Job Discussion Forums

[mateacher]

go for the MA TESOL if you want personally if I was in my mid-forties I wouldn't bother. You have another 20 years of working left. It will take you at least a year to do one and if you take a year out at your age, think of the loss of income. Then you need at least 3 years as a part timer to get a full-time job. You will be on a contract of 4-5 years at 6 million. So that will take you up to mid 50s. By that time you will need a PhD to get a full time job as the PhD TESOL will be the new MA TESOL.
You may all laugh about my antiques and my lifestyle, but I am sure you envy it. The only fact that you find it funny is you have little chance of living like I do. I also find it funny there isn't one person, who says "well done, great job, you are a success". The only people who say so are my family, even my friends are rather jealous. As I said I didn't start buying antiques for material gain, I had a passion for them passed down from generation to generation and like all passions I enjoy talking about them and showing them off. Do you think people buy antiques just to stare at them? and examine them? hell no. People buy them to show off in a classy way, although I would never tell me my real circle of friends and colleagues that.

[mateacher]

For those who are interested when I am in London I often buy Oriental Antiques from this shop, they are small, I can carry them in my hang luggage and they are very high end. Expensive, but hold their value and are really beautiful.
http://richardpetersantiques.com/

[rtm]

[mateacher]

Yes, I also love the story behind every piece and love telling the stories behind each piece to interested people. I also appreciate the pursuit and discovery of something old that brings me closer to the past. I feel there is nothing more exciting than waking up early on a summer morning and going to Le Marche’ aux Puces or Porta Portunese or even Bermondsey while the air is still fresh on a modern day treasure hunt. When I left Korea and brought back a lot of Oriental Antiques and the people who now visit my house are very impressed. Although unfortunately I know little of the story behind these Oriental pieces they are of rare beauty. I would classify myself as a serious collector who looks for the monetary and historical value in antiques, rather than trends although I only buy pieces that I truly like and feel will look good in my home. I hope to pass down my knowledge to my children, but they seem to have little interest at their age. Whenever guests come to my house we spend the first hour walking around the drawing room and hallway sipping champagne while I explain certain pieces, how I acquired them and their historical significance. As we don't have time machines, finding and keep traces is history is our way of looking into the past.

[natsume]

Not so much a reply to matecaher as to anybody else reading this, but after starting an MA/Credential program leading to secondary English teaching in international schools, I realized that I honestly did not want to teach that subject to that age group, and I was only really looking at the bottom line down the road.

I switched gears and am much happier for it. It will take me three years to finish the MA, but I am not in a hurry. I live in a place I want to live right now, am learning about things I want to know right now, am working with students I want to work with right now, and am enjoying the process. I enjoy school, and see no need to rush through it. I will be getting a couple years' EAP experience while I do this starting next year, which seems wise for the long term. I am indeed getting older, but process orientation and being able to live an enjoyable life in the present are far more important to me than goal-orientation and dues paying to potentially be doing something down the road that I do not want to be doing. I probably won't ever get a doctorate, but I will keep upgrading my credentials, and very likely get a second MA. Health permitting, I plan to keep working until at least 70, and I am sure my jobs will morph organically as I move along this path.

I may not go back to Japan, certainly not for the long haul, but am open to 2-3 years immediately post-MA. That would hopefully be dues paying that is also enjoyable, as I love Japan.

I am not looking for advice, atm.

[Maitoshi]

[nightsintodreams]

Don't listen to these guys, they're clearly jealous. There's absolutely no other reason they'd be so hostile towards you, as all you've done is be polite, caring and tried to share your vast knowledge with us. I think the most amazing thing about your incredible journey is that despite all of your huge sucesses and vast quantities of wealth, you have managed to stay incredibly humble about it all.

Tell me more about your antiques, do you have any Japanese ones?

[jmatt]

[jmatt]

[mateacher]

[mateacher]

[mateacher]

[Maitoshi]

[nightsintodreams]

I dunno what you're talking about Matoshi, stop hating and you might actually learn something.

Thanks for your advice about antiques in Japan, all I have to show guests at the moment is my mouldy old futon in the corner of my Leo Palace. As you can imagine it's not the greatest of conversation starters, I'd take your advice regarding talking about the history of an item, but I found it at the gomi station three years ago so I can only speculate on it's origins.

I'm saving up though, I'll keep a look out for antiques in the future. Any other advice you have would be greatly appreciated.

[Maitoshi]