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Welcome to
the WWU TESOL Alumni Network!
Students
graduate from the TESOL program and go off to have many experiences. We
hope you will contribute to our networking page by sending questions,
job information, or personal updates to share. Please send questions and
updates to share with other WWU TESOL grads to
Trish.Skillman@wwu.edu . Let us know if it is
ok to include your e-mail address for those that might wish to reply to
your posting.
Korea
Click here to read a letter from TESOL
alumni, Ben Volker.
Cuenca, Ecuador - Fall 2006
Click here to read a letter from TESOL
alumni, James Jessup.
Click here to read a letter from TESOL
alumni, Paul Mart.
Lora Eckert
Click here to read a letter from
TESOL alumni, Lora Eckert.
China - 5/06
Click here to read a letter from
TESOL alumni, Rick Chu.
Tateyama
Japan - Fall 2005
Click here to read a letter from TESOL
alumni, Rosie Jacobs, regarding her experience teaching in Japan.
Puntas Arenas, Chile - 10/05
Click here to read a letter from
TESOL alumni, Morgan Lenssen, about her teaching experiences in Chile.
Japan - 9/05
Click here to read a letter from TESOL
alumni, Lindsey Richards, regarding her experience teaching in Japan.
France
Click here to read a letter from
Lauren Beven regarding the Assistante program in France. 10/05
Click here to read a letter from
Philip Dierking regarding the Assistante program in France.
12/08
Costa Rica - 4/05
Click here to read an article by TESOL alumni, Laura Dulin, about
teaching English in Costa Rica.
Poland - 4/05
Click here to read a letter by Michael Bell about his experiences
teaching in Poland.
Korea - 10/14/03
Hello Holly and Trish,
I accepted the job in Korea with Mr. Kim teaching at a Kindergarten in
Seoul. Well, I have now been here over a year. I extended my
contract for 6 months, finishing the school year with the school.
It's been a pretty amazing year and this is the best school I could
have possibly taught for here in Korea. However, I'm ready to
change. I do not plan to sign on for the following year and they are
now thinking about next year.
I wanted to let you guys know about this position, because if anyone
is thinking of teaching in Korea and likes kids, this is the job for
them!!
The position:
I'm teaching 9am-4pm Monday thru Friday at a Montessori Kindergarten.
It's less than 40 hours a week. Three hours teaching each day.
Teaching 2 regular English classes and an after school class. The
rest of the hours are prep time.
My flight, apartment, utilities, and insurance are paid for. My
monthly wage is 2,500,000 won, which is one of the highest wages I've
seen here for English teachers.
Great staff, however, I am the only native teacher at the school. But
they take me out for dinner, and do lots of other very helpful
things.
They are looking for someone who is outgoing, creative, good with
kids, playful, has some experience.
If you want to make more money, there are plenty of families who
want an English conversation tutor and the pay is amazingly good!!
The job would start sometime in February. (I'm not exactly sure
when in February I will be leaving.) If anyone is interested, they
can write me back at this address...I am more than open to answer any
questions they might have!
Thanks, Kim
kimmyinkorea@yahoo.com
South Korea
Click here to read a letter by
Tim Eisner about his experiences
teaching in South Korea.
Arequipa, Peru
- 10/9/02
From the office of: Volunteers for Educational Victory Program
Servicios Educativos Peruanos Americanos del Peru (SEPA Del Peru) –
Arequipa, Peru
To whom it may concern,
Our work as a Peruvian non-profit educational association has not only
brought numerous foreign professionals and teachers to our doorstep
by
offering them an inspiriting opportunity of direct participation in
our
institutions development, but also elevated the aspirations of many
Peruvians, Chileans, Bolivians, and Colombians, who have studied with
us
over the past five years. In this time we have been growing solidly,
leaving
a positive mark on Peruvian education, providing for the needs of toddlers
and infants, adolescents, business leaders, educators, politicians,
and
those in economically disadvantaged situations. We would like to take
this
opportunity to invite your native English speaking TEFL and TESOL graduates
to participate in our Volunteers for Educational Victory Program.
SEPA Del Peru began approximately 4 years ago, and will celebrate its
second year as a Peruvian non-profit educational association in March,
2003. We have worked to create a legally founded and morally guided
institution with the goal of reaching out to the educational sector
in Peru to make an affirmative contribution to its growth. We are not
a religious organization, yet we do work with religious institutions
in projects promoting Education, Health, and Personal Security and Wellbeing.
