Job Discussion Forums

[Mchristophermsw]

JPF---Your stuck as as a Social Worker dude ( dudett ); there aint no running from----it will find you and suck you back in!!!!!!!! LOL

But heres the good news, when you cut a Professional Social Work Practioner he/she bleeds----Teacher!!!

What is a Social Worker?
Answer--an advocate, broker of services, counselor, therapist, investigator, educator, court officer, mentor, protector, and most important TEACHER

I think you enjoy Teaching and you will be surprised how second nature it will to you!!! You will be great!

As for me,
I have done Psychiatric work, school counseling, community college teacher, drug ed and ILP instructor and currently CPS PROTECTIVE SERVICES (Oooh I love the adrenaline rush of being a first responder and dong the initial investigation!!) and the best part no case load!!!!

The money is too good too give up at the moment but like you, my heart call to the class room and international living....so for now Iam paying off my debt, saving and investing 30% of my net and will be off and running overseas in 5 years!

One point I do want to make though is that with a MSW there will be additional oppertunities to teach overseas in areas of ILP, Vocational Trianing, Social Sciences, Social Work, counseling etc. Most countries have a national social work organization---contact them also and you wil be surprised how much work is out there for you in addition to teaching english! I was offered positions in the caribbean due to my MSW--Asia Latin America and the Carribean are markets that are emerging for human service professionals and there is alot of consultant positions that you will run into no doubtly.

If you do it right, you can have an amazing life overseas with a higher level of living standard----Ask TedKerma about his experiences, hes a wealth of knowlege!

[SojournerGirl]

This is interesting. I just got my User ID and noticed this thread! I've done Child Protective Investigations and now I'm doing Adult Protective Investigations. I, too, love being the first responder and always something new and different.

I'm looking to retire soon and would like to do short time EFL jobs (say 3 months or so at a time) if that's possible.

But first, I've got to get my certificate. That's one thing that's good. I've got plenty of vacation time working for the state!

[Eager2teach]

Hey there,

Good post. I have a BSW from many years ago. Stayed in the field for a little while then got out. But I still think my skills working with folks with developmental disabilities are somewhat relevant. Communication often had to be taken down to a more basic level. You could not speak too quickly or with too many extra words. Instructions had to be thought out clearly.

Anyways, I got my CELTA last summer and since then have been in somewhat of a procrastination mode......... asking myself "is this really what I want to do?" I had a good experience teaching in the course. It was certainly a challenge though. I wonder how teaching in the real world of TEFL compares.

John