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| Poll: Strong Case Against EFL Career |
| Strongly agree. EFL is not a career, just a way 22-year-old college grads can fund global backpacking. Anyone who mistakes EFL for a career is a fool. |
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15% |
[ 11 ] |
| Agree. No one who understands DAS KAPITAL could mistake EFL as a career. Marx warned that owners always take maximum profit and try to exploit workers as unpaid slaves. |
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1% |
[ 1 ] |
| Well, EFL can be a career, but like any career, it must be carefully cultivated. Too many use EFL to escape McJob misery in their homeland, then wonder why they get stuck with EFL McJobs overseas. |
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27% |
[ 20 ] |
| Disagree. There is huge variation in EFL jobs and it is absurd to dismiss the whole industry just because one job is bad. |
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43% |
[ 31 ] |
| Strongly disagree. EFL career has been very good to me. Back in my homeland I never would have enjoyed the freedom and high quality of life that my EFL career brings me overseas. |
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12% |
[ 9 ] |
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| Total Votes : 72 |
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| Author |
Message |
ls650
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 3484
Location: British Columbia
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 Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2005 11:38 pm Post subject: |
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| moonraven wrote: |
| Considering it's EFL, I wonder just what door your foot DID get into.... |
C'mon Moonraven. Like you've never made a simple typo? |
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ContemporaryDog
Joined: 21 May 2003
Posts: 1477
Location: Wuhan, China
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 3:48 am Post subject: |
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| struelle wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I plan to stay one more year in China then returnt to the UK to get better qualified (currently BA + CELTA). I want to do a full PGCE like Struelle, get proper teaching qualifications. |
That's a good plan, and although it may feel like a detour from TEFL, it's right on track for a long-term educational career plan. Plus, a PGCE can build in more flexibility when you combine it with your existing qualifications.
Steve |
Agreed. And I think the experience I already have of teaching primary school kids in China should stand me in good stead for teaching primary school in the UK. |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 339
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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While I agree with a lot of what's being said about EFL being what you make of it, I can empathize with the OP on some level.
There are a lot of "scam jobs" out there and even those with the best qualifications sometimes get caught in a bad work situation.
Not to say that there aren't a lot of "cowboy" teachers, of course there are those as well, but it's more than a little disheartening to discover that the career path that you have chosen has left you feeling like you've reached a dead end.
I also agree that further education is the ticket to a more rewarding career/future.
A goal I hope I can achieve in the not so distant future. Being 43, and a bit older than most, I feel somewhat embarrassed at my current status.
Anyway, I'm not sure what my point was anymore.
Good luck. |
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colin
Joined: 14 Apr 2003
Posts: 45
Location: You mean right now?
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Call it what u want. I enjoy what I'm doing and and savimg 2600Can a mo. In Canada I would have to be making 6000 a month to be what I'm pulling in here. |
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Sadken
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 341
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Hey, Courchesne, I reckon I know where you're reporting from....... |
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Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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| From the base of the Angel of Independence, Reforma and Florencia, Mexico City... |
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Sadken
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 341
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 5:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes. Yes, that was what I was going to say..... |
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Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Have you been here? |
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willy
Joined: 29 Mar 2003
Posts: 215
Location: Samarinda,Kalimantan,Indonesia(left TW)
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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Gawain so right about TW BUT IF YOU LOOK YOU WILL FIND MANY SCHOOLS THAT WILL PAY A GOOD WAGE (1,000-3,000 US) DONT GIVE UP
THERE ARE MANY JOBS FOR THE FIRST TIMER AS WELL AS THE GUY WITH A STATE CERT. |
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Aramas
Joined: 13 Feb 2004
Posts: 874
Location: Slightly left of Centre
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 11:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Unfortunately, the keyboards in some countries seem to have 'caps lock' keys labelled as 'shift'. |
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Sweetsee
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
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| Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 7:33 am Post subject: |
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44 and strongly disagree.
Life is what you make it. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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Gordon wrote,
| Quote: |
| A degree does not mean you can teach, but that you can think and stick through something for 4 years. |
A Master's degree in ESL does not mean that you can teach either. Actually a degree rarely means that you can do something!!! You have to try to put your knowledge to use and not everyone is sucessful in doing so!!!! |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 11:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Yes, I agree with Cardinal about the BS post. Some of it true, but a Master's degree is hardly elitist |
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Gordon you are correct. The poster is from the U.S. In the U.S. there are many programs in which you do not pay tuition and get $1000 stipend each month. The way that it works is that you teach the ESL students that are studying at the university and in return you get tuition reimbursed. Maybe someone can comment on this? There should be some posters out there that have received an MA in ESL in the United States. I am doing my MA in German and do not pay a dime. I want to go teach ESL for a few years in Asia and then see if I can study for a Master's degree in ESL.
| Quote: |
44 and strongly disagree.
Life is what you make it. |
This is what Gawain missed!!! He has not taken advantage of the opportunites out there. He complains about not being able to afford to study for an MA. I am sure that his previous choices have lead to him not being able to earn an MA. Such as low undergraduate grades and not being able to save a dime. |
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
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| Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 11:52 pm Post subject: |
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It is possible to get a TA position while working towards an MA. I don't know the statistics, but I'd say those positions are the exception, not the norm, and most folks need to rely on savings/financial aid/other resources to pay for their degrees. Like me: after working for two years in the Czech Republic, I think I had about $800 saved up. I paid for my MA through financial aid. Meaning, of course, that I will be paying off my debts until the day I die, but it was a choice that I was willing to make for a career (YES, a CAREER!!!) that I enjoy. My school did have its own in-house ESL programs, research assistant positions, etc., but the wages barely made a dent in the tuition fees.
I could not afford my MA either, but that's the whole point of financial aid, is it not? It allows you to further your education based on your expected future earnings. Yes, it is uncomfortable being in debt up to your eyeballs, but if you truly want to do something, then it's worth it.
d |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 1:06 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| My school did have its own in-house ESL programs, research assistant positions, etc., but the wages barely made a dent in the tuition fees. |
If you have a teaching assistantship the tuition is usually waived. Furthermore I have no idea how hard it is to get a teaching assitantship if you want to do a Master's in ESL but as for the humanities, most students who pursue an MA do receive a teaching assistantship. At my university every student in the foreign language department receives free tuition. I do not think that anyone would do an MA in Spanish or German if they had to pay for it! |
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