NYS TESOL Special Interest Groups (SIG)

SIG Chair
Claudette Oliveras
PS 199, Queens NY
E-mail: tesl_abroad@nystesol.org


SIG Activities
TBA

You’ve decided to investigate the possibilities of teaching English overseas. Where do you begin? The choices are many. The following listings contain some of the most popular resources. I hope it will be helpful to you. If you have any suggestions or additions to the list, please let me know! Organizations can also be found if the name is typed into a search engine such as Google.com.

1. General Publications

• Griffin, Susan (2003). Talk Your Way Around the World. London: Vaca- tion Work Publications.
  McKay, Sandra Lee (2002). Teaching English as an International Language. Oxford University Press.
• Mohamed, Jeff (2003). Teaching English Overseas: A Job Guide for Americans and Canadians. English International: Springs, TX.
• Sperling, Dave (1998). The Internet Guide for English Language Teachers. Longman Publishing Co.

2. United States Government Resources (available on the Internet)

• Department of Defense Dependent Schools (www.odedodea.edu/pers/)
• Fulbright Awards (www.fulbrightexchanges.org)
• The Peace Corps (www.peacecorps.gov/)
• United States Department of State (www.exchanges.state.gov/education)

3. General Resources

• Council for International Educational Exchanges (www.council.exchanges.org)
• Council of International Exchange (www.cies.org)
• Institute of International Education (www.iie.org)

4. Cultural Information

• Culturegrams (www.culturegrams.com)
• Intercultural Press (www.interculturalpress.com)
• Pro-Lingua Associates (www.prolinguaassociates.com)

5. Potpourri of Goodies
a) Sending Organizations

• American Professional Partnership for Lithuanian Education (Apple). Summer Programs (www.applequest.org)
• American Scandinavian Foundation. (teaching in Finland) (www.amscan.org)
• EPIK (English Programs in Korea). Sponsored by the Korean government. (www.epik.knue.ac.kr)
• JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching Programs). Sponsored by the Japanese government. (www.mofa.go.jp)
• Kosciuszko Foundation. Summer programs. (www.kosciuszkofoundation.org)
• SPELT (Soros Professional English Language Teaching Programs) (www.soros.org/)
• Recruiting Fair (for International American Schools)
• International School Services (www.iss.edu)

c) Job Lists

• Dave’s ESL Café (very comprehensive) (www.eslcafe.com)
• Edufind (www.jobs.edufind.com)
• Linguistic Funland (www.linguistic-funland.com)
• O-Hayo Sensei (www.O-HayoSensei.com)
• Teach Abroad (www.teachabroad.com)
• TEFL.com (www.tefl.com/jobs)
• TEFL.net (www.net/jobs)
• TESOL (www.tesol.edu)

d) Periodicals (subscription required)

• The International Educator
• Jobs in American International Schools. (www.tieonline.com)
• Transitions Abroad (www.transitionsabroad.com)

e) Safety Alerts

• U.S. Department of State (listed by individual countries) (www.travel.state.gov)

f) Other Options
If you are interested in going overseas but are unable to do so at this time, another interesting option is to stay in the United States and work on one of the Native American reservations. Web sites of interest are:
Office of Indian Education Programs (www.oiep.bia.edu)
Northern Arizona Literacy Enterprises at Northern Arizona University.
Contact: Erika.Konrad@NAU.EDU

The abundance of materials for locating a job teaching English overseas is overwhelming. Listed here are just a small sample of what’s available and how to proceed. Good luck in your job search!

Ruth Botwinik was the former chair of the Teaching English Abroad SIG of NYS TESOL. For several years she was the editor of Worldwide Teacher, a former SIG newsletter. She has taught English in China and Mexico and done teacher training in Argentina. Currently, she teaches at Queensborough Community College and Hofstra University. <Rbotwinik@aol.com>