Job Discussion Forums

[biffinbridge]

I just thought it would be a laugh to have a thread about tefl stereotypes.

1.)The DOS
Jo is 39 and an IH D.O.S.She has a CTEFLA grade B and did her DELTA for free having signed her life away to IH Chernobyl.She talks endlessly about NLP and uses buzz words like 'chunking' and 'action research' all the time ,and is...' ,Oh such a brilliant teacher'.She really believes that IH teachers are better than others but has never really understood why the students prefer to be taught by people with far less experience,who previously worked for other companies.She intends to do an MA and become a teacher trainer but she's worried that she might lose her 19 year-old Ukranian boyfriend,Igor, if she goes away.She takes herself far too seriously and doesn't appreciate the fact that her baggy jumpers,scruffy jeans and 22 stone body frame make her the target of much ridicule.When you tell her she is wrong,she gets your contract terminated for'smelling of alcohol'..although she never said anything about it at the time.

2.)The Middle East
Josh,53, works in Saudi.He swore in 97 that he would never return to the 'Kingdom' but he blew all his cash in Thailand one drunken summer and just had to do 'one more trip'.Josh is bitter and his heart really isn't in his teaching anymore.The heady days when he was the life and soul of every party are long gone...in fact, can't even remember them.Because he soon has to leave the Kingdom, due to his age,his priority is cash.Consequently he doesn't spend a penny.He steals tea bags from the canteen and reverses the charges when he rings his aged parents.He lives in dread of the day he becomes unemployable...and that day is fast approaching.

3.)Poland
Kev is 28 and after graduating with a 2:2 in Mayan Indian and Food Science ,was unable to get a job that had any prospects.He tried to learn the guitar and did a journalism course part-time but nothing came of this.Because he was a loser his girlfriend,who had now become an adult,dumped him.So, he decided to escape and re-invent himself.He did a CELTA and,armed with a pass, headed for Poland,where he told everyone he was a journalist,started a crappy band and spent his evenings talking to people who could barely understand what he was on about.... but laughed anyway.Kev,(now Keveeen), has made it, for once in his life,he's a star.

Any others out there?
How about bitter non-native speaker,hopeless boozer,overkeen newbie, tefl career animal,uk based efl teacher who has all the quals but has never been abroad,religios loon teacher?...the list is endless....feel free

[biffinbridge]

And let's not forget the Dave's esl vendetta starter....

[denise]

In Japan:

the "zero to hero" guy, or Charisma Man, as is currently being discussed on a thread in the Japan forum. Completely mundane, no special talents, not terribly clever or witty, not ugly but definitely not a head-turner, but has cute girls absolutely swarming him in Japan. Doesn't consider that he is a novelty, a free English lesson, etc., and actually feels proud of himself. Blames the girls back home for not appreciating him enough.

d

[khmerhit]

Biffinbridge ahoy! What shoals have you been lurking in, matie?

I'm not so sure about this thread............ but go on, then. Let's add the Canadian in Korea: uh, it's the money, stupid! (I have never been there, I hasten to add.)

English teacher x covers many of them in his hilarious cartoons--or all of us, it is only right to add.

[tedkarma]

GREAT OP! Loved it!

I spent five years in Saudi Arabia - and you have good insight into some of the older folks working there. Very unhappy - frightened about their ability to eat in later life . . .

One good thing about the Middle East though - is that they tend to prefer older teachers - and even up to about age 58 it is not difficult to find work there.

[Sweetsee]

www.aatokyo.org/

[expatben]

The misery:
This is a sad lonely teacher. He hates his school and job but has worked there for years. He spends his nights drinking the local hooch in the local pubs-the expat ones have bared him years ago. He always complains about his life and his job but when a newbie asks him why he doesn't leave he shrugs and says "well, its an OK job and hey the booze is cheap." The Misery will be around long after you leave.

[sigmoid]

the ESL forum poster

-spends his free time online slagging off his fellow teachers, who for some reason he feels morally superior to.

[slaqdog]

The Happy Tefler
Spends his years wandering the globe(therby fulfilling his long held ambition) meeting people and getting paid to talk to them in his own language. Is sober and well dressed, always sunny and positive with ner a care in the world. Is popular with students, management and fellow teachers. Always helpful. A wonder on quiz nights. Has long ago fulfilled his dream of learning another language and is currently on his third. His friends back home can't believe the exotic beauty he takes home- even though he makes it a strict rule never to date students tho' boy has he been tempted!. Has worked hard and studied hard(having to pay for the courses himself) and is currently doing his MA in apllied ling. part time. Has visited 4 continents and over 25 countries.
He thinks he is part of a noble profession and is proud of his job.

[Jizzo T. Clown]

Well, this is actually a TESLer stereotype :

The retired woman who has too much free time on her hands so she decides that teaching English to immigrants/foreigners is a good way to pass the day. How hard can it be? She talks to them as if they're children and when she realizes that you actually have to know something about teaching and English, she goes back to her days of gardening and calling her grandchildren.

(More-so in volunteer circles than anywhere else...)

[ls650]

[expatben]

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

[Justin Trullinger]

The Non Teacher:

Similar to the aforementioned retired grandmother, this person figures "how hard can it be?" Usually he or she comes to ask that question when out of money on a backpacking holiday, having realized that things like waiting tables pay true local wages, completely insufficient to cover his or her bar tab.

Charming and full of stories, this teacher may be popular with some students, but doesn't really have any idea what to do in a classroom...

Constantly asking colleagues well meaning but clueless questions. (What is an adjective? Why are prepositions so confusing?)

Seen this person lately?


Justin

PS- I know this person well, having met various incarnations of the type in 5 or 6 countries now, but am also aware that we're talking about a marginal figure in TEFL. I've worked with some real pros- they just aren't funny enough to describe.

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

In the Gulf, one of the most visible types is the politically correct fascist .. wanting to enforce their ideas upon all around them ... all woolliness and political correctness until something they do or say is questioned .. when out pop their fascist fangs ...

... and why are they so numerous .. because too many of their colleagues shy away from confrontation for fear of losing their jobs ...

� is Dave�s also functioning as a confessional these days: