Job Discussion Forums

[tideout]

I'm curious how many of you working overseas teaching ESL brought a laptop/netbook (presumably not many would bring a desktop) specifically for work?

Are there any people who simply use internet cafes or the office/school computer for producing more complex documents or preparing for classes?

I've been considering not bringing my netbook overseas next time thinking that I can put quite a bit of it online or work off of my usb (w/ programs run from the USB). In some places where I've worked a great internet connection is far from always available.

Thanks for responding with any details you want especially with regard to different experiences accessing a computer in different countries etc..

[santi84]

Mine doubles for both work and personal use (primarily Skype).

I can't see how using an internet caf� would be wise for preparing documents for classes. I guess it depends on where you are - most internet caf�s are populated by bored teenagers and that doesn't sound like a productive environment to work Tere's a lack of coffee (depending on where you go - it was permitted in Egypt but good luck working on a computer that is slower than a snail).

As for the office/school - while it's a more productive environment, I think you'll be spending enough time at work for work. Why not do the rest at home?

But then again, I'm terribly slow at creating lesson plans I'm trying very hard to break my TESL-training habit of creating too many backup plans or objectives "just in case". Still trying to rely on my instincts.

[Glenski]

Internet cafes cost money, and they are not all that convenient. Work there, and you aren't in the comfort of your home.

Your office may not allow you to fool around on a computer while working. You might not even have time!

Public schools have blocks against various websites and email, so your access needs to come elsewhere.

Where do you plan to do Skype calls to friends and family? The time difference may be in favor of home, not office or cafe.

I brought my laptop. No reason not to.

And, unless you work in an English-speaking country, it's EFL, not ESL.

[tideout]

Thanks for the feedback and you thoughts. Definitely some obvious advantages as you've pointed out.

My counter thought to it is that I've worked in two countries where the internet connection wasn't so hot and the two private schools where I worked just wanted things out of the books the schools were using (not so great from an educational point of view but it was their deal). In fact, where I did my TESOL training the facilities were somewhat sparse - computer and a printer but very, very basic. An excellent program but not at all tech oriented.

So, I've seen a couple of situations where a laptop was more hassle than of valuable. In that case I'd just as soon dump the weight and distractions if you know what I mean.

No argument from me though - very good points.

I'm hoping others jump on the discussion too!

[santi84]

I still think a personal laptop is worth the convenience no matter what, but I guess it does depend on where you work. I teach ESL in Canada, and we are generally expected to come up with our own daily plans from scratch (there are exceptions- certain schools with their own methods, public schools with curriculum guidelines, and programs like LINC which are government-funded and strict on content).

So, when I am told "beginners/primarily Korean/ages 18-50", with an empty classroom and a simple whiteboard and textbook if you are lucky, you have to be very creative Creativity for a new teacher like me might take hours. My older counterparts can wing it much faster, but not me.

[Shroob]

Definitely take a laptop. A netbook for work would be too small for me personally. It could be done, but a laptop is much more convenient, or so I find.

My employer provides me with a desktop/internet/printer, but I prefer my laptop as I know what's on there (I work in China).

You may not get access to a computer when you really need it.

[nomad soul]

I remember the internet cafes in Damascus; they usually were full of 20-something year old guys and there was lots of cigarette smoke. Ugh. When I had to focus on creating an important document, I found the cafes to be noisy and distracting. Worse, sometimes there were no computers available---they were all being used. So I'd be in search of another place that hopefully had open seats. Trust me, I wanted to kick myself for not bringing my laptop for those few months.

Fast forward to today where I use my laptop for both personal and work purposes and can't imagine not taking it with me. If you're off to a new job, you really can't predict when and how you'd need to use one. For example, some employers expect you to at least have access to email each day even when off the job. Or you need some quiet time to create exams or reports. Or you end up somewhere with lousy or limited television programs and need to entertain yourself or keep up with what's happening in your home country. You'll wish you brought your laptop. And you certainly don't want to be in a situation where you underestimated the need for a laptop/notebook and subsequently, have to fork out some big money to buy one in your new country. Then you'll really wish you'd brought that darn laptop!