Our main office is located in Arequipa, Peru, from where we run an Early
Childhood Development Center, Kindergarten, and English Language Institute.
For next year we are planning the introduction of a new Elementary School,
Spanish Language Institute and Interactive Children’s Museum. Moreover
we plan on expanding into Peru’s northern territory early next
year, with our second English language institute. Currently we have
approximately 15 employees, almost half of whom are volunteers, who
have made this organization into more than just a place to work. We
like to think of ourselves as a family which functions as a support
base for cultural integration, personal growth, and professional development.
Our students also form part of our family; their development is our
greatest reward.
In November 2002 we open application procedures for our Volunteers
for
Educational Victory Program and give teachers, professionals, and graduates
with TEFL and TESOL training the opportunity to work and live in Peru.
Participants may choose to work with young children age 1-5, in our
primary
school, with adults, in companies, in State Schools (occasional), and
also
participate in the new programs we will be introducing next year, such
as
our new Language Institute in northern Peru, which will offer the
participant the opportunity to travel throughout Peru. Volunteers for
Educational Victory Program not only gives young graduates a chance
to
develop their skills as educators, to experience another culture directly,
to learn the Spanish language, and to help in the development, organization
and implementation of future programs of our non-profit, but also presents
a
unique opportunity for mature professionals and educators to achieve
a
global view of the educational reality in the world today. The program
is a
thirteen month commitment and includes comfortable, safe housing with
housekeeper, traditional and international food. The work consists of
flexible part time hours, Spanish language training, and the opportunity
to
live in different areas of Peru in a positive, friendly, and safe work
environment.
Thank you for your time, we hope that you will pass this letter along
to
your current students, past students, teachers, and friends. Please
keep in
mind we are especially interested in dynamic individuals motivated toward
teaching Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary level courses. If you
would be interested in receiving more detailed information about the
program, its costs, or about our organization, feel free to write us
either by e-mail
sepa@perupass.com or via mail at :
SEPA Del Peru
Urb. Valencia H-1 – Umacollo
Arequipa, Peru
If you would like to speak with our Educational Victory program coordinator,
Mark Lipski please, call 051-54-956614 between 1pm and 5 pm or 8pm and
10pm EST.
It is when we open our eyes to learn that we truly see the gifts
we have been given to share.
Kumiko Akamine
Dear Trish,
Hi, this is Kumiko Akamine, e-mailing you from Okinawa Japan. I did
TESOL
at Western year 2000-2001. You may not remember me, but I am just
writing to you
to say hi and let you know what I have been doing after I left WWU.
First of all, it was great experience to do TESOL there. The things I
learned influenced me in many ways to teach English. Thank you very
much.
Although I have not passed the exam to be a teacher yet. I have taught
at 3 high schools so far, and I am currently teaching English at one
of the best academic high school in Okinawa (because of the TESOL
certificate, I suppose). Besides English, I am in charge of CBI
(Content Based Interaction), teaching Politics and Economics in
English. One thing I have been really enjoying is teaching
debate in English. Students seem to like it and put a lot of effort on
it. There is only one problem to teach how to debate, which there is
no textbook for debate.
Another thing that I am getting involved with is Model U.N. I am
going to
attend a M.U.N. conference next month in Tokyo. I have to start to do
some
research about the sixth committee, international law, and other
stuff. Since students at my high school are going to learn about
it next year, it will be wonderful study. To be frank with you, I am
not sure if I can do it well.
I hope the TESOL students are doing fine and they will be great
teachers no matter where they work in the future.
Take good care of
yourself.
Kumiko Akamine
Jeremy Ferrera
Hey Trish!
Searching for English jobs in Japan
has been easy for me. As far as I can
tell, it would be easy to find a job even in the most humble of cities
if
you came without one. Of course I wouldn't recommend it, but if you
are the
adventurous type, it would really be no problem I think.
I got all my information from the career center At WWU. Don Gorman was
especially helpful. I knew that the best way to get immersed in
Japanese
culture was to teach with the JET program as an assistant. The
deadline was
too late so to ensure that I would be able to get accepted the next
year I
applied to the Westgate program in Tokyo. They are a private company
that
teaches English to University students. The contract period is 3 1/2
- 4
months. It was perfect. It made my resume very impressive and I had
no
problem getting accepted into Jet the next year. I had to apply while
still
in Japan in December, but that was fine. It also gave me a sample of
life
in Japan and told me whether or not I could handle living in Japan for
a
year with JET.
