|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
ttxor1
Joined: 04 Jan 2014
Posts: 119
|
 Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 6:24 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| how was your experience teaching with NYCDOE/Fellows Program, SledgeCleaver? much appreciate your insights into their selection criteria... i thought that TESOL was a high need area, but perhaps not the most high need area... I did do my BA in English, but did not do a state teaching license...at the time i didn't intend to teach (ESL/EFL nor literature), but just enjoyed the discipline and did much better in it than with the sciences.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Hod
Joined: 28 Apr 2003
Posts: 1613
Location: Home
|
| Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 9:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| scot47 wrote: |
| I reached the same state of disillusion about 1978. Alas, it was too late for me to change course and so my ship sailed on. I now have found a safe haven in retiremenet and have no more daily concerns about EFLing students or colleagues. |
No need to say any more. TEFL serves as a brilliant short-term interlude in one's life partly to gain a few new skills but mainly to live and work in places you'd never ordinarily get a visa.
The trouble is this forum is 99.8% populated by current or recently-retired teachers. Countless others happily do a few years in TEFL before moving on, not just from TEFL but also forums like this. We therefore get a rose tinted view of TEFL from forums, but the likes of scot47 and I will remain here to give a balanced view.
I'd never regret my TEFL years, but I didn't want thirty-six years of disillusionment as the gentleman above so knew when to move on. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
|
| Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 12:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Dear Hod,
I've been teaching EFL/ESL since 1978 (for the math-challenged, that's about 36 years).I suppose it's possible that I may someday reach that state of disillusionment written about. However, I kind of doubt it.
Is my experience typical? Probably not. But I figure, what the heck, I'll remain here to give an unbalanced view. 
Regards,
John |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
|
| Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 6:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I had hoped to get a seat in the House of Lords but I think my application got lost. So I spent my adult life as an EFL drudge and roustabout. So it goes.
Those who are confronted with a Crisis of Faith need to find a new belief. Try the Nation of Islam, Scientology or Vegetarianism ! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Hod
Joined: 28 Apr 2003
Posts: 1613
Location: Home
|
| Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 10:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| johnslat wrote: |
Dear Hod,
I've been teaching EFL/ESL since 1978 (for the math-challenged, that's about 36 years).I suppose it's possible that I may someday reach that state of disillusionment written about. However, I kind of doubt it.
Is my experience typical? Probably not. But I figure, what the heck, I'll remain here to give an unbalanced view.
Regards,
John |
Dear John
As you asked, albeit rhetorically, I'll offer an opinion that your experience is unusual in that I doubt few would remain positive after 36 years of TEFLing. I think that's mainly down to your positive outlook, which I envy if truth be told.
In my TEFL experience, which wasn't all in dodgy backstreet places, far from it, staffrooms have a fair percentage of burned out teachers. They’re not bad or uncaring people and probably teach well. Hopefully, they’ll move on to other careers, and in retrospect will highly value their time as TEFLers. Few will talk about it, though, and far less will post on forums like this. Which means forums are left with an unnatural concentration of positivity.
There is a thread on the Newbie Forum started by Lohanfran about starting teaching in one’s forties. To do any sort of career change at this make or break age is serious stuff. Few decisions will be more critical in life. And yet posters in their 20s or 30s are urging Lohanfran to go for it. If these people were medical or financial advisers, they would be struck off. No one has a clue of Lohanfran’s circumstances, but hey let’s all tell him to start in class at 9am tomorrow.
I wouldn’t buy a hot dog based on recommendations from an internet forum, and hopefully Lohanfran thinks likewise. In turn, I wouldn’t give advice on the web without a whole sprinkling of caveats on top. Forums have their place, but for advising on life-changing stuff such as changing career and moving abroad to teach English, people should be a whole lot more thoughtful about their words. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 10:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Hod wrote: |
| I wouldn’t buy a hot dog based on recommendations from an internet forum, and hopefully Lohanfran thinks likewise. In turn, I wouldn’t give advice on the web without a whole sprinkling of caveats on top. Forums have their place, but for advising on life-changing stuff such as changing career and moving abroad to teach English, people should be a whole lot more thoughtful about their words. |
It's not about being careful with our words, it's about being honest---up front. Plus, we really don't know about each others' backgrounds, personality, and experiences to compare our own with or have as a reference point; it's all speculation. But in the long run, human nature being what it is wins out. That is, people will make their own decisions based on criteria they've set for themselves and they either take others' advice into consideration or ignore it altogether. Their decision---their personal responsibility. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
HLJHLJ
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 1218
Location: Ecuador
|
| Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 11:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Hod wrote: |
I doubt few would remain positive after 36 years of TEFLing. I think that's mainly down to your positive outlook, which I envy if truth be told. |
I doubt few would remain positive after 36 years of doing anything. I've generally found that most people who have worked in the same field for 10 years or so will insist it's going to hell in the proverbial handcart, whilst the newcomers can't see what the fuss is about. Why should TEFL be any different? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 1:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
