2007 Yale Economics Graduate |Job Prospects Teaching/Tutoring?

[JacobDoyle]

Dear all,

First, thank you to anybody who can help with this post. I hold a BA in Economics from Yale University and was also a member of the varsity baseball team. My most recent job was coaching and mentoring a high school baseball team in Los Angeles, CA this Spring 2012. I have a Fiance who is Taiwanese and a UCLA grad in East Asian Studies (BA). She is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Taiwanese. Her most recent job experience is in the legal field. We have our sights on venturing overseas together as teachers/tutors (probably ESL) and I hope to have some opportunity to teach baseball as well.

What are some ways that we can leverage our backgrounds and maximize our earning potential in the teaching/tutoring field. Moreover, what organizations or schools are good fits for us? Any additional thoughts, input, or commentary would be greatly appreciated as well.

All the best,

Jacob

[ChewDawg]

With UCLA and Yale backgrounds, I think you'll be wasting your efforts in ESL where lots of foreigners have no degrees, degrees of very limited worth, and/or often weren't at the head of their classes. Does it make a difference? No. People are just looking for a white face.

You both should be looking for corporate work in Taiwan outside of educational services. In your spare time, you could go to the American School, tell them about your baseball background, and see if they are interested in you perhaps teaching it (with their PE instructor) outside of class.

[JacobDoyle]

Thank you

[Borogove]

Since you're a native English speaker with baseball skills, you might actually be in high demand among parents who want their kids to get more exposure to English while playing baseball. A Spanish friend of mine who is fluent in English and married to a Taiwanese national came to live in Taipei in August of last year. By December, through the Taiwanese wife's family friends, they had found a Sunday afternoon soccer class that my Spanish friend started volunteering with as a coach, alongside the Taiwanese coaches. My Spanish friend coached the kids in English, and the kids' parents were very happy that their kids were getting some English exposure while playing soccer. In January, one of the Taiwanese coaches, who was also coaching at a few public elementary schools, decided he had too much work, so he recommended my friend to be his replacement coaching at one of those schools (two days a week for a couple of hours each day). My friend was quickly hired -- here again the school was thrilled that he would be coaching in English. This August, my friend and his wife will be starting a soccer school of their own.

[JacobDoyle]

Thank you

[ironlady]

As an unmarried person, though, remember that many forms of employment will be illegal for you, as will volunteer work.

[bigduke6]

As an unmarried person, though, remember that many forms of employment will be illegal for you, as will volunteer work.

Correct. It will make your life a whole lot easier if you get married. The visa you will get gives you open work rights. You can do whatever you want.