If you want to experience
Japanese culture and have a lot of free time do
JET. If you actually want to teach English you may be better off
doing
something else-especially if you want your own control, etc.. At
private
schools the students actually want to learn, but that is not
guaranteed in
the public schools. Last year I learned more Japanese in class than I
think
my students did English. I was placed on a remote island in southern
Japan.
This year I was moved to a small city on southern Kyushu and my
students
are enthusiastic and I think I will get to actually teach English. I
know
very few JETs who would describe their work load as a full work load. So if
you pride yourself on your work ethic, again something else would be
better. I spend 1/4 to 1/2 of my day studying Japanese or reading a
book. As the
people at JET are fond of saying however, "every situation is
different."
Anyway that is my story of looking for a job teaching in Japan. If you
want
to email me feel free. My email is ferrerajeremy@hotmail.com. Happy
job
search!
Henry Lewis
Hi Trish,
I just wanted to drop you a note to tell you that
I've ended up at the University of Edinburgh in their MEd TESOL
program. I visited Liverpool and did not like the city or the
university so I came up to Scotland, did a little begging, and they
agreed to let me into the program for this fall. This was my first
choice of schools and I am delighted that it worked out. I guess being
a little aggressive sometimes pays off.
I hope you have a great
quarter and thank you again for the hard work you put in on the
letters of recommendation. Henry Lewis (Henry@henryearllewis.com) Jami Sienkiewich
Hi Trish,
I emailed a friend of mine who lives in Sarapiqui Costa Rica and have
not
heard back yet. I decided to write you anyways and tell you what my
experience was while teaching in CR. Students are welcome to email me
with
questions too!
When I arrived to CR a friend I knew was doing volunteer environmental
education work at Sarapiqui Learning Center. I went to see her and ended
up staying there. Sarapiqui is a small rural area of northwestern CR. It
is all rainforest, full of bugs and creatures and snakes of all sizes.
The center was a two story building owned by Selva Verde Lodge located
on the property. The lodge hosted nature hikes and breakfasts, nice
rooms ect for travelers, particularly older folks. Myself and the
volunteers often gave talks about our program when the ElderHostel would
come to visit us. This was a vital source of donations and funding
through them. Also got our program out to other organizations in the
States.
The site is so incredible, located on the Sarapiqui river. At the
time there was a director there and she was interested in having someone
begin an ESL Program for adults. I interviewed with her and the
environmental ed coordinator and they hired me as an ESL Program
Coordinator. I had no idea where to start...so I just began walking and
taking the only bus that ran up and down the one road through the towns
every few hours, and knocked on doors. Actually I yelled "upe" from
about ten feet away because this is custom there. Rude to knock on the
door. I met families and got to know them. I found that because CR's
economy is so dependant on tourism that many folks wanted to learn
English. There is a 97% literacy rate in CR and they have no military
force. They spend all that money on education and conserving the
environment. Such a beautiful culture and country. I set up three
groups; beg, interm, advanced esl classes. At an open house I organized
I asked the students about dates and times and costs. We decided on a
schedule together and charged an affordable monthly fee to each student.
This was mostly an incentive for them to attend each week, otherwise if
their favorite soap opera was on or it was raining (imagine that in a
rainforest:) they would not come to class! So we had three month
sessions and after that if they were ready/passing tests ect they could
move to the next level, otherwise they would retake that level again for
the next session. At the end of the year we had a graduation/potluck and
handed out diplomas! Needless to say I cried for days when I left this
place. It was an experience that touched me forever. I lived with a
family in the area, this is how we housed our volunteers that came down.
Basically we paid the cost of room and one meal a day with the family.
We had about 5 families that loved to have volunteers stay with them. It
ended up that the volunteer became like a family member to them...eating
together, laughing together, shopping together etc. I was taken under
the wings of one family in particular, I still keep in touch with them
on and off. I hope this helps a little. I will continue to try and get
in touch with the Center to see if they are still in operation. Please
feel free to email me with any further questions or comments!
