Job Discussion Forums

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

I can see how the field can be discouraging, but for myself, when times get like that, I *stick with it*! Or another approach is to take a break or vacation. Perhaps do both.

I find my teaching career has been very rewarding over the past 3 years or so, even the difficult parts like my current practicum and working at a Shanghai boarding school in 2003. The EFL lifestyle in particular suits me, and I've got no problems with it. People back home have more negative opinions which can lead to some friction, but I don't let that stop me.

At the same time, the field doesn't suit everyone (i.e. the aforementioned friends and family members). I keep telling my aunt, who hates teaching, that nobody is putting a gun to her head and forcing her to teach, so she can quit anytime she wants. But I doubt she will leave her job.

Steve

marblez · Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Posts: 248 Location: Canada

Thanks for the kind words,

This is a decision I made over 2-3 months ago. My past year has consisted of my university TESL certificate which included numerous courses in grammar, linguistics, ESL teaching methodology courses, and practicums. By partnerships, I mean the students that the international office has set me up with to tutor part time. I just hated every minute of it. Before that, I was doing criminological research and social work practicums - I still enjoy that.

This isn't a decision I've made at the spur of the moment - like many of you have said, some people love it, some people don't. I'm not going to spend the rest of my life (or even 5-10 years of it) doing something I detest. I was never interested in EFL, only teaching ESL here in Canada, and now I don't even want to do that. It's just not for me, that's all, just like many of your previous careers were the reasons for entering EFL.

guty · Joined: 10 Apr 2003 Posts: 365 Location: on holiday

distiller · Joined: 31 May 2004 Posts: 249

When it comes to life and work it takes a strong will to be able to come to conclusions and then act on them in substantial ways. Too many people on this forum biatch and moan about TEFL and don't do a damn thing about it and are in fact long term teachers. I think it's commendable that someone who doesn't like the field is doing something about it. TEFL is not for everyone and even those people it is for sometimes have a limited shelf life as a teacher before the job loses its appeal. There's nothing wrong with that. Most overseas teachers got into this to do something exciting and engaging in a foreign country. Once that spark is gone and you're pretty sure it's not coming back then you�re just as much of a sucker as those people back home who've never left their backyard and trudge to a meaningless job day in and day out wishing they had the nerve to change their lives.

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

expatben · Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 7:44 am Post subject:

I sympathize because I had one in field experience and now I am thinking of getting out. I will try one more perhaps to see if it was just the crappy club I worked for, then I'll know. If something is making you sad or if there is something else you would rather be doing than go for it and best of luck.