Job Discussion Forums

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

Going back to the idea that someone can advance their way through TESOL ... by getting an MA for example ... for how long is this an option ...

... every year there are god knows how many doing one, yet the number of jobs requiring an MA is probably relatively unchanged - other than in cases where the school / university has simply raised the bar for qualifications required for a job due to a glut of MA's on their doorstep ... without raising the salary ... the MA simply puts its holder above the non MA's on the candidate list .. and puts a little extra candy money in the MA's pocket ... possibly good for the students though

... and of the unchanged positions that have always required an MA, if you're talking of MA's taking their certificates off to the premium paying locations such as the Gulf ... it's no holiday ... some, like Scot47, have admitted to quite liking it, but for many others whose life is tied to the Gulf for more than say 3 or 4 years, and often up to 10 or more, it's a life spent wondering how a merchant mariner in the days of old or how an astronaut aboard a space station today ... copes ...

And even here, many feel the squeeze is on or coming ... as hordes queue waving their MA's at the gates in a bid to get in ...

For all his asides, thrifty could be seen to be doing the younger new folk a service ...

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

Agreed.

Would you want your son or daughter to be a TEFLer

Rin · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 173 Location: Doha

Yes I would. I think it provides a great opportunity to travel. I think every young person should try it. The trick is to not get caught up in the lifestyle of boozing, partying and wasting money that prevails in many TEFLer hot spots like Korea, and thereby putting the rest of your life on hold.

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

Yes, I agree with you. TEFL may be ok as a means to an end-travelling when you are young. Not if you are older.

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

A thread on the UAE forum also touches on some of the issues being discussed here ...

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=37645

Rin · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 173 Location: Doha

I also think it is possible to make a career out of TEFL if you really try hard and put your mind to it. But once again I don't think it's possible to live the TEFL "lifestyle" (or as I call Korea: Never Never land) and make a career out of it.

Like I said before, my co-worker has done really well, but he enjoys it and does everything he needs to do it make it work.

Will. · Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 783 Location: London Uk

Well,
If I am still in EFL teaching in 10 years time I bloody well hope it is better, in real terms not just financial symbols.

I did hear from a teacher trainer, many years ago, that the average turnover for a TEFL teacher was four years. Given that this allows for newbies to come and go in a year or two, and for others to progress to ADoS, DoS or into teacher training or to specialise in one field or another, there must be one teacher out there in many schools who has never moved on fromn Upper Intermediate Headway on five days of the week and has been doing it for at least 12 years.
Let's hear about the one in your school.

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

I have come full circle

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

So sad for you. Circles are for those with no ambition or ideas.

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

That is TEFL for you.

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

Yet you are on here trying to convince everyone morning, noon and night.

Evidence please.

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

When you originally asked about 'decent' (= 'adequate') jobs for minimally qualified four-weekers, I spent an hour online looking through lots of UK jobs. I told you about them. But you weren't satisfied; you then raised the ante to jobs that were 'adequate' to feed a family of four.

You're lazy, boy. You can surely find the same positions that I found, can't you? This is getting to be so much fun! Laughing

Four-weekers who expect to find luxurious jobs in the first world are deluding themselves. They'll never have careers like some other English teachers because they haven't the right qualifications. Nevertheless, there are four-weekers who live very happily abroad. The four-week TEFL cert gives them everything they can want abroad.

thrifty/31/Mark Loyd wants to be a heart surgeon when he has only a phlebotomist's certificate. No wonder he's a bitter, pathetic loser.