Jami Sienkiewich
jamiS@chs-wa.org
Steve Howard
Steve is currently teaching in Japan. He's doing a variety
of teaching, but currently he's teaching a course in English to Japanese
policemen. He would be happy to offer advice to other TESOL grads
thinking of going to Japan. Feel free to contact him at
stevenbhow@hotmail.com
Rachel Aljets
Hi everyone,
After graduating from WWU in 2002 with a BA and a TESOL certificate,
I went to Japan (Saitama) to be an Assistant English Teacher with
the JET program, where I worked in a high school and in elementary
schools. I think the JET program is a great program and would
recommend it especially as a first experience to people just getting
their TESOL feet wet. After 2 years with JET, I ended up back in
Japan, teaching in a small school in Okayama prefecture. It was neat
to be able to have lived in a big city and in a more rural area of
Japan. After I came back to the U.S., I got a MATESOL degree from
the UW and since graduating have taught in Intensive ESL
programs. If any of you would like to know more about any of these
opportunities, feel free to shoot me an e-mail!
~ Rachael Aljets
Elise Meilleur
Hi Trish.
I hope you
remember me; I received my TESOL certificate last year, and went on
the practicum to Morelia. I am currently in Guanajuato Mexico (not that far from Morelia) working as the English
Department Coordinator for a private school called Academia Falcon.
I also teach a few classes (children and adults) and I love it! I
decided to move back to Mexico, about 6 months after I returned from
Morelia. I found the job as the coordinator (thanks to my TESOL
certificate) and have been living here very happily for a year now.
If you would like me to share my experiences with your discussion
group, I would be more than happy to do so. Also, I would like to
let you know that I am currently hiring teachers for the upcoming
semester, starting in August, so if you know of anybody that is
looking for a job in Mexico, they are more than welcome to contact
me if they have any questions or want any information about the
school or the city.
Adios, Elise
elisemeilleur@hotmail.com
Zack Kelly
Hello, this is Zach Kelly. I graduated from the TESOL program last
December after completing my practicum in Morelia. I'm writing for a
couple reasons. I'd like to share some of my experiences, hoping they
can be of some help to recent/future graduates and also to request some
contact information.
First off, the Morelia practicum experience was
wonderful. I would recommend it to any students considering it. I
apologize for not getting back sooner with my two bits but things were
really hectic finding work, a place to live, etc. If any students want
specific info. regarding this experience you can pass on my email and I
would be happy to answer questions.
For the past year I have been living and working in
the LA area. I found work easily (within a couple of weeks) as a
"floater" substituting for four adult ESL schools. It took a little
longer (about a month) to secure a permanent position and within another
month and a half I secured a full time teaching position. The school I
am working for is called Language Systems International. It is private,
serves adults-about half immigrant and half academic with plans to
return to their home countries, and has been a really great experience.
I'd like to share a few things I've learned from this experience in the
hopes that it will be helpful to others.
First, finding a job with Western's TESOL
certification, a BA and some experience is pretty easy. There are
several private, adult ESL schools down here similar to the one I now
work for. I chose mine based on location, pay and environment (faculty,
classrooms, materials). In my experience, meeting other teachers has
been one of the neatest things because of the dynamic nature of ESL
folks. Generally younger, well traveled and interesting. The flip side,
which is beneficial to those seeking employment, is the turn over is
pretty high. Most teachers are stateside for a few months to get there
bearings before going overseas or are here a couple of years to pursue a
Masters and move on to community college or university positions. Teachers interested in working for a private school with little
experience should expect to make $15- $20 and hour with no benefits and
no contract. The best resource for finding these jobs is the online
version of the LA Times and its Career Finder link.
Community College: I haven't worked in one so this
is based on other teachers' observations. Technically, you can't teach
at a CC without a Masters. In recent years the demand for ESL teachers
has been such that CCs were hiring under qualified teachers but most
recently, with the poor economy, classes are being cut and teachers let
go. The pay is better- $30 an hour. However, it's tough to get more than
eight hours a week and benefits don't kick in until 12 hrs./wk. There
may be some opportunities but I wouldn't advise a teacher without a
Masters to come here expecting to find work at a CC.
High schools: When I first moved here I
expected to find work at a public high school. "We need teachers" "Only
a BA is Ok". I had some uninformed notions of easily walking into a
district office and being offered a job with a decent salary and great
benefits. I won't say it's impossible to find a job at a public high
school with a BA and TESOL certification but I didn't have the required
stamina to make it happen. The LA Unified School District is a monster
in both size and character. After diligently making phone calls, sending
faxes and driving across town in hellish traffic for a couple of weeks I
decided to take a job which was lower paying but, ultimately, better for
me. I won't go into it much more but here are some things which will
make finding a public school job in the area easier: 1.A state teaching
certificate. This is much more important than a TESOL certificate in
this case because, technically, CA doesn't teach ESL anymore at the high
school level. In fact, this is untrue but a teacher can't be
hired solely as an ESL teacher. 2. A BA in a "core subject"--
math, science, English are good, social sciences aren't. 3. two years
teaching experience. Not required but helpful.
