Job Discussion Forums

[GeminiTiger]

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=63579&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

consider this link for some of your pondering

[dox]

@GeminiTiger:

Thanks for posting that link. If I decide to TEFL, I always thought I'd go the public route.

But now that I read you may get more respect or be more valued by your employer / co-workers at a private than a public, it makes the choice less definitive. It's nice to be appreciated by your employer.

[mnguy29]

Yes, its true. That is because the private training centers main focus and goal is money, not keeping the teacher happy. Its a business and they make money by making you work as hard as humanly possible without much of a reward, ie vacation, bonus, etc.
I have been screwed over by them more than once.

[Josef K]

The main consideration should be: why are you working?
If its to make as much money as possible then training centres are your go
If you want to teach and influence the educational direction of at least a handful of students then uni's are your go.
If you just want to travel, meet people and have a good time before you get a serious job back home then I'd pick a university job or work in an institute for 6 months and parlay your savings into 6 months in Thailand

I'm not saying you don't teach in training centres. It all depends on the centre and the methodology they employ. I worked at WSI for 2 years - easy money but 'teaching' functional language to students in an EFL context, who judge their speaking ability based on their level number alone, and who never speak english outside the centre, was a complete toss.

I found university teaching harder but I had to accommodate a 10 year old course book, balance the whims of management, and be true to my teaching techniques

In the end I think it comes down to what you want to get out of teaching here and how much nonsense you are willing to take. School administrators, demanding parents, lazy students, aloof co-workers, red tape, poor resources, recalcitrant love interests, noise, pollution, and the lack of professional development all take their toll and can be present in one form or another in every type of learning institute

[TexasHighway]

Joseph F wrote;