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Teaching English in Singapore...

Posted: Mon, 21 Jan 2013 7:42 pm
by Tarko
Good day all.

After a one-year break from Singapore, I am now back with a Cert in hand.

I have a TESOL and did my TKT while I was in Canada.

But that alone surely is not a sure win in Singapore.

I therefore turn to you now for a little help:

Do you know any private school who might be hiring teachers right now?
Or, do you know anyone who would know?

If you have any information on the subject, or contact information for someone else, kindly pass them along, it would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Marc

Posted: Mon, 21 Jan 2013 8:07 pm
by zzm9980
Where are you from? You're going to have an amazingly difficult time finding a job doing this as there are plenty of Singaporeans that can do this (or think they can, even if they can't: see aunties teaching English at a community center).

If you had a graduate degree in English, I'd suggest something like the British Council. With that certificate (and if you're a caucasian) I'd suggest going to China or Taiwan to teach English.

Posted: Tue, 22 Jan 2013 7:17 am
by harlyd
Are you already in SG? If not, your search is going to be very difficult (most likely futile!). Your chances will be better once you are here and have an SG address and phone number. The only job prospects you may have here with TESOL is tuition centers for children or local preschools. Most schools here will be out of the questions without a teaching degree. I would look into the tuition centers first. I Can Read is one that hires native speakers with little to no experience.

Good luck on your search!

Posted: Fri, 25 Jan 2013 10:47 am
by samdirevo
harlyd wrote:Are you already in SG? If not, your search is going to be very difficult (most likely futile!). Your chances will be better once you are here and have an SG address and phone number. The only job prospects you may have here with TESOL is tuition centers for children or local preschools. Most schools here will be out of the questions without a teaching degree. I would look into the tuition centers first. I Can Read is one that hires native speakers with little to no experience.

Good luck on your search!
I definitely agree with you. It is much better to look into tuition centers first but you must be willing to work during late hours. I'm currently looking into Elite Mind Learning Centre to get a position as an English tutor.

Posted: Thu, 31 Jan 2013 5:41 pm
by darpy
I am not sure what experience the above posters have with actually looking for work in the TESOL field, but I can tell you from my experience, it is nothing like what has been mentioned.

Yes, you will probably look in tuition centers, but there is a TON of work out there.
QUALIFIER - you didnt mention where you are from? This is the hard truth here: if you have white skin and are from US, Canada, UK, Australia then you will have plenty of offers. The trend now is to send students to teachers from these countries, especially for the phonics. Not many people want their children taught English by a local.

When I first begun I literally had 4 offers in my first week of looking. I just work free lance now and do the hours I want to (most places will try and rope you into weekends)

Posted: Thu, 31 Jan 2013 6:31 pm
by sundaymorningstaple
darpy wrote:I am not sure what experience the above posters have with actually looking for work in the TESOL field, but I can tell you from my experience, it is nothing like what has been mentioned.

Yes, you will probably look in tuition centers, but there is a TON of work out there.
QUALIFIER - you didnt mention where you are from? This is the hard truth here: if you have white skin and are from US, Canada, UK, Australia then you will have plenty of offers. The trend now is to send students to teachers from these countries, especially for the phonics. Not many people want their children taught English by a local.

When I first begun I literally had 4 offers in my first week of looking. I just work free lance now and do the hours I want to (most places will try and rope you into weekends)
I hope you have PR!

Posted: Thu, 31 Jan 2013 6:38 pm
by darpy
nope, I only qualify for PR as a sponsored applicant, which means I would be eligible for National Service, so I stay on my LTVP+

Posted: Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:35 pm
by Mi Amigo
darpy wrote:When I first begun I literally had 4 offers in my first week of looking. I just work free lance now and do the hours I want to (most places will try and rope you into weekends)
darpy wrote:nope, I only qualify for PR as a sponsored applicant, which means I would be eligible for National Service, so I stay on my LTVP+
Hmmm... Is that legit (i.e. without a LOC)?

Posted: Thu, 31 Jan 2013 11:25 pm
by Strong Eagle
Mi Amigo wrote:
darpy wrote:When I first begun I literally had 4 offers in my first week of looking. I just work free lance now and do the hours I want to (most places will try and rope you into weekends)
darpy wrote:nope, I only qualify for PR as a sponsored applicant, which means I would be eligible for National Service, so I stay on my LTVP+
Hmmm... Is that legit (i.e. without a LOC)?
LTVP+ can work but still require LOC as with a DP.

http://www.ica.gov.sg/news_details.aspx?nid=12665

Posted: Thu, 31 Jan 2013 11:29 pm
by Mi Amigo
Strong Eagle wrote:LTVP+ can work but still require LOC as with a DP.

http://www.ica.gov.sg/news_details.aspx?nid=12665
That's what I thought. But a LOC is for a single employer, right? Freelance also can?? :???:

Posted: Fri, 01 Feb 2013 1:25 am
by Strong Eagle
Mi Amigo wrote:
Strong Eagle wrote:LTVP+ can work but still require LOC as with a DP.

http://www.ica.gov.sg/news_details.aspx?nid=12665
That's what I thought. But a LOC is for a single employer, right? Freelance also can?? :???:
You are correct. LOC is granted to a single employer and there are threads around here somewhere where the poster said that MOM would only grant one at a time.

To freelance, one must form a company, use that company to get the LOC, then contract out to the various firms that one wishes to work for. There are a couple of stickies in this section dealing with issues in making this happen.

Posted: Sun, 03 Feb 2013 10:27 am
by Mi Amigo
Thanks for confirming that. Always good to make sure we have accurate information on this kind of subject, for the benefit of others who may seek out the thread in future.

Darpy seems to have gone quiet ;-)