I could go into these in more detail but this is
already getting really long. I'd be happy to answer any specific
questions. On the plus side- LAUSD jobs do pay well-- $35-50K for first
year teachers with great benefits. If someone has more patience than I
do, doesn't need a job immediately and fulfills the recommendations
above, LAUSD may be a good option. They have a web site which is the
best place to search for jobs.
That's about it. All of this information is only
one person's experience and should be taken as such but I hope it's
helpful. Feel free to forward it and/or my contact info. to anyone
interested.
Nadia Nowinski
Well, I'm still here in Daegu, South Korea, and I've just
resigned with Lego Education Center (yes, the same Norwegian toys we all
grew up playing with!) for another year. Let me tell you just a bit
about where I work, so maybe you can share the info. with any current or
former TESOL students who are looking for immediate overseas
employment!
There are about 45 Lego "hagwans", or private academies throughout
Korea...they teach different subjects such as math and science through
Lego, as well as robot building, etc.. Well, now they are opening
up their first English Lego school, and it's my job to put it
together!...from choosing the textbooks we are using, designing the
schedule, lesson planning, level testing new students, etc...AND hiring
new foreign teachers, for our school as well as other Lego schools.
Their vision is to teach English (and other subjects) through
Lego...we are starting a one year, full time kindergarten program in the
beginning of March, and need another English teacher at that time for my
school, as well as at least one other foreign teacher for another Lego
school in Daegu. And we will continue to need more teachers throughout
the year as more schools add English to their curriculum. Since
this is a business partnership between Lego and Dacta, a Korean company,
their goals for this Lego English school is global....they/we hope to
get English teachers in all of the hagwans here, as well as eventually
spread the English Lego Education Centers around Asia and into the EU!...its
quite a huge goal, but I think it's completely realistic. So, it's
pretty critical that I excel at my job this year!
A few of the things to make this job go easier for everyone, that I
need to take care of soon, is, I want to standardize the curriculum for
all of the schools to use, and will soon write a manual for the newly
arrived foreign teachers...I will also be doing the training with the
new teachers for the first few days at least... SO, I was
wondering if you knew anyone that might be interested?!
I welcome any questions about living in Korea, etc....but if anyone
is seriously interested, for immediate consideration and a phone
interview, please have them include a recent resume, a scanned copy of
their BA degree and the inside of their passport, including their photo.
Kathy Rice
Dear Trish Skillman,
I don't know if you will remember me. My name is Kathy Rice. I got my
TESOL certificate from Western in the first summer program offered.
I am writing to ask you to inform any current or past TESOL graduates or
anyone else who you think might be interested in a volunteer English
teaching program in Arequipa, Peru.
I have been working with an English Language Institute in Arequipa for
about a year. We will be sending out a letter requesting volunteer
teachers, college graduates, and specifically TESOL graduates to come
down here to work part-time in a 13 month program, which includes food,
housing, maid service, Spanish classes and time for traveling. We need
native English speakers. I would really appreciate it if you could
circulate this letter among your colleagues, and anyone who might be
interested. Work opportunities include teaching English to adults and
teenagers, working in our bi-lingual Kindergarten, and helping organize
and carry out new projects such as opening a new Institute in Northern
Peru and starting our Primary school, and possibly a children's museum.
This program is run by SEPA del Peru, a non-profit educational
organization in Arequipa. The directors are a married couple, the man is
from Maine, and his wife is Peruvian. Its a small organization. I've
been working with them for more than a year now and I really enjoy it.
We have a lot of freedom to create our own classes, the classes are
maximum 12 students, and Arequipa is a beautiful, safe, lively city to
live in.
I would really appreciate it if you could circulate this information in
any
way possible. Many thanks and all my best wishes to you and all the
TESOL students! I'll never forget my time in the program and my
teachers.
Sincerely,
Kathy Rice
Our contact information is
Email: sepa@perupass.com
Mail:
SEPA del Peru
Urb. Valencia H-1
Umacollo
Arequipa, Peru
Phone: Mark Lipski (Institute director): 051-54-956614
(between 1pm-5pm and 8pm-10pm EST)
Of course, anyone should feel free to contact me as well at
Email:
kathyannrice@hotmail.com / phone: 051-54-340849
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