Job Discussion Forums

[vre]

I know that many people burn out pretty quickly in this field while others never tire of going into the classroom. I would like some reasonable suggestions on what options there are to people after TEFL. For example materials production sounds quite pleasant.

What are other serious options that may include some of the skills gained in this field?

[basiltherat]

A lot of places in Damascus are now (or should I say, still) hoping to recruit good local teachers rather than native speakers perhaps because of the global reputation that many of us have of being neither qualified nor experienced to do this gig responsibly or very well. Also, it reduces institute costs. Problem is that many good local teachers are not up to scratch in respect to comparatively recent teaching methodologies i.e. communicatively (cliche).
So teacher training would be a possibility. While it still means you're in the teaching field, it is more rewarding after yonks teaching people how to speak the language.
I also hear that it's big in China. Can anyone confirm ?
regards
basil

[merlin]

Look at it the other way:

what skills have you gained?
languages (if you bothered)
public speaking (in front of class)
interviewing (1:1 business English classes)
counseling (if you're that type of teacher)
proofreading (if you do)
multi-tasking (like a chicken without a head sometimes)
planning ( if you plan by semesters)

what qualities have you developed?
flexibility (self-explanatory)
...etc.
Then look for a job where these things are valued.


You might also consider taking the Myers-Briggs test to see what your "type" is as a guideline in your job search.
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp
then look at these guidelines
http://www.wsc.edu/advising/program/career/personality/[/url]

[thelmadatter]

Personally, I have my heart set on being a Wal-Mart greeter!

[Teacher in Rome]

I've worked in ELT publishing, which in turn led to working in academic publishing. The sort of work I did there could have led to publicity / events management (both of which I did for an academic publisher).

Telesales was another notable career change(!) Especially good if you're used to working with a script...

There are also a number of TEFL management opportunities, teacher-training, and materials / syllabus design. I agree with Merlin in that the skills you develop can be applied in many other fields. Crisis management comes to mind, or riot control for those of you teaching brattish children.

[Guy Courchesne]

I've seen some teachers coming to Mexico as EFL teachers land positions in as consultants and in HR in the very companies they were teaching in. It's not common and required experience in certain fields other than EFL. I imagine there are opportunities in the toruism industry as well in certain circles.

[Twisting in the Wind]

"Consultant" is a catch-all term many people call themselves when they've (LOL) burned out all job opportunities in their area and run through all their local empoyers and have no choice but to go into business for themselves. Hey, hate to put it bluntly. Hey, I'm there.

I've been in ESL 20 some years. I've seen co-workers go into:

Administration (DOS of schools)

Translation work if fluent in a second and usually obscure language--Japanese can rank as obscure for some parts of the US)

Writing--ESL Texts or other types of writing

U.S. School District teacher---with full benefits (Med/dental+vacation+sick days) This might be something to shoot for if you're a US citizen or resident.Better than the avg. private ESL school grind where you make $14.00 an hr. School districts pay $32.00+/hr+ bennies. I don't know how it works in Canada, but I imagine they may have a similar Adult ED program to ours.

Private Consulting work where you hire yourself out as a mercenary TEFLer, for lack of a better term. VESL lends itself to such opportunities. There are occasionaly adverts on Daves. A company wants a teacher to teach its employees work-related vocabulary and safety vocab. THis is VERY Lucrative. IN the states a VESL Teacher can fetch $40.00/per hr. The problem is getting the hours. And you don't get benefits because you're a sub-contractor.

I've morphed from ESL into computer internet training, but that's largely because I have a spouse who had an "in" with the employer and convinced him to let me go on board with the company. This is our own small business, and we charge the rates we want, so again, another lucrative spin-off from just everyday EFL/ESL

[Twisting in the Wind]

To the OP, I suggest you keep your ear to the ground. Let your DOS and everyone at your school know you're interested possibly in getting out of this field someday (do't cause alarm in your DOS that you're going to up and leave imminently, however)--just let the "right" people know. Stay connected to the right people. Buy the right pople cigars, stay in touch. They may be in a position someday to do you a favor. Don't neglect that oft-neglected part of your employment. Coming from one who knows.....

[Guy Courchesne]

Speaking of

[juststeven]

Thelmadatter,
Wall-Mart? That was great; your sense of humor is delicious!

[shmooj]

[donfan]

I went home and got my primary teaching credentials in Australia so that I can get a teaching job in Australia when I eventually want to settle down back home.

[Guy Courchesne]

[Nauczyciel]

Anybody else willing to share his plans for "life after life"?