Job Discussion Forums

[kuberkat]

Dunno bout you folks, but I have certainly made a mistake or ten in my time, and am in no position to cast stones. A lack of tertiary education, or a criminal record, is not the measure of a man. But very often his words are.

The OP has some lofty ideas that may hold some truth: yes, we all should take responsibility for ourselves and not collapse into the arms of authority or society. But taking responsibility for oneself does not necessarily mean leaving the rest of humanity to fend for itself. I do not hold the lack of formal tertiary education, or the presene of a criminal record, against the OP. Still, I must take issue against what seems to be a reluctance to play any part in the world.

Reading the forums on this site, it is clear that very few of us have delusions of grandeur about what we do- but many of us still do take pride in doing it well. Considering what is required of the average TEFLer in Asia, I have no doubt that it can be done- well- by a person without a degree who happens to have a criminal record. Provided that person cares about what he or she is doing and sees the part they have to play in their own and adopted community. Can we count on the OP to contribute this?

[Chris_Travel_the_world]

I just wanted to jump in incase anyone was thinking that the first poster is at all at representative of Canada. Canada is one of the greatest countries in the world, with great health care, education system, and support for people down on their luck. We do like our pot, but most of us are smart enough to avoid a criminal record.

I just graduated from university and am going to teach in Osaka in 8 days. I never understood why new english teachers had a bad rep. until I heard the people on this forum. The suggestion of fake degrees being used, i mean come on, we all know that you can fool some of the people some of the time, but not all the people all the time, you will get caught, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday.

Your views on how you live your life are you own. But we have a expression that comes to mind 'it is better to keep your mouth shut and have people question your intelligence, then to open it and remove all doubt'. If you had stuck to a simple question, perhaps people would want to give you more advice. I am sure most people teaching overseas is thinking 'this guy is giving us all a bad rep, there is no way i'm giving him any advice'.

I do hope you find your anarchy in all its glory. I am sure it will be quite different from what you expect. I am sure when you are 75 you will be begging for that Canadian healthcare/social assistence.

Ok enough, It's such ashame when a truly ignorant person represents your country.

Chris

[NathanRahl]

Hmm, well I am sorry to say that yes you can get a fake degre, and rom what I know it works very well. Heck there are sights that mke degrees that look more real then the real ones from what I understand, and even provide a fake curricullum vitae in line with whatever major you pick, that would fool most anyone. However if you do that, you'll be spending several hundred dollars. If thats the way you want to go though, thats up to you. I say stick to the real deal and get the education, but it's your life, and really, they are not hard to get, or pass of if you get one that comes with a good CV as well. Honest, no, but it's your karma, not mine, I'm just teling you what a little internet research could. Later

[kuberkat]

I'm with Nathan on this one. As you sow, so shall you reap. We all know that TEFL isn't rocket science, and a high school dropout with heart can often do it better than a dispassionate PhD. Even so...