Job Discussion Forums

[coledavis]

Well, even in social work and clinical psychology, there are still strict boundaries as to just how personal interpersonal relationships should get. If you want something that is more analytical about the person you work with, careers / educational guidance is good, although in the UK that has been mucked up by successive governments' meddling and also economic pressures on the further education sector (and even this only means a series of two or three interviews, not an 'intense' relationship).

Beyond that? Only the selling of, ahem, personal services, I rather think.

[Sashadroogie]

But even that ahem, service is more about commerce and all very matter-of-fact. Certainly no real relationship. Quite shallow, probably.

Counsellors, as you say, may be heavily involved in someone's private life, but it is still very much a professional relationship, with no hint of being friends advisable.

So, as for EFLers, there is even less scope to 'get to know them on a deep level'. This is probably for the best, as it is usually a disaster when teachers start to socialise with their classes, get involved in their problems, and all the rest. This would be so even without a language barrier, but when communication issues are thrown into the mix, then...

Boundaries. The name of the game. And whatever else may be said about their relative value, it should be enough that schools and students usually support and maintain them too.

[coledavis]

Re first point: I've just seen too many romantic films.

Yes, counsellors (like clinical psychologists) may well deal with very personal matters, but as suggested this also involves exercising what is sometimes called professional distance or, as you say, boundaries.

If you want to work with people, then yes, TEFL is pretty good, although complex discussions, as Sashadroogie writes, will have to surmount language barriers. And even if you deal with people at a relatively high linguistic level, you have to move from subject to subject to broaden vocabulary, otherwise you are not doing your teaching job well.

[teacheratlarge]

[coledavis]

I was not suggesting distancing oneself from students to the point of aloofness and I'm pretty sure that that was not on Sashadroogie's mind either. One can be a part of students' lives, but this is not the same as having an intense relationship, which was the level that seemed to be suggested by the original poster.

[Sashadroogie]

Cole, you are bang on the money there. But we've tried to talk this very point through before, and our man employs his own logic. In fairness, I do not believe his notions are all that distant from ours. But the toss must be argued : )

[Javelin of Radiance]

There are many people teaching English abroad who are passionate about the subject, and who love what they do. They're knowledgeable, interesting, and sometimes/often do more than is expected of them.

There are also many people teaching English abroad who are doing it because they're incapable of finding anything else or are looking for a job that requires minimal effort to get by. These people generally don't care about the job and are more concerned with what they get out of it rather than what they put in.

No matter which category you fall into you can get a job and "succeed" in this business. But it sure helps your students if you're at least slightly passionate about the language, or language in general.

[wonderingjoesmith]

Reading the above post got me thinking a little. So, I guess prior to the passion expected to pour out of a teacher, a few questions ought to be addressed;

1) Is the teacher to teach English as the subject or not?
2) Is the teacher to be interesting to students or interested in students' improvements of English
3) What academic program and role in the classroom will the teacher have?

All teachers should do their search and inquire as much as possible to clarify their prospective roles. The trouble in China seems to be that it is quite difficult to get enough accurate information. The passion may evaporate half way, if not earlier, through one's contract.

[santi84]

Well, I think it is important to keep a student's point of view in mind. A person might think they are there to inspire passion (okay) but at some point, you need to recognize that you students are still adults (usually), with their own lives and personal opinions. It's fine to encourage personal stories (in some contexts) and language using opinions, but don't forget why a student is there.

I teach English, but I am also a student myself. While I'm happy to sit with my instructor and tell her about apple picking with my kids on the weekend (cuillier is an exceptionally difficult word for an anglophone!), I also would feel it was invasive if she tried to go further - I am, after all, there to learn the language to assist me in daily life and not because I need a therapist.

Just tread carefully, that's all

[mortilap]

Thank you SO much to everyone that replied. This definitely helps.

I think the main reason why I wanted to teach English was for the opportunity to just get away from American life and experience a different culture. I never really thought much of the teaching part- all I could really think of was just how cool it would be to go off on my own in a different country. I get really excited at just the thought of living in a different country!

I'm starting to think now that teaching English just for the sole reason of travel is not the best idea. I'm going to try volunteering somewhere nearby to see if I at least enjoy teaching English to begin with.

[Sashadroogie]

I don't think there is anything wrong with travelling being the main motivation behind your decision to enter EFL. That's the reason the vast majority got into it, I'd say. So long as we remember that teaching is a real job, and the students are paying real money for lessons, and we take it seriously, then we can avoid the mistake of treating our time abroad as an extended holiday.

But, having said that, it is exciting living abroad, and it is great experiencing another culturec etc. Nothing wrong with enjoying that