Job Discussion Forums

[prune]

I've been researching the move into TEFL for some months now. I've come up with a few queries/comments and I'd be grateful for your answers/opinions.
OK - I don't want to work my boules off but I'm not afraid of working hard, and I'd like a reasonable lifestyle and possibly some savings, but mostly I want a bit of an adventure and a change - maybe 2 years abroad. I'm probably going to go for Taiwan or China or Korea or Thailand, but I may just opt for Poland. I have a BA and a PhD and a few years teaching experience at university (philosophy). I also did most of a PGCE but was bored rigid by the course itself and by most of the staff at the schools I practised at, though I enjoyed the teaching and got on fine in the classroom. I don't think I could stand a CELTA course - one of the things that pi**ed me off no end as a school pupil, a uni student, and a trainee teacher was all this waiting for people to come up with the answers to teachers' questions. Those that knew the answer were wasting time waiting, and so were those who didn't! So many situations seemed to me to cry out for the teacher just to *tell* us the frig*ing answer! Some of us actually learn better that way!
So - weekend work only in Thailand plus a few privates? Evenings only somewhere else? I'm not a great early riser after a night on the town.
I want to have a bit of fun during *and* after work.

I've noticed some odd things in my months of research. TEFLers' personal websites seem by and large to be riddled with grammor and speeling errers - basics such as 'he sent my fiance and I a letter', 'I hated it's atmosphere', 'there spelling was poor', and references to 'expatriots'
Would I be right in thinking there's not much need for technical language knowhow?

Oh, yes - and I love the auto-censorship on this site! 'Magna c|u|m laude' becomes 'Magna *beep* laude'

What to do? Where to go?

[denise]

[ls650]

[Glenski]

Teaching philosophy and EFL are two different ballgames, but from what you've written, I think you are going to be sadly disappointed (and disappointing) as an EFL teacher, especially if you go to an Asian country. Asian students are widely known to be teacher-centered, so they don't volunteer to answer, nor do they respond well if called upon individually in front of the entire class. Want to just give them the answers? That's your prerogative, but how does it help them to learn?

Yeah, you're going to see lots of spelling and grammar mistakes online in these types of forums. Get used to it. Some people don't care how they type on the Internet (I do), some are tired, and some just simply cannot write even though this is their profession. I mean, as for the last point, be aware that many people get into TEFL from alternate careers like yours, or microbiology, or engineering, or IT, or geography, etc. Many don't have any TEFL credentials or experience.

Despite your PhD, you're likely going to start out teaching at the bottom rung, probably conversation schools, which could mean lots of kiddies and lots of housewives & retirees, usually 4-5 at a time.

[prune]

[prune]

[prune]

[Glenski]

prune,
Thanks for clarifying the source of that bad English, but I still maintain that you really, truly do have to deal with it. Look at what people post here a lot (and on other forums). And, don't be surprised to see bad grammar in lesson plans that your coworkers (or predecessors) have made (and sometimes you have to fix the mistakes).

I am more concerned about what you wrote about teaching Asian students.

[spiral78]

Prune, part of the point here is that language learning is a somewhat different process than learning other things. Language is learned when the learner is actively involved. Passive knowledge has proven to be largely useless in this field.

What experience do you have as a language learner yourself?

[Justin Trullinger]

Thank you, Spiral.


There's a lot of research available on this- but here's my summary, both of what I've read, and what I've seen.

SPeaking a language is a skill, not a body of knowledge. Skills are acquired through practice. Imagine if someone told you how to play the piano- would that make you a better player? Now imagine practicing the piano. Which has a better chance of improving your skills.

The idea that some people learn best by being told may apply to some pursuits. I would question whether it applies to language learning, ever, for anyone.

Best,
Justin

[prune]

Glenski wrote:

[Glenski]

prune,
As I wrote before, you are going to be one disappointed and disappointing teacher. ( I guess some things bear repeating.)

Low boredome threshold doesn't work well in Asia. Better to try another set of countries.

[prune]

[prune]

[prune]