[hydrogonian]

(03-01-2011 02:01 AM)Dash Global Wrote:  

That's a tad bit misleading. I know a grl right now at a good coligo in Colombia that was hired before she even fully graduated (hired in feb, didnt graduate till may) Yea US experience is def a plus, but you can def get a decent job without it.

The main thing is to do well in the initial meeting / interview with the international schools.

Right. There are examples like your acquaintance, but I actually find such examples to be misleading.

There are different tiers of international schools, some of which are only "international schools" in name, but which are essentially bootstrapped private schools, run by locals or people with deficient funding, that bear little resemblance to the quality of school of a 'real' international school. There are also schools in countries which have a hard time attracting teachers, and therefore will hire someone without the international school "standard" in qualifications because they are forced to do so. This could be someone without a teaching license, or someone with a license but without the standard of two years experience.

The point is that a teacher will have a hard time getting hired at the better schools without the standard qualifications. In international schools, that's considered a license plus two years of in-state teaching experience. I'm not saying that you can't get work at an "international school", or that years of working your way up the food chain with lesser qualifications won't eventually land you in a better school, but I just wanted to be clear as to the fact that there are "international schools", and then there are international schools. The difference in pay and benefits will be the most telling factor.

I'm also curious as to what state your acquaintance is licensed in, that will let her keep a permanent license with no in-state teaching experience. In my state, I could technically teach abroad for a year or two after attainment of my initial license. However, without the in-state experience, the license would soon expire without an option to renew.

[emh]

(03-01-2011 02:11 PM)Ajiaco Wrote:  

Also, depending on where you want to teach, you certainly do not need a teaching degree. A university degree in any subject will usually do, and I know people who teach English without even that. But again, nobody’s saving a nest egg this way.

Actually the money's pretty good in parts of asia and there are people who save $1-2 grand a month. The downside is that your boss will likely be a complete ahole and you may be working crappy hours (early mornings, late evenings).

[emh]

(03-01-2011 05:50 PM)hydrogonian Wrote:  

(03-01-2011 02:01 AM)Dash Global Wrote:  

That's a tad bit misleading. I know a grl right now at a good coligo in Colombia that was hired before she even fully graduated (hired in feb, didnt graduate till may) Yea US experience is def a plus, but you can def get a decent job without it.

The main thing is to do well in the initial meeting / interview with the international schools.

Right. There are examples like your acquaintance, but I actually find such examples to be misleading.

There are different tiers of international schools, some of which are only "international schools" in name, but which are essentially bootstrapped private schools, run by locals or people with deficient funding, that bear little resemblance to the quality of school of a 'real' international school. There are also schools in countries which have a hard time attracting teachers, and therefore will hire someone without the international school "standard" in qualifications because they are forced to do so. This could be someone without a teaching license, or someone with a license but without the standard of two years experience.

The point is that a teacher will have a hard time getting hired at the better schools without the standard qualifications. In international schools, that's considered a license plus two years of in-state teaching experience. I'm not saying that you can't get work at an "international school", or that years of working your way up the food chain with lesser qualifications won't eventually land you in a better school, but I just wanted to be clear as to the fact that there are "international schools", and then there are international schools. The difference in pay and benefits will be the most telling factor.

I'm also curious as to what state your acquaintance is licensed in, that will let her keep a permanent license with no in-state teaching experience. In my state, I could technically teach abroad for a year or two after attainment of my initial license. However, without the in-state experience, the license would soon expire without an option to renew.

Well a quick google search yielded the following for Iowa:

Q: I have an Initial License and I have 2 years of teaching in another state, and now I am going to be teaching in a foreign country in the coming year. Will that allow me to move to the Standard License?

A: It is very likely that it will count as your third year. In fact, all three years could be completed in a foreign country if you teach in a school “accredited” by that country or in an international school.

http://www.iowa.gov/boee/FAQRenew.html

Obviously every state is going to be different.

[Veni Vidi Pimpi]

Here is my $0.02, whatever it is worth as far as positioning yourself to go abroad. This is totally professionally focused and the "social" aspect of it is for another thread.

