Questions and Answers:

Q: Will you find me a teaching job?
A: We do not place graduates per se, however, during our TESOL Course, we show you many sources for ESL teaching jobs around the world. In addition, we often hear of positions through contacts and try to make these available to graduates.  We also feature a new CD called ESL Hot Jobs. THis is produced by Tisana Publications in the USA. Sunbridge is not affiliated with that company and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information they provide. To go to the special order page for Sunbridge Students and graduates, click on ESL Hot Jobs in the table below.

        Q: How long is a teaching contract?
        A: Most teaching contracts are for one year, though they can vary from six months to
            two years.

        Q: Will the school pay for my visa and work permit?
        A: In most cases, they will.  As an example, for Thailand, you would receive a letter
            from the school offering you a position. This you would take to the local Thai
            Consulate and you would get a three-month 'non-immigrant' B-Class visa.  You
            would have to pay for this.  When you arrive in Thailand, the school will convert
            this to a one-year visa and would also arrange for a work permit at their expense.

        Q: Will a school pay for my flight?
        A: It depends on the school and the country.  Most schools will pay for
            a return flight however you may receive a reimbursement for a one-way flight
            when you arrive (or up to four months later) with the return portion being paid when
            you complete your contract.

        Q: Should I take a TESL/TESOL course or try to get some teaching
            experience first?
        A: You will be much more prepared to face a class if you have a base of knowledge
            and ideas upon which to draw. We recommend taking some teacher training first.
            Schools will be much more inclined to hire you if you can show a TESOL
            Certificate or equivalent.

        Q: If I want to work in Thailand, am I better to go there and apply?
        A: There are pros and cons to doing this.  It will certainly give you a 'feel' for the area
            you in which you want to teach.  However, if you go there and find a teaching job,
            the school is likely to consider you a 'local hire'.  This means they will be reluctant
            to pay for airfare, housing and settling in allowance.  If you want to 'check it out',
            consider going there 'on vacation'.  If you apply to any school, be sure they know
            that you are on holidays only and would expect airfare, etc. as part of an agreement.

        Q: What about a housing allowance?
        A: If you are hired from overseas, schools will often pay a stipulated housing allowance                 on top of a base salary.  
            Sometimes schools offer an allowance and leave you to select your own
            accommodation.  In Korea, where rents are paid annually, many schools maintain
            residences for foreign teachers. These are generally shared apartments or houses.
            For this reason, preference is often given to single teachers.

        Q: What kind of accommodation can I expect?
        A: This would depend on where you were teaching.  In a major city, apartments can
             be as modern as what you are used to.  If you work in a village school,
            accommodation could be very basic, i.e. utilitarian.

        Q: How about teaching conditions?
        A: Anywhere from open-air village schools without electricity to modern schools
            equipped with state-of-the-art computer facilities.

        Q: Do I have to speak an Asian language, such as Japanese if I want to
            teach there?
        A: No, you don't have to.  However, you will likely pick up some of the language once
            you are there, and you will probably find that it helps you to understand your
            students better.  In Japan, for instance, you would probably be working with a
            Japanese assistant teacher who would look after such things as attendance taking,
            discipline, etc.  This is not the case in most other countries, but it is not a major
            problem in most cases.

        Q: What can I do if the school does not live up to its contract?
        A: Most schools are very reputable.  A contract is a legally binding agreement.
            If you have a dispute with the school and cannot resolve it then you would have
            to decide if it is worth seeking local legal counsel, asking the school to let you
            out of the agreement, or just leaving.  Of course, if you left before the end of
            your contract, you would forfeit any completion bonus or agreed-upon return
            airfare.  Remember that if you leave early, it also puts the school in a bind. In
            most cases, getting abgry with the school is not helpfup and in places such as
            Korea it is absolutely a no-no and will cause you immense problems. Keep your
            cool at all times!

        Q: What is a completion bonus?
        A: Some schools pay a bonus at the end of a contract.  This might be your return
            airticket or it could be an additional month's salary.  Each case is different.

        Q: Do I have to bring my original diplomas and certificates with me?
        A: That depends on the country in which you will be teaching.  For example, Thailand
             requires that you bring the original documents. For employment in Korea, you can
             go to a Korean consulate and have them make certified copies for you.  Find out
             exactly what the school needs before you go.  Definitely take lots of passport-sized
             photos. Sixteen to twenty is a good number. You'll need them for visa, workpermit,
             teacher's license, school employment records and sundry other forms.

               Q: Will my Sunbridge certificate be recognized around the world?
         A: Our graduates are teaching in many countries and we our certificate has never
             been refused by any government, school board or school. In fact, the depth of
             our course has been commended by the Ministry of Education in Macau.

          Q: Does your certificate state that this is an online course?
          A: No. The ceertificate states that it is a three-month course. This is the minimum
              required in s,e countries to obtain a teaching visa. The certificate does not state
              how the courser is delivered.

          Q: Will your courses be accepted for credit if I want to apply one of them towards
               a master's degree?
          A: Since most universities set their own entrance criteria, that will depend on the
              institution you select.  We can tell you that it will be accepted at the following
              universities and university-level institutions:
                      Berne Universtity (St. Kitts/New Hampshire)
                      Canadian School of Management (Toronto)
                      Century University (New Mexico)
                      International Management Centres (UK)
                      Loyola University (Quebec)
                      Revans University (Colorado)