[Kofola]

You don't mention where you're going (if you know?), but the situation here in Slovakia is probably true for much of Europe.

Internet cafes are becoming a thing of the past. In fact I don't even know where there is one in my town. Wifi hotspots are popping up everywhere and I'm assuming they are the current equivalent to internet cafes. In fact, they're introducing wifi onto Bratislava buses (well, one at least) as a trial run. So you might just find life is too complicated without a laptop, netbook or whatever.

[Teacher in Rome]

I wouldn't want to trust that my USB wasn't going to get infected with some virus or other if I kept using it in different computers. If you have your own, the risk is far smaller, imo. Just for sheer convenience of access, get your own laptop or netbook. I have a netbook with all my class material (for uni students) as I can plug it in to the video projector. It's small, light and cheap (around �250 if I remember correctly).

The hassle of buying a laptop in another country is that you then have to try and figure out how to install all the programs in English. I'm sure most of you are far more computer savvy than me in this, but it might be a good reason to take sth from home.

[Xie Lin]

I'll jump on the bandwagon. Take your laptop. The potential benefit is huge. The downside is very small. With odds like that, common sense favors taking it.

.

[tideout]

Excellent responses, I really appreciate it.

I'm leaving S. Korea in a month and may take the middle road of just hanging onto the netbook (thought of selling it here). I'd love to travel lighter but there are a lot of good points about bringing a laptop:

Smoke: Terrible here in South Korean PC rooms, interesting to hear other places are smoked out.
USB infections: Had that happen at the Korean High school I was at. What a mess.
Unpredictability of new environments and hassles of buying a computer overseas. Good point - speaks for itself.
Fewer internet cafes & distractions: Hadn't seen that where I've been but w/o a firm destination in mind, who knows.
Software issues in another language. Have had it worked out here but I can imagine it's a big hassle in other settings.

Great hearing from people around the world.

[Tudor]

I too was unsure of whether to take my laptop with me, but I'm so glad I did. As one poster said, internet cafes aren't anywhere near as ubiquitous as they used to be, and the ones in Indonesia are usually full of kids playing computer games and screeching at each other at the top of their nasally little voices.

I've since bought a new laptop out here (had no problems installing anything in English) so I keep my new one at home and leave my old one at work, locked up in my drawer overnight. This, of course, saves having to cart it round with me on the bus everyday. I've had the old one over five years now, and it's rather slow, but it still does the job; it had little or no re-sale value, so had I left it in England it would just be tucked away in a box in my mum's loft instead of being able to wring every last bit of life out of it!

Don't forget as well that some airlines now will allow a laptop bag on board on top of the usual hand-luggage allowance, so although it may be a lot to carry, I think the benefits far outweigh any negatives. Wherever you're going, you'll probably have enough stuff to sort out without the hassle of not being able to go online in the comfort of your own house.

[tideout]

Thanks for your ideas Tudor.

I'm probably going to sell the netbook here in SK and upgrade when I get back to the States. The netbook has been ok for traveling light but the real issue has become working on a small screen for my eyesight. I think I've got to move up to 14"s at this point to avoid neck and eye strain. I may just have to bite the bullet on the extra few pounds and size of the bigger laptop.

Again, thanks.

[Gringo Greg]

Can I throw something out of left field?

If you really, really, really, really want to travel light and ditch the laptop or netbook, then here's an idea that while not the best is workable.

Get a newer Android tablet with HDMI out. You can hook it up to a monitor that has HDMI input, you can plug in an external mouse and external keyboard, you can even plug in an ethernet adapter if your only access is through ethernet. Many of them now even accept 3g USB modems.

If you really want to go in a different direction, then you could even look at getting an Android tv box. I have seen some of them not much larger than a USB stick! Travel with it and when you get where you are going, buy a USB mouse, USB keyboard and hook it up to your TV and you are set.

With Android, you can edit many types of documents and you can use it for Skype. You can access your email, view pictures and whatever.

I personally would stick with a laptop, but there are options out there.

[tideout]