1) If you really (in your heart) want to be a lawyer, go to law school now and get it over with. It only gets harder to go back to school over time. That being said, if you hate law, I agree with Kimleebj and don't force yourself. Degrees are no guarantee these days but they almost never hurt unless they are obviously frivolous.

2) Make sure that your law school has good study abroad options. I didn't go to law school and I don't even know if this is the case that law school does study abroad. If not, talk to the career office early (like fall semester) and DESIGN your own program. If you want to follow your dreams you must be proactive.

3) Study up a lot on international business law -- in particular, IP law, contract law, tax law, etc. Focus on Brazil or somewhere you would love to go and build up an expertise.

4) If you are "made" money wise, I would look for opportunities for internships with a US corp (or a large multinational foreign one) in a country you would want to be in. Make a big pitch. Offer to work for crap or free for a summer. While there, join the local legal association, subscribe to the magazines, take courses or seminars etc. in law issues in that country. This will make your resume look good if you want to go work there full time.

5) Start building contacts now. How? Find the top legal schools in Brazil, Colombia, Russia, or wherever, find a professor(s) in the topics courses you like, and write an introductory email or letter to introduce yourself and your interest in X type of law in their country. Ask for resources and even better, offer any kind of help they would need, i.e. translating articles to English, proofreading their English manuscripts they are trying to publish, etc. Do this and when you get to that country you have a friend, and likely one with valuable personal and professional connections.

6) Attend conferences in the US on the country/law you like to make contacts.

7) Save money if possible. Money helps, trust me.

[kimleebj]

International teaching information will be valuable for many readers. But the original poster only mentioned teaching in passing. He likes to travel and has studied Spanish for two years, and is not interested in his BBA or law school.

He would only be qualified to teach English to speakers of other languages (ESL). There must be plenty of hippies competing for these jobs, so they will get Peace Corps wages and accommodations. The nearest city will be three bus transfers away if the road isn't washed out. The shining toothless faces of his students will be his reward.

http://www.eslcafe.com/joblist/

[lavidaloca]

I never said I don't like the law. In fact, I greatly enjoy the law. Also, my father is highly successful in his small practice. Someone mentioned being worse at the law especially when beginning. Keep in mind that my hourly rate would reflect this. Even legal aid lawyers charge over 100 dollars an hour. I also am not going to school in the US. I'm going to school in Canada where the tuition is 10k or so as opposed to 40k+.

[kimleebj]

(03-01-2011 10:11 PM)lavidaloca Wrote:  

I greatly enjoy the law.

How do you know? The only positive legal experience you have mentioned is anticipating Mensa-level performance on the LSAT. It sounds like four years of BBA didn't provide direction. So why will the next three years be different? Too many students waste time in law school because they don't know what else to do.

[zoom]

It seems like it would be best to become a teacher in america. You would probably make more money than you would internationally and you only have to work 180 days a year. You also have the ability to travel during school vacations.

[hydrogonian]

(03-01-2011 06:07 PM)emh Wrote:  

Actually the money's pretty good in parts of asia and there are people who save $1-2 grand a month. The downside is that your boss will likely be a complete ahole and you may be working crappy hours (early mornings, late evenings).

Not to split hairs on a topic that is derailing the thread, but there isn't anywhere in Asia where you can save $2k a month. Unless you have many years in country and teach at the university level in the best paying country. Or if you are fluent in Japanese, have an advanced degree, are published, and therefore can secure a University position in Japan. Also consider the fact that a teacher would tend to up his or her lifestyle expenses with the increased income. 1k a month is the standard max in the best paying country, with the average ESL job. Usually, teachers save a little less than that.

[kimleebj]

(03-02-2011 11:47 AM)hydrogonian Wrote:  

there isn't anywhere in Asia where you can save $2k a month.

Good post. Degreed, licensed professionals are scarce and earn decent pay. But you won't earn much if your only qualification is the ability to speak English. Furthermore, it can be cheap to live in remote areas, but the pay will be lower. Cities are expensive. You can't live in cool places with a low cost of living while earning a professional salary without qualifications.

If you don't know what to do with your life and just want to travel cheap, then a Peace Corps or ESL job may be fine. It isn't about saving money.