I have concerning Poland. Griffith says on page 293, first sentence under the section on Poland, "Prospects for English teachers in Poland, western Poland in particular, remain MORE PROMISING THAN ALMOST ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD."

However, she does not mention how much a teacher can save per month on average (as she does with most other countries). And from the looks of the numbers that ARE quoted, it doesn't seem like you could save anything, compared with the $1000 to $1500 per month you could save in the Middle East or Japan, or the $1000 you could save in Korea, etc.

The author does give some seemingly useful tips, but it's difficult to trust the author who gives you all the information you could ever want on the countries you'd never want to visit, and none of the info you really want on the countries you want to visit.

By the way, I am an American, but I have no gripe against the book being geared toward Brits, and I hardly think it could be more useful to either. The author does a fine job making it accessible to anyone with half a brain.

This book has some good information, but it's like carrying a phone book, and a lot of the info is addresses. There's too much stuff here. A good guidebook for teaching overseas is 'The World is a Class'. Everything written is to the point, and it's a lot easier to carry.

The information provided in the book is a god send for someone starting out. It provides information on where to begin study wise, getting the job, local contacts in countries, and stories from others out there already. I highly recommend Teaching English Abroad for the novice and beginner.

I have an earlier edition--the third edition, published in 1997. I have read it cover to cover several times in preparation for my first teaching assignment abroad. It is very well-organized, starting with information on TEFL training courses all over the world, then providing information on how to prepare for your trip--how to get through international paperwork, suggestions on what to pack and which grammar books to try, tips on how to mentally prepare yourself, and finally it presents an overview of the demand for English teachers and the availability and quality of jobs in dozens of countries. Not only informative and well-organized, but also well-written; it is a delight to read.

I bought this before going to teach in Spain. It was helpful to an extent but I learned more talking to people and doing online research. Definitely recommend getting a used version at least to save a buck or two.