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nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

I Teach for the Money...
By Starr Sackstein, Education Week | February 23, 2015
Source: http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/work_in_progress/2015/02/i_teach_for_the_money.html

Said no teacher ever.

Because we all know that although "we get summers off," no amount of money could ever compensate us for the commitment it takes to really do our job well.

Being a teacher is a calling, one that most great teachers nurture. Starting with a not so subtle love of our content and progressing to a deepening need to make change in the world, one [learner] at a time. Each day is an opportunity to inspire, enrich relationships and learn collaboratively through a mixture of planning and unplanning and openness to whatever opportunities present themselves.

(End of excerpt)

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Whether you're an ESL/EFL teacher or a content teacher, why do you teach? For money? To make a difference? Status? Adventure? Because there's nothing else to do? Or ???

How would you complete the prompt:

I teach because...

.

bograt · Joined: 12 Nov 2014 Posts: 331

There's a lot of soppy stuff about kids in that article. 'I believe that children are the future' etc...

Most people's reasons for teaching change as they get older.

In TEFL terms the stages might go like this

I teach because

1) I did an arts degree, couldn't think of anything else to do and wanted to travel.

After a few years if they're still doing it.

2) I'm quite into it and find it satisfying to get better at it.

After a few more years

3) I have a wife and kids to support and am too old to change fields.

I'm between stages two and three I reckon

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

I teach because...

it's portable
it's flexible (the ultimate portfolio job)
I'm good at it
the skills are transferable
it's satisfying to make a difference
it's engrossing
you can branch into many different income sources with it

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I teach because

my students constantly amaze me (and more often positively than negatively;-))
they are doing important work and by supporting their successes, I am contributing to positive global evolution
I love working in this very international environment
my colleagues are inspirational
I am paid to research, write, and teach - what more could anyone want??!!

Well, and I have a lot of paid holiday. Icing on the cake!

kev20 · Joined: 31 Jul 2013 Posts: 114

Currently I teach for the money with the added benefit that I enjoy it. I like going to work and almost prefer it to weekends and holidays. But I wouldn't do it for free.

Honestly I think a lot of teachers stink of self-importance. The truly great teachers are few and far between, and just because one considers it a calling doesn't mean they are any good at it.

Wayland · Joined: 08 Oct 2013 Posts: 8

bograt · Joined: 12 Nov 2014 Posts: 331

dragonpiwo · Joined: 04 Mar 2013 Posts: 1650 Location: Berlin

I teach because I have no ambition and never had any.

Grenouille · Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Posts: 62 Location: Moscow

Honestly, I (still) teach because I like where I live and it's the only way I can get a visa to stay here.

Embarassed

Knedliki · Joined: 08 May 2015 Posts: 160

Saying you're good at teaching is equivalent to saying that you're good at driving.
A lot of people (well, men mostly) think they are expert drivers while flying round a corner with one hand on the wheel.

Ragmgar · Joined: 14 Mar 2011 Posts: 17

I feel like a game show host up there and I really enjoy the job of getting students out of their shells and making them interact!

And unlike previous jobs nobody tries to shoot or stab me, I don't have to unload trucks, deal with clogged toilets or get screamed at by 120 people a day because they tried to bring shampoo on a plane!
I had a variety of jobs while figuring thing out after college. Smile

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

AmericanAmina · Joined: 15 Dec 2015 Posts: 104 Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE

I got an English degree with no plan in mind. I started teaching for the sheer joy of interacting with little kids all day. After I had 6 kids of my own, some of the novelty of that aspect of my job wore off. Laughing

My husband and I are from two different countries, and we wanted to live abroad and find a place that is "us." I decided to try teaching older students and to pursue my MA so I could teach at the university level and make this a long term career.

I love working with teen and adult students. I agree with the game show host analogy. I feel like that when I teach. It energizes me!

simon44 · Joined: 15 Mar 2013 Posts: 118

I teach because my primary career (rocket scientist) doesn't offer many employment opportunities in south-east Asia.

I teach because I am saving for my retirement. (Teaching in Myanmar means that I can save about $2,500 USD per month).

I teach because there is little age/gender/job discrimination in Myanmar - older teachers are highly valued.

I teach because it is a great excuse to stay far away from my Thai ex-wives...

CliveRAG · Joined: 30 Mar 2014 Posts: 12

..... because it's better than stacking shelves Very Happy