Job Discussion Forums

[Henry_Cowell]

Sounds like you have a rich and full life ahead of you, buddy. Enjoy!!

[thrifty]

TEFLtastic

[Rin]

Bhog- In answer to your original question, I have used my TEFL experience to land a "real" job. Actually a couple of "real" jobs. Thrifty would no doubt say they aren't real because I'm not doing them back in Canada, but they aren't TEFL jobs.

On my resume I identified Presentation/Interpersonal/Organizational and Writing skills. All things I've learned from being a teacher. I've also used Copyediting skills. This has landed me a position as a Public Relations Coordinator and a free lance Copyeditor. A friend of mine in Korea has landed a position with the Korea Herald as a copyeditor/writer.

With a few years of experience I should beable to get a similar or better job anywhere in the world that I choose. Even back home in Canada (though I sincerely hope not ).

[thrifty]

TEFL experience-you haven't even got a 4 week cert.

Seing as you are young and single it is understandable that you are mesmerised by being able to pull in one of the lowest ex pat salaries in the Gulf.

Anywhere in the world - I doubt it and your receptionist job, I mean public relations job will be seen for what it is.

Enjoy it though and then when you have had enough you can go back home and get a real job.

[Rin]

Sounds like someones a little jealous.

And my companies Canadian so I can transfer to any of their offices back home when I tire of the Gulf. Or elsewhere in the world since they're looking at a ten year international expansion plan. As for a low salary, I'm 25 and I'm making more than my friends in the same positions back home so whatever they pay TEFL teachers elsewhere in the Middle East, it doesn't really bother me since I'm not doing it anymore and I haven't spent money on any of the certificates. Also my job has something called upward mobility, which I believe is what you complain you do not have.

As for my being a receptionist, if that's what you need to think I'm doing so you can sleep at night than that is fine.

Oh by the way, I should have added to my earlier post that I did do a lot of volunteering while I was in Korea and here so that I could learn even more skills that look good on a resume. I highly recommend working with Pearl S. Buck Foundation in Korea, they need English copywriters and editor for their advertisements. And even though it doesn't pay, it looks good on a resume.

[Rin]

Just out of curiosity thrifty, have you ever actually tried to get another job outside TEFL?

Perhaps if you had you'd realize that most non- TEFL employers don't know about or care about a 4 week certificate, most of them aren't aware of what teaching english even entails, all they see is that you've taught and that you've travelled. And believe it or not teaching gives you a lot of good skills, back that with a decent education in anything other than a BA and you've got the start of a good resume. It just depends on what the rest of your education is. Sure, you won't waltz into an amazing career right away. You'll probably have to start at ground level, but it should be enough to get you in. And than you do this CRAZY thing called WORKING your way up.

A concept I realize must be very foreign to you since you obviously walked out of Univeristy, straight into TEFL and have never bothered to even try doing anything else since it is too much work.

So stop bitching at other people who are trying to do what you are too lazy to do.

[thrifty]

I completely agree with you and have said so here. Nobody gives a toss about TEFL qualifications outside TEFL. Hell most TEFL employers don't care about them.

I aplaud you for not spending any money on TEFL certificates and such like-I posted earlier how I wish I had used the money I spent on a depostit for a house.

You are right not to give a toss about your low salary as you are escaping TEFL.

Good luck

[Henry_Cowell]

Bravo for you, Rin! You've identified your skills developed in English-language teaching and you've parlayed them into a totally different field with potential for advancement anywhere in the world.

That's what normal people do: use what they've already done to get further.

Poor "thrifty" hasn't even used what he's bought and paid for: DELTA and Master's degree in TESOL. No wonder he can't get to the next rung.

Laziness = Misery =====> Jealousy and Envy

[thrifty]

Yet you have not taken your own advice and are still TEFLing.

[Henry_Cowell]

[thrifty]

The advice to parlay your supposed TEFL skills into non TEFL work.

TEFLing is what TEFLers do to earn their pittance.

[Henry_Cowell]

I am not a TEFLer.

[thrifty]

You are definitely ESL.

[Henry_Cowell]

Actually, I am not doing anything remotely ESL or EFL at the moment. I have other skills that (as you know) transfer quite nicely in the corporate world.

[Justin Trullinger]

Interesting to me that one thing nobody has mentioned in terms of transferable TEFL skills is languages. A good friend of mine, once a tefling colleague, is now doing quite well as an interpreter.

I did quite a bit of freelance interpreting on the side when I was in Spain. here in Ecuador, it doesn't pay as well as teaching, so I don't bother. But in the US, where my friend is now located...$$$$

Anyway, I don't know why all the fuss to get OUT of the field. I'm having a great time.

Best,
Justin