Job Discussion Forums

Otterman Ollie · Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 1:22 pm Post subject:

An interesting topic and worthy of a wider debate .Congrats on your new life back home !
My question on this is not about degrees or other bits of paper , its one of age ,do you think things would have been more difficult if you were 10 or 15 years older? How old are you anyway ?I reckon under 35 . Am I right ?
What if you had been over 45 or even 50 what then ?

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 2:43 pm Post subject:

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

I've always been one of those who advises getting a degree and all the right bits of paper.(it's what I have done) However it is not the only way. I currently have a student. He is loaded. really loaded. He left school at 14 and started his first business in the covered bazaar here in Istanbul. Now he has a fairly large company and business contracts all over Europe.

(he's beginner level) When I asked him 'what is your job' he answered 'I am a businessman' He doesn't have an MBA or even a degree of any sort. Does that mean he is not a businessman?

(btw when I say loaded I really mean loaded. In today's lesson he apologised and phoned up 'petty cash' to make sure there was 79,000 Euros available as he had just bought a new car and someone was coming round to pick up the cash. It is moments like that I realise I could charge more Sad

)

Cdaniels · Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 3:44 pm Post subject: Shuize?

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 5:44 pm Post subject:

By all means, dmb, charge more!

And by the way- I talk less about my own background, but it's not dissimilar to Gregor's. By which I mean- studied in the arts, worked in that field for quite some time, and fell into teaching with relatively little in the way of academic qualifications. Having been at it for some time now, and having climbed various steps of the ladder, I don't imagine that I'll starve. I know I can make a living at this...no problem. And a nice living too.

I know what it will have taken Gregor to have come all this way. It's hard, and if I remember correctly, Gregor has occasionally mentioned that he has some regrets about not completing his degree. Me too.

But there are lots of choices in life, and so far, I'm doing fine. (Better than fine, actually...)

I'm happy for you, Gregor, that you are as well. (Sounds a lot better than fine, actually. You sound happy as hell, and you should be proud.)

How shuize comes to the conclusion, based on the fact that some people do well in EFL with non-traditional qualifications, that EFL is easy and anybody can do it, is beyond me. Taking the next step- that anyone can make it in the USA if they aren't lazy, is a logical fallacy, as well as sounding a bit fascistic. What Gregor's situation proves is that GREGOR can make it in the USA, and I salute him.

shuize, you have an agenda. And you're using Gregor's situation to make points towards it. But it just doesn't fit.

Take care all, and enjoy frisco, Gregor. It's the best city in California.

Justin

Gregor · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 842 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

I appreciate all the kind words.
I would like to get the degree, for all the reasons stated. Maybe I will. But so far, I've been good. It would be a load off my mind, especially when going overseas. I admit that, and I HAVE (as Justin pointed out) publicly lamented not having finished the thing.
Oops. I have to go. We're heading out to look at apartments. San Francisco is an EXPENSIVE place to live! THERE'S a word to the wise.
Ok. I'll keep y'all posted.

Deconstructor · Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 775 Location: Montreal

I think Gregor was lucky. You need a degree to survive. I've been back home (Canada) for a number of years. As soon as I returned, I did a M.A. in English (not the best choice but it opened many doors for me). I am still teaching, got married, bought a house almost two years ago, and had a baby.

YOU CAN DEFINITELY HAVE A GOOD LIFE BACK HOME IF YOU'RE GROUNDED AND KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR.

shuize · Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 1270

Mchristophermsw · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 228

Congradualtions Gregor.

Email me and we can do lunch sometime. Iam located in Silicon Valley.

My advice to you is to continue adding to the great experience you already have and get that Degree. I have friends that teach at the community college system and it sounds like one of the best gigs ( career paths) going on. And California has the an incrediblely large and $$funded CC system.......Just food for future thought my brother.

PM with your E-mail and we can chat some time and.......congradualtion agian!!!!

Cdaniels · Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2006 5:28 am Post subject: Open mouth, unsert foot

Mchristophermsw · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 228

Shuize,

Boy ya real rude man, Be happy for de man. He and she are back in de states ( Trinidadian Dialect) and are embrassing de next season da life.

Shuize be happy for Gregor. He and his family are back in the states and are embracing his new season in life. But before you make a comment like anyone can make it in the US, please operationally define your times.

"Making it" what the heck does that mean? Anyone can be in the US and live. Gregor has chosen to live back in the STATES and he bravely chose an expensive part of the Country to settle down in. SF and the whole Bay Area is filled with working poor and middle class that are just one pay check away from homelessness. I dont call that makin it my friend. That is survival.

Also, most do not own their own homes and for those who have a 600,000 dollar mortgage that they still owe 599,000.00 are not Makin it.

A good friend of mine is a Assistant professor at San Jose State. His wife is a registered nurse and he shared with me that due to the cost of living here, him and his wife could be financially ruined if one of them get sicks for any long period of time. The balance between Making it and being thrown into poverty is very fragile.

I congradualate Gregor he has moved back for his reasons and he and his wife are in my prayers and hope they enjoy this new chapeter in their life-----He is intelligent, resourceful, and has alot of courage---AND NOT ANYONE possess those qualities.

Check the numbers on how many people in the US do not have health care or how many live in poverty and you will see that not ANYONE is making it.

But I do agree that the USA is still a great country that with hard work, the right timing and connections one can be very successful. But only the STRONG SURVIVE here. And once agian......I congradualate GREGOR for his strength and determination...Enjoy the ride GREGOR and many BLESSINGS!! Very Happy

QatarChic · Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 445 Location: Qatar

Good on you Gregor- what a brave move. Hope you are successful and happy. It's always hard at first anywhere you go for the first time. All the best and keep us posted! Very Happy

shuize · Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 1270

Cdaniels

Super Frank · Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 365

Nice one Gregor, you are an inspiration.
Shuize, you are getting a hard time for nothing, I agree with you. TEFLing is obviously not a degree profession, otherwise so many of us would not be able to do it. Who would let you take a post graduate certificate if you weren't a graduate? Stands to reason. But it is a serious profession and it's people like Gregor that show that with hardwork and the right attitude doors open up for you regardless of qualifications. I worked hard in London for ten years before taking up tefling, I was preparing court papers and representing my company in court, amongst a host of other duties and was well paid, all without a degree. No offence but I was amazed at some of my school mates who took degrees, who have very little common sense but are able to sit and write the correct words on an exam paper. I'm not belittling degrees but there are more ways to get on in the world than going to uni. The city of London is run by people who left school at sixteen and worked their ba lls of to become directors of banks etc. All power to everyone who gets on in life, all means are necessary and good.