Job Discussion Forums

bc2rlh · Joined: 22 Nov 2004 Posts: 17 Location: UK

Hiya, I'm new to this forum and am thinking about entering the world of ESL.

I've been through many posts getting genereal info and came accross this website: The slavery of teaching English:

http://education.telegraph.co.uk/education/main.jhtml?xml=/education/2004/01/17/teftefl17.xml

It doesn't paint a very rosy picture of this career and quite frankly, scared me a little.

Just wondered what everyone elses views were?

Thanks.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

It doesn't have to be that bad. With proper qualifications and a professional attitude (i.e., treating this as a job and not just as a way to travel), you can find good jobs.

d

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

I hope you don't mind, but I put that link up on the TEFL is dead end thread in the General Forum, because I thought it was interesting.

I've only been doing this for a couple of years now, so I don't know how accurate it is (but if someone was to stay in Western Europe I can't imagine it's too too far off), and added to that are a couple of issues. I'm in Japan on the JET programme, so my life is much, much rosier than depicted in the article, but I have less control over the classroom. I am qualified to teach ESL in Canada (my own country) but rather than a four or five week certificate, it's a year at a university in my province (not that that means employment prospects are much better, because from what I've seen, they aren't).

I think the fact that the article says you are done at 40 is telling, because where I am from, a lot of ESL teachers are in their mid forties at least (although generally they tend to be married to someone making a family wage), but it seems to be a lot of the positions that are available are temporary. As others have mentioned elsewhere, you pretty much need an MA to make a career of it in North America.

I'm looking at in from the perspective that people have about three careers in their work lives nowadays, so if I need to work in Canada (and I would very much like to be able to work and live in Canada again some day) then I will try very hard to find a career orientated job doing it (and they are not non-existent, I know a few people who have them) but if I can't then I will go back to school for another year and do something else related to English (like public relations or publishing).

culfy · Joined: 17 May 2004 Posts: 41

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

That article has done the rounds I must say...

If you are wise, dedicated to the job and get a host of qualifications under your belt, TEFL will serve you to the grave. You will have to make sacrifices to work your way but then you do that in any career. I've been in it nearly ten years and am here to stay.

British · Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 133 Location: China

bc2rlh.

Welcome to the forum mate. i better say it because no one will. Smile

dyak · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 630

Good article... a bit dramatic but in a truthful way.

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

joshua2004 · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 12:43 am Post subject:

That was a heavy, hard hitting article. I can see how it could be true, for someone who doesn�t find a way to get ahead. I am not saying its easy but in reality look at the market! Teaching English is an extremely wanted service all over the world. I have opened my own school with the hopes of making my money and meeting that need. The article paints a bleak picture, but I think there are two sides to every coin. Someone is making good money teaching English, and ya, it is not usually the teacher. So be that someone who is making the money!!!!