Job Discussion Forums

Wolf · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth

As there are many who post here who actually have more than 5 minutes of TEFL expereince here, I was just wandering :

If you went through some sort of Star Trek temporal vortex and were 22 again, but knew all you know now, would you do anything differently? Specifically, how would you have changed your approach to EFLing? Would you have gotten that certificate first? Ignored the cert at the start instead? Not left home without an MA? Chosen a different country? A different career? Give up grumbling in Saudi and go backpacking? Shocked

Personally, I don't think I would change much. Although I might not have given up on getting some sort of TESL certificate so easily (just so I could show The Man that I had The Piece of Paper, if nothing else.) I might have actually used my vacation time from my first two jobs. I would have DONE MORE ONLINE RESEARCH, too. Not to mention join the cafe earlier. Very Happy

Yes, there is a Next Generation Star Trek episode where this happens. It's called "The Tapestry" and Picard is given a chance to fix a "mistake" from his youth (getting into a bar fight with 3 Nausicaans; guys armed with knives that make Klingons look like cute puppies.)

So here's you're virtual chance. I'd like to hear what people have to say.

Shonai Ben · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 617

Interesting indeed.If I could go back in time and know all that I know now,I would have come to Japan as soon as I graduated from university.I also would have taken the time to travel throughout Asia and possibly try teaching in other Asian countries.I would have travelled much much more than I have in this life and stayed single alot longer.
Do I have any regrets?
None at all. Very Happy

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

Hello Wolf:

Ah yes, to be 22 again with a full head of hair ... and all options are open and on the table. Cool

Regrets? I have very few, although if I'm really honest about it, I think I would like to have stayed at university for another 2 years or so ... to get that Master's degree in Education or English. It would have opened a few more doors to some of the more lucrative international schools and university gigs in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

At 42, I'm just too lazy and stubborn to do it now. Other than that, I can't think of anything I'd have done much differently.

I'm a happy guy, even without the Master's. Very Happy

Yours,
keNt

Mike_2003 · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Posts: 344 Location: Bucharest, Romania

I would change a lot. Firstly I would have chosen a degree in English Lit., or something similar, rather than Electronics. Secondly I would have got into teaching earlier and maybe spent a few years in other countries before finally settling down here. I would still do the CELTA as I found it both enjoyable at the time and useful. I would still be happy to live in Turkey but I expect, had I got into the game earlier and qualified fully at that time, I would be enjoying my life here a lot more with a better-paid job and more saving to spend on a few holidays here and there and some other moderate luxuries.

As it is I'm not too regretful. It was largely chance and misfortune (as it seemed at the time) then lead me into this career path that I enjoy so much and I will soon (touch wood) be going back into the education system to obtain the qualifications I missed out on first time around. Maybe a bit later than is usual, but at 30 I'm hardly over-the-hill.

Mike

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Although I arrived in Japan much later than 22, I wouldn't really change much to my approach (although now I have more Internet connections to use to collect data ahead of time). The biggest difference would be learning more Japanese before I came. Perhaps pick up a few more private lessons sooner.

Lucy Snow · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 218 Location: US

I would have taken the extra time when I was doing my BA to get certified to teach in my state. I guess I could do it now, but like Kent, I'm 42 and too old and too stubborn (and I still owe money to the US govt. for my MA).

I also wish I would have taken a CELTA back when I was in Japan and the money was rolling in.

johnslat · Posted: Fri May 23, 2003 11:39 am Post subject: Je n'ai regrete pas

Well, to regret the past - or even some parts of it - to want the chance to go back and do some things differently, would have to mean, I think, that you're dissatisfied in some way with the present. And I'm not. So, if I had to do it all over, no - it wouldn't be different. I like where I am, look forward to the future and wouldn't change a thing in my past.
Regards,
John
P.S. Just out of curiosity, Wolf, how did that episode " The Tapestry " turn out? Did Picard " correct " his mistake? Or did he discover, as I suspect he might have, that you can't unweave even one thread without destroying the whole.

Wolf · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

Although I feel that life has worked out well for me, there are a few things I might have done differently as I view my life up until now with 20/20 hindsight. I probably would have done most of the same things but maybe in different order.

I taught for nearly 20 years before returning to university to get my MA degree. I found going to grad school as a full-time student starting in my mid-40s to be difficult. I wish I'd done it when I was about 30 or so.

I also think it would have been to my benefit to have gone abroad to teach for at least a couple of years before doing my MA in TESOL. I had plenty of teaching experience under my belt before I did the MA, but I hadn't had the foreign country/culture experience.

Finally, I wish I'd taken the time to live and teach in a few other locations in Mexico before settling into one place. The way things worked out, I came directly to the city where I am now, fell into a job that I really like, and plan to stay indefinitely. Now, I find that I don't have the time, money, and energy to travel much, which is something I'd hoped to do as part of my EFL teaching career.

Best wishes!
Smile

johnslat · Posted: Fri May 23, 2003 12:52 pm Post subject: The Warp and Woof

Dear Wolf,
No troller I - I've missed a LOT of Next Generation episodes over here ( I have no TV ) and only caught a few reruns in the summers. But I know the " philosophy " of the shows pretty well ( and agree with it ), and assumed that would be the case simply because, well, that's the way it really is.
Regards,
John

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I have often said that I wished that I had gone into this field when I was 25 rather than my late 30's, but I'm not sure if the field even existed then!! Smile

I ran into my first ESL class during a break in an evening management class. I was standing outside watching and thought that it looked like it would be fun to teach. But, being in the process of adding one degree (to my unused secondary education degree), it didn't seem the time to completely change courses - again. It was about 5 years later that I started volunteering in local adult ESL and made the plunge into an MA.

Would I do it again? definitely!!

Would I change anything? very little.....

well, maybe I should not have declined that job offer from IPA thus missing my chance of meeting JohnS in person (though, of course, I would have been in the women's rather than the men's branch) Sad

johnslat · Posted: Fri May 23, 2003 3:46 pm Post subject: A price too high to pay

Dear vieiledsentiments,
Nope - declining that offer from the IPA Women's Branch was a wise move - even at the inestimable cost of ( perhaps ) not getting to meet me in person. I have no " first-hand " experience of that branch, of course, but have heard far too many horror stories about the screwed-up administration there. I've also known too many ladies who worked there who WOULD have taken that decision back, if they could have. Besides, I'm much more interesting at a distance than in person. At least that's what my two ex-wives have told me.
Regards,
John

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

What would I have done differently? Hmmm. I was 23 when I got into the TEFL business/game/industry, and I am pleased with the way I went about it: got the certificate (with no prior teaching experience and no idea if I, shy little thing that I am, would even enjoy teaching or would be able to cope), taught for a couple of years, and then went back for an MA. Yeah, I suppose I could have chosen a more financially rewarding country. After two years in the Czech Republic, I came back to the States with about $7 to my name (grad school was funded by the government and credit cards...), but I enjoyed myself and I found that I truly enjoyed teaching.

The one thing I would like to have done differently: I would like to have pushed myself a bit more to learn Czech. Yeah, I got by, could bumble my way through simple conversations, etc., but after two years, you'd think I would have more to show for it. In Prague it's just too easy to rely on English. I'm off to Japan in a week, and this time I'd like to have a bit more self-discipline and actually study the language. I'll be in a wee little farming community, so there will be less English around me. A good sign, I do believe.

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

To go back in time and know what I know now but not know what would happen if I started off in a new direction. I think I'd go the same path directly but outsmart the bad people that have appeared in my life. Oh, and I'd probally marry a certain lady that despite knowing that it would be the wrong move I would still probally make it. So is life.