Job Discussion Forums

TheBee'sKnees · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:37 pm Post subject: Am I too sentimental?

Hi everyone! So, anyway, for the past two years I have been enrolled in an English Language Teaching certificate course. I'm almost at the end and I'd love to teach abroad (that's why I enrolled in the first place!) but lately I've been having major anxiety about moving to an entirely different country, getting there, and feeling lonely or isolated! My lease is up in Feb. so I feel like I should make a decision soon.

Insights?

thanks

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Insights? Sure...first, keep posting and reading here and other forums/blogs. Look for other folks teaching in the countries you are interested in. You may find it quite easy to hook up with others.

For example, over in the Mexico forum, two of us frequently organize teacher get-togethers, with one coming up tomorrow night! We're going to be celebrating...nothing at all, which is the best reason to celebrate, cabrones. Cool

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

In addition to what Guy wrote, I'll just be more direct.

Where are you interested in working? That should attract the people with experience who can help explain what it's like.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Many teachers start alone in their respective countries. You generally make friends quickly with the other teachers in your school, and depending on many factors (language ability, shyness, etc.) work your way out from there. Don't worry--it does take some settling in, but there will be other people who understand and can help you get acclimated.

good luck,
d

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

Don't be a big wuss. Just expect the first week or two to be difficult. Get a good phone card so you can call home and cry if you need to. Don't be surprised if the teachers in your school don't accept you right away. I was basically ignored in the staff room at my school until another teacher started about six weeks after me. I said hello to her, and she told me that I was the only person who had acknowledged the fact that she was there! Once we became friends everyone else decided to get on the socializing bandwagon.

sheeba · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 1123

If it's time to move on then do it and if you want to taste life abroad then do it. If you make a mistake You can change your mind . You can walk away .

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Aramas · Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 5:05 am Post subject:

Just go. Don't believe the myth of other people having even the faintest clue what they're doing. They just go and take things as they come when they get there.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Deicide · Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 4:41 am Post subject: Re: Am I too sentimental?

TheBee'sKnees · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 4:11 am Post subject:

Thanks for the tips. In the past I have lived in Peru, the Czech Republic, and Poland, but in each case I already had some sort of pre-arranged 'support group' if you will: family, friends, etc. I'm thinking of looking for work in Morocco (looking everywhere, really, but trying to narrow it down.) I've travelled through Morocco once before and very much enjoyed it.

All logic dictates that I should just go, deal with a potentially awkward adjustment, and then just get over it. But I know myself better than that. I mean, I know I can do it, but I guess I just need some sort of reassurance. I can, at times, be a big softy.

jillford64 · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 397 Location: Sin City

The first three months were the hardest for me. In addition to culture shock, isolation, and not speaking the language, this is my first job teaching English. For a class I haven't taught before, which was all of them, I spent at least 3 to 4 hours preparing for each hour of teaching. On a good night, I got 4 hours of sleep.

chola · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:38 am Post subject: am i being too sentimental

You can do it Exclamation

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

thelmadatter · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:03 pm Post subject: ignored

Im kinda ignored too. Not so much for being a foreigner but because there is a small clique here and if you dont kowtow to them, you have no standing at all. Given that choice, Im happy working alone in my lab, esp. since said clique is more worried about their status and perks than teaching well.