Job Discussion Forums

Ryumicko · Joined: 16 Jul 2005 Posts: 37

I read a distressing amount of negative posts about the EFL/TEFL/TESOL industry.

There seems to be a general sense of it not being a legitimate aspiration to want to be an english teacher.

Also, there appears to be a general opinion that i have no chance of finding work teaching in Japan without a degree. I qualify for a Working Holiday Visa (Aussie Very Happy

), and im pretty much willing to do any job, save prostitution or drug dealing, but i kinda get the sense that its hard to get ANY work in Japan even if you have the visa Confused

.

What is really the case? Surely Japan would not issue working holiday visas unless they were confident that someone even slightly driven could get work without too much fuss.

expatben · Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2005 3:45 pm Post subject:

Re Japan...I dunno I have never applied to work there. Ask on the Japanboard and they should be able to help or even contact the Japanese embassy.
Anyone who really thinks ESL is not legitimate has obviously never really done itl.
As for ESL....well there is some bad to be sure. A lot of people say ESL is not like any othwer job and yes I would agree but in some ways it is. Say I decided to be...an accountant, some banks would be nice others would not and its like that in ESL there are good times and bad. I had an aweful time in China at this one school but just got back from a place in Spain that was awesome! However as you only want the good here are my reasons for staying with ESL...

Travel
You have great life experience. ESL has taken me to places I never thought I would go.
You meet great people
You get to LIVE in the country and be more than just a tourist this means that you learn more the culture.

The job
I like to teach, I think education is essential. As an ESL teacher sure I get to have fun and see my host countries but I also get to be useful and give something back and that makes me feel good.

I hope others add to this list but I also hope this helped
Xpat

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Do you have a song about this expat? Wink

Chris_Crossley · Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2005 4:06 pm Post subject: More positive comments

Here are some more positive comments:

Thanks to my being in the ESL/EFL/ESOL industry, I have:
1. Gained an excellent grounding in teaching both adults and children (including those in kindergarten) and have learned a lot about teaching Chinese students and about the Chinese people themselves;
2. Been able to meet the woman of my dreams and marry her;
3. Been able to become a parent (well, that was not a direct result of being in the industry, but I am including this, anyway! Very Happy

)
4. Now got an excellent job preparing Chinese graduates to go to the UK to undertake their postgraduate studies;
5. Been, along with my dear lady wife, able to buy our very first home, which means that, for the first time in our married life, we will live as actual home-owners, something that had been impossible for me back in Blighty;
6. Been able to say that, at last, I am leading a fulfilling life with a family and have a great career in the industry.

I am therefore in no position to complain about my being a TEFLer, even though there have been ups and downs; then again, everybody experiences them, no matter what profession they are following. However, I am glad to say that the positive side of being a TEFLer has greatly outweighed the negative side.

I started in the TEFL game four years ago this summer, and I reckon that I will stay in it for quite a while to come.

That is being positive for you!

Ryumicko · Joined: 16 Jul 2005 Posts: 37

Thank you all.

if anyone was interested in more of what i was saying, check out the same thread on the Japan forums

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

expatben · Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2005 8:47 pm Post subject:

tedkarma · Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2005 10:09 pm Post subject:

To be honest - there is quite a bit of skepticism back home about EFL overseas as an occupation.

It is quite often seen as just a lark - something you might do to avoid responsibility for a while, to avoid getting down to the task of real life.

In fact, it seems to be that I have seen that same skepticism in people who taught English overseas for a while (usally as a lark) and returned home. Often just that little smile or smirk that says, "That's not a REAL job" - or conveys that you are just being a "hippy" for a while.

No doubt - that perception and experience is very real.

But . . . I don't run into it often as I don't discuss my work with many people and I am not "back home" very often. After 15 years in the industry and making my permanent home in Thailand - most of my friends are either EFL teachers or others who felt the call of an expatriate life.

All that said, I agree with the previous posters that it is an occupation of value and it is a lifestyle choice from which I have benefited tremendously. I am better off financially than I was when I started. I've travelled extensively. Had as much as five months off per year, met some very interesting people and generally had a very very good life.

Personally . . . I am very glad I made the choice - though it was quite a difficult decision at the time.

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

The "legitimacy" issue comes up from time to time here. There most certainly are legitimate jobs out there, easily found if you take yourself and the profession seriously enough.

I love what I do. I wouldn't trade any of the experiences I have had or knowledge I have gained. This is a far more demanding career than your typical office job back home.

d

Ryumicko · Joined: 16 Jul 2005 Posts: 37

Thanks for all the comments peoples.
Cheers.