| HLJHLJ wrote: |
| I doubt few would remain positive after 36 years of doing anything. I've generally found that most people who have worked in the same field for 10 years or so will insist it's going to hell in the proverbial handcart, whilst the newcomers can't see what the fuss is about. Why should TEFL be any different? |
Thirty-six years is a long time to be in any one field. However, it's not uncommon for long timers to end up moving around within their field by either taking different roles and responsibilities and/or changing their physical location. Yet it really boils down to their personal reasons or motivation. That is, while some may feel antsy to leave, long timers are usually in their comfort zone---a situation that offers them both stability and familiarity. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
HLJHLJ
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 1218
Location: Ecuador
|
| Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 1:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
| That's true NS, but it doesn't stop some people constantly complaining about the current state of their job/field compared with how rose-tintedly perfect it was x number of years ago. (Usually leaving the listener wondering why they haven't just left and done something else if it's really that bad, but also knowing they will never actually make the jump). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ETA
Joined: 14 Jun 2010
Posts: 60
|
| Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 6:23 am Post subject: Re: Disillusioned with ESL |
|
|
| backtothefront wrote: |
| Get an MA in something you enjoy not TEFL. |
Many who get a MA in the liberal arts field would disagree. Interesting to study, limited career prospects. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
|
| Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 6:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
This disillusionment of which some speak stems from the social alienation that is at the heart of the Piggie system. The solution is clear - to those with the insight to recognise it. Join the Party. Formulate a Five-Year Plan. Accept sound Socialist principles. Enjoy your life, and EFL!
And then keep calm and pour another vodka! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
fat_chris
Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 3198
Location: Beijing
|
| Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 9:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Sashadroogie wrote: |
This disillusionment of which some speak stems from the social alienation that is at the heart of the Piggie system. The solution is clear - to those with the insight to recognise it. Join the Party. Formulate a Five-Year Plan. Accept sound Socialist principles. Enjoy your life, and EFL!
And then keep calm and pour another vodka! |
Comrade Sasha,
Indeed, it is all about the Five-Year Plan and keeping calm. I gave up the vodka a while ago but I will take two outta three here.
Regarding the Five-Year Plan I formulate one, go through it, and then formulate another one. It has kept me going with sound mind and a hearty heart.
I am at the end of my first year of my fourth consecutive Five-Year Plan. It involves China and Asia. After this, we will set another one and see where it takes us (the royal "us").
Warm regards,
fat_chris |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PC Parrot
Joined: 11 Dec 2009
Posts: 459
Location: Moral Police Station
|
| Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 9:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
| HLJHLJ wrote: |
| Hod wrote: |
I doubt few would remain positive after 36 years of TEFLing. I think that's mainly down to your positive outlook, which I envy if truth be told. |
I doubt few would remain positive after 36 years of doing anything. I've generally found that most people who have worked in the same field for 10 years or so will insist it's going to hell in the proverbial handcart, whilst the newcomers can't see what the fuss is about. Why should TEFL be any different? |
The difference with TEFL, however, is that you could well be doing a job you don't particularly like in a country you no longer wish to be in ... Many people that I work with in the Gulf, for example, have no desire to be where they are and no real desire to do what they are doing, but the perceived lack of real-savings-opportunities elsewhere means they are prisoners of the proverbial Golden Handcuffs ..
Now, if non-TEFLers find themselves in that position in their native country, they always have TEFL as an option ... burnt out TEFLers, however, don't have such an escape route .. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
revilo
Joined: 05 Oct 2013
Posts: 181
Location: Mos Eisley
|
| Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 2:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
[/quote]
Remember that Saudi isn't the only Middle Eastern country to work in, and that most of the reputable institutions in the region require an MA. These employers offer the kind of pay and benefits that make the MA more than worthwhile.[/quote]
Kuwaiti pay does not make up for the harassment you get as a teacher. Once you teach there, you realize that Saddam Hussein had the right idea for dealing with Kuwaitis. Maybe 1% of them have the humility and persistence to get higher education. The rest are worthless. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Teacher in Rome
Joined: 09 Jul 2003
Posts: 1286
|
| Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 6:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Well.... I've been teaching English on and off since the late 1980s. For me, it's no better or no worse than any other job. You get good / bad / great bosses, co-workers, benefits / conditions as in any other sector. But if I were to go back to the 20 something year-old me, this would be the advice I'd offer:
- listen to Hod when it comes to pension advice (really Hod, you might not know this, but you've spurred me on to sort out the financials - thanks!)
- always have a Plan B (I'm not your standard TEFL'er in that I have other income streams - very useful if you live in a super high-tax environment that is Italy)
- stay ahead of trends - like in any other job.
- go freelance. I'm not a great team-worker and hate the usual BS you get from schools / DOS, etc. As a freelancer, you can get in quick, teach, then exit. Really, who wants to spend time in stupid meetings? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
