Job Discussion Forums

john henry · Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 44

I want to discuss the realisitc possibility of having a long term career as an overseas ESL Teacher. I have a degree and a decent paying career in business right now, but I am quite unsatisfied with what I am doing with my life. I have been interested this field for years.

I do NOT want to use this as a way to "party my way around the world".
I do NOT want to go to Korea for a year to pay off my loans, then start a "real job".

I want to be a teacher. I want to live in several different countries during my career. I'd like to have some sort of progression in my career (working your way up the ladder, so to speak). I'd also like to be able to retire comfortably someday.

So, there it is, to start at least. Is this really a career, or something people do for jsut a few years? I'd be foolish to give up my relatively comfortable job if I was just goign to have to start over at the beginning in a few years again anyway. Thanks for your response.

John

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

The degree will make you eligible for a work visa. Your lack of teaching experience will probably, as you may have figured out, cause you to start teaching in the bottom rung of the ladder. In Japan, that means conversation schools or the JET Programme.

Where do you want to teach? People can give you specific info if you name a country or two.

Skipping around the world sounds exciting to some. It might even look impressive on a resume to some. It may also look like you can't hold down a job to others, so beware.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Where I am, in Mexico, I have met about a dozen or so people over the years who have made a career in EFL...everyone does their time teaching and most are happy for that experience, over the space of a year or two. Some of us (like me) end up staying and forging a path or making a home here abroad.

There are always opporuntities to get into the administration side of language school, or univerisities, to open your own school, to get into recruiting or teacher training, or many other paths.

I think it depends most on your ties to home. Not many of us can pick up, leave, and replant elesewhere...very, very few of us do it. Myself...I married a woman from Mexico City and have a new family here. I have a good job and rarely consider going back to Canada to live. I visit, I see my family, but home is Mexico now. I wouldn't change it for anything.

GreenDestiny · Joined: 27 Nov 2004 Posts: 88 Location: International

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

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

Yes, it is quite possible to make a career out of this. (Of course, I've only been doing this for a few years now...). Aside from teaching, you can get into school management, materials design, testing, etc.

If, after a couple of years of teaching, you find that you really do want to stick with it, I'd recommend getting a more advanced qualification (do you have/will you be getting a TEFL certificate?)--either a DELTA or an MA. They open more doors to more "professional" jobs--i.e., not just conversation schools--and sometimes they even pay better.

I see nothing wrong with working in several different countries over the course of a career. You can be a professional and still travel, too. Good luck!

d

badtyndale · Joined: 23 Jun 2004 Posts: 181 Location: In the tool shed

None of us can predict how the business of EFL will develop and that is something to bear in mind if you are a 'strategic planner'. However, it is perhaps more important to consider what 'you want' and 'how you want to feel'. EFL isn't a quick-fix. If you are thinking long-term career leading on to comfortable retirement (as many do in whatever job they have) then you should also consider where you might up. If ending up somewhere 'exotic' is appealing then all's fine and dandy. If you want to retire to 'home' then EFL pay won't carry you too far. Then again, if the latter is what you wanted I guess you wouldn't be asking these questions?

Fed up of the same old routine? Change...

Twisting in the Wind · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 571 Location: Purgatory

I have taught and tutored ESL for 20 years, although not overseas--only in the U.S. to immigrants, although some day I'd like to continue in the profession overseas. In my experience it has been hard to piece together enough hours to make a living, though it is still doable, particularly if one has a spouse or partner that works. Having wealthy parents that leave you money or real estate in the will is also a plus too Razz

Even though it's hard, try putting some money away every month in some sort of retirement account; alas, I no longer have mine--it went to a lawyer when I ended up suing a school once, but that's ESL/EFL life. Twisted Evil

You might consider working overseas for a peiod of time, then getting state certified or whatever in your home country, and coming back to get an ESL teaching jobs with benefits and retirement in a local school system.

At the end of the day I don't regret my career choice. Sure, others may have big, fat retirement accounts, but who else but an ESL/EFL teacher can say they once munched on tiny, dried sardines and slivered almonds with students. Yummm Shocked

bluffer

AsiaTraveller · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 10:34 pm Post subject:

john henry · Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 44

It is strange to me that you can not rationaly juxtapose "career" and "traveling around the world". How is it that career means being locked into one geographic area for a dozen (pick your time) years?

Should I decide to make this change, I would be teaching English. How would it matter if I taught it Los Angeles for twenty years, or moved to a different country at the end of each of my contracts? I would be teaching English to people as a second language, not practicing regional law.

I'm not trying to be an ass. I really don't see how career = one place.

Then again, I don't see why carfeer should always = broke, too.

john henry · Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 44

[quote="john henry"]It is strange to me that you can not rationaly juxtapose "career" and "traveling around the world". How is it that career means being locked into one geographic area for a dozen (pick your time) years?

Should I decide to make this change, I would be teaching English. How would it matter if I taught it Los Angeles for twenty years, or moved to a different country at the end of each of my contracts? I would be teaching English to people as a second language, not practicing regional law.

I'm not trying to be an ass. I really don't see how career = one place.

Then again, I don't see why teaching career should always = broke, too.

AsiaTraveller · Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2004 9:47 pm Post subject:

john henry,

It's simply that dear old Rog doesn't like to see other English teachers actually enjoy their work and the system in which they work.

But just because he is stuck as a teacher in an educational system that he dislikes doesn't mean that others have to suffer the same fate with no possibility of moving or changing.

That's just masochistic.