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MotherF
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1450
Location: 17�48'N 97�46'W
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 Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2016 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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| spiral78 wrote: |
My path has been slightly different from LC's but I think also fairly typical.
My 'foreign' country has become home via family ties, development of long-term friendships, and working my way into a very solid job that I happen to really love.
I'll happily retire in this country that has become home over the years, rather than back in the US, where I no longer have overriding connections. |
This. I moved abroad young, but unexpectedly found myself building a life for myself. I established a fulfilling profession. Made friends, fell in love, built a house started a family. My job has retirement savings and I plan to use it in this country. |
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Sudz
Joined: 09 Aug 2004
Posts: 438
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 1:24 am Post subject: |
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For myself, my very positive first experience with TESOL led me to continue the path, and gain further qualifications. A few jobs later, I have had a mixed range of experiences, and am now thankfully in a position I enjoy for the most part (granted it's the busiest job I've ever had by far, and doesn't by any means feel like an easy teaching gig - I do think I'm a little rusty though from my last cushy gig as an ALT).
I don't feel like I got into this 'for the love of teaching', and more so for the lifestyle it provided me. I do enjoy the job enough to keep doing it, and I do try and do a good job (I would rather do this than many other things). However, being kind of an introverted person , I do sometimes find it exhausting to always 'be on' with the students, while trying to engage in conversation in the teacher's room. As such, I'm often the quiet guy.
If I were to move on, perhaps I would like to become one of those digital nomad fellows : ) |
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RedLightning
Joined: 08 Aug 2015
Posts: 137
Location: United States
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 7:30 am Post subject: |
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| Sudz wrote: |
I don't feel like I got into this 'for the love of teaching', and more so for the lifestyle it provided me. I do enjoy the job enough to keep doing it, and I do try and do a good job (I would rather do this than many other things). |
I think this is more or less the point Joe was trying to make. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 8:40 am Post subject: |
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| RedLightning wrote: |
| Sudz wrote: |
| I don't feel like I got into this 'for the love of teaching', and more so for the lifestyle it provided me. I do enjoy the job enough to keep doing it, and I do try and do a good job (I would rather do this than many other things). |
I think this is more or less the point Joe was trying to make. |
Not exactly. Sudz, who has taught since 2004, also stated that his positive first experience with TESOL led him to stay in the profession and subsequently gain further qualifications. In fact, his situation is rather unique. He started teaching with just a TEFL cert and no degree, but eventually completed an MA TESOL at a UK uni overseas (despite not having a BA) rather than pointlessly spin his wheels trying to compete for better jobs without any academic qualification. |
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RedLightning
Joined: 08 Aug 2015
Posts: 137
Location: United States
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 11:06 am Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| RedLightning wrote: |
| Sudz wrote: |
| I don't feel like I got into this 'for the love of teaching', and more so for the lifestyle it provided me. I do enjoy the job enough to keep doing it, and I do try and do a good job (I would rather do this than many other things). |
I think this is more or less the point Joe was trying to make. |
Not exactly. Sudz, who has taught since 2004, also stated that his positive first experience with TESOL led him to stay in the profession and subsequently gain further qualifications. In fact, his situation is rather unique. He started teaching with just a TEFL cert and no degree, but eventually completed an MA TESOL at a UK uni overseas (despite not having a BA) rather than pointlessly spin his wheels trying to compete for better jobs without any academic qualification. |
I'm not sure you and Joe were on the same plain |
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Jmbf
Joined: 29 Jun 2014
Posts: 663
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 11:19 am Post subject: |
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| I'm not really sure why everyone came down on Joe so hard. Sure, he is a bit idealistic and has strong opinions on life in the UK, but the way some posters are spinning it makes it sound like he is doomed to fail. They paint a picture of him as a backpacking TEFLer with his online TEFL cert in one hand and a beer in the other. In reality he will have QTS, a PGCE and 2 years of experience under his belt when he finishes his UK studies. I'm not convinced (as others seem to be) that he will fail miserably in his teaching career. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Jmbf wrote: |
| I'm not really sure why everyone came down on Joe so hard. Sure, he is a bit idealistic and has strong opinions on life in the UK, but the way some posters are spinning it makes it sound like he is doomed to fail. They paint a picture of him as a backpacking TEFLer with his online TEFL cert in one hand and a beer in the other. In reality he will have QTS, a PGCE and 2 years of experience under his belt when he finishes his UK studies. I'm not convinced (as others seem to be) that he will fail miserably in his teaching career. |
It's that idealism that's the focus of contention. Nor is Joe being labeled as a beach bum or that he'll fail. He's on the right track in getting qualifications that will help him get his foot in the door as a primary school teacher --- minus two years' UK teaching experience since he wants out of the country sooner than later.
However, this thread is about how current teachers plan to deal with retirement if they expect to stay in TEFL. Discussions are helpful, but it would be great if Joe could objectively look at teaching abroad from that perspective based on the comments of veteran teachers who live/work this reality rather than from the eyes of an idealistic, young newbie who hasn't yet gotten his feet wet. (Frankly, a SWOT matrix would be a good self-assessment tool for him. And he'll likely be required to self-reflect on teaching and his career goals if he still intends to enroll in an online M.Ed program.)
Anyway, in all fairness to Joe, I'd prefer to not turn this into a discussion targeting him since he has his own thread on the Hong Kong forum. |
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joe30
Joined: 07 Jul 2016
Posts: 112
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 6:35 pm Post subject: |
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| RedLightning wrote: |
| I think this is more or less the point Joe was trying to make. |
Yes, this is what I was trying to say (though clearly didn't get my point across too well!).
Most people will do their jobs for the lifestyles it affords them outside work, and there's nothing wrong with that (providing they also perform to an acceptable standard at work).
In both my TEFL jobs, the boss never expressed any dissatisfaction with my work, aside from offering advice to me as a new teacher regarding what to do/what not to do. My classes had a good amount of students in them relative to other teachers (I was at a language school). My motivation for the job was lifestyle orientated - the money allowed me to live a life that was acceptable to my standards. It didn't mean I was a toxic influence in the staffroom, or that I did nothing in my lessons except play movies. I taught to the best of my abilities then went home after, like most people do in other jobs. I did enjoy the job for the most part - it was a lot better than my old job back home in the UK - but I wouldn't do any job unless it allowed me to live an acceptable lifestyle outside work.
Regarding retirement, the formula is the same as it is anywhere else - earn more than you spend, save the remainder, and start saving as soon as is reasonably possible. In many Mid-East countries, a new teacher with an MA TEFL could save $2,500 a month at least. Get into a leadership role and you could save much, much more. I'm going for an MA in Educational Leadership right after my PGCE to try and one day access those head of department roles. Trying to retire on entry level wages in ANY career in any part of the world is going to be a massive struggle.
Sitting in some Korean hagwon earning $2,000 a month forever is never going to get you to retirement, but very few entry level jobs provide much for retirement anywhere. For example, a new accountant who just sat there doing data entry all his life, never passed the CPA and never moved up the ladder would be in much the same position as the TEFL'er. Get qualified and move up the payscale - same as anything else. |
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danshengou
Joined: 17 Feb 2016
Posts: 434
Location: A bizarre overcrowded hole
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| Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2016 4:04 pm Post subject: |
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As a career choice, TEFL especially requires sound personal finance skills and discipline if one aims to ever repatriate and/or retire. In addition, obtaining an advanced degree will help improve earnings, and therefore savings. The earlier you start, the better, and the less likely you will have to round out your career with say one last Saudi pitstop  |
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