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aliasrachel
Joined: 04 Aug 2014
Posts: 44
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 Posted: Sat May 05, 2018 11:36 pm Post subject: Feeling like Michael Corleone |
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OK, so being an ESL/EFL teacher is not the same as being in the mob. I will own that from the start. Last year, when I left a job in the KSA, I would have happily sworn on a stack of Holy Bibles that I was done with the field of language teaching. After 20+ years, I had nothing more to offer.
A year later and a failed attempt to leave the teaching world. A job that ended in disaster and the trapped feeling of being too static. Missing the the ex-pat life. Feeling unmoored and unwelcome in Trump's America.
So, I'm off searching again for another job and hoping that a year off has recharged my spirit and made me miss the classroom.
Anyone else feeling like this?
https://goo.gl/images/mrxiDu |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2018 5:05 am Post subject: |
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Are you sure not still dealing with reverse culture shock? Or maybe you haven't yet figured out what job in the US is a good fit for you.
Before you start popping off your CV for TEFL jobs, you might reflect on what why you felt you had "nothing more to offer" in terms of teaching. Plus, those aspects of TEFL that eventually became somewhat of a turn off for you are likely to surface for your next job abroad. |
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aliasrachel
Joined: 04 Aug 2014
Posts: 44
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2018 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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Definitely not reverse culture shock. I've been going back and forth between the States and abroad since the 1990s.
It's more that my attempts to transition out of teaching haven't been successful. I would love to work as an academic advisor or coordinator; it just hasn't surfaced.
I think if I were to go back to teaching, I would need to bring a new perspective and learn a new skill, perhaps attend more workshops and other professional development. What burned me out was working in what I perceived as a "Nanny State" (the KSA). Maybe a different country/working with teachers instead of students could help.
If I'm having a mid-life crisis I may as well do it in a foreign land. The US feels really unkind right now.  |
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GambateBingBangBOOM
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
Posts: 2021
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2018 12:24 am Post subject: |
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| aliasrachel wrote: |
It's more that my attempts to transition out of teaching haven't been successful. I would love to work as an academic advisor or coordinator; it just hasn't surfaced. |
Maybe employers are looking for a different academic background (if you have a masters in TESOL, maybe they want a doctorate. Or maybe they want to also see a M.Ed in Educational Leadership For Higher Education). |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2018 1:37 am Post subject: |
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| aliasrachel wrote: |
It's more that my attempts to transition out of teaching haven't been successful. I would love to work as an academic advisor or coordinator; it just hasn't surfaced.
I think if I were to go back to teaching, I would need to bring a new perspective and learn a new skill, perhaps attend more workshops and other professional development.
....
Maybe a different country/working with teachers instead of students could help. |
I agree with GambateBingBangBOOM. If you want to get into a role as either an academic advisor or academic coordinator in the US, consider obtaining proper qualifications rather than hoping workshops and a n EFL teaching job abroad would meet the requirements. |
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aliasrachel
Joined: 04 Aug 2014
Posts: 44
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2018 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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I am nearly 49 and not going back to school again -- two MA degrees = large student loan debt. [I have another MA (unrelated to TESOL) but it has not done much to assist me career-wise.]
At the end of the day, work is not what moves me. It's really just my function in society. TEFL allows me much free time and space to move and explore, so I may as well just return to it. At least I can continue to travel and meet interesting people.
Thank you, though, Nomad Soul, for the links. They have some great info. |
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CTravel32
Joined: 01 Mar 2017
Posts: 85
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2018 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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You could probably find a job as a principals assistant/vice principal at some international school. It might not be a coordinator position, but perhaps after several years of hard work and a retirement (being in the right place at the right time) you could be promoted from within based on merit.
There are a number of Admin jobs at schools, kind of crazy just how many depending on the school. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2018 2:41 pm Post subject: |
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| aliasrachel wrote: |
| I am nearly 49 and not going back to school again -- two MA degrees = large student loan debt. |
A couple of options that might get you closer to your dream jobs:
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aliasrachel
Joined: 04 Aug 2014
Posts: 44
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2018 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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 I applied to the ELF program. I'll check out Amideast, thanks!! |
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getbehindthemule
Joined: 15 Oct 2015
Posts: 712
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2018 1:25 am Post subject: |
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Just when I thought I was out...they pull me back in  |
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