Job Discussion Forums

jezebel · Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 53

Would you say that, compared to other opportunities available to you, teaching english is a good pursuit if you want to have a lot of free time to explore yourself and the world around you?

I'd like to work on my writing and possibly take a distance ed course or two (one at a time, at least). Is that something I can do comfortably in my free time while teaching ESL, and yet still feel like I have time for a life? Right now, I'm working in Canada and it seems like all I do is go to work and work on schoolwork for the one course I'm taking. I think that being freed from family, TV, and friends I've grown apart from could be refreshing and make my free time seem a lot more available.

Do you feel you have enough free time to pursue the things that interest you?

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2006 6:22 am Post subject:

It depends...

laura1d · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 108 Location: Spain

Hi Jezebel,

You find that wherever you go, life has a habit of building up around you at a remarkable pace, then you end up having as little time as before!

Laura

sidjameson · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 629 Location: osaka

In most places I know you can easily live well on about 20 hours teaching a week. Once your an experienced teacher you can prep those classes in 10, 5 or even less hours. So yes if youre not chasing savings you usually have a lot of free time.

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

Some places require that you spend 40 hours on site, regardless of how many or few teaching hours you have and how quickly you can prep. And in some countries your schedule will include split shifts and loooong commutes to business students' offices. You may also get very limited vacation time. Those things can easily cut into your free time.

Still, if you are good at managing your time, you can fit your activities in around your work schedule. I've always had time to go to the gym, socialize and go out regularly, develop new hobbies, and take weekend trips around the country.

d

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I can honestly say my teaching schedule is lighter than it has ever been. I have far more free time than when I was teaching in my home country. It has enabled me to do a masters degree in under 2 years, while working f/t and having time for my family.
However, we all have different situations. My next job may be completely different again.

jezebel · Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 53

Do many teachers end up having a lot of on-site non-teaching time? Would that mean that, once you're finished your prep work, you're pretty much free to do what you like as long as you stay in the building? Because, to me, that's still free time, as long as I have a novel or a notebook in my bag...

swetepete · Joined: 26 Oct 2004 Posts: 16 Location: victoria, canada

I think this is a great job for somebody who likes having free time.

It seems that the norm is for teachers to spend a certain number of hours a day at work, regardless of how much 'work' they are actually doing. When you take a job, be sure to ask your predecessors what the deal is with that. I just finished a super-cushy gig where I was teaching four hours a day, and was at the school only five hours a day--plum, really, but kind of unusual.

I hear public school jobs have a lot of down-time, but that you are expected to be at the school eight hours a day. This might be a good fit for you; if you have your own office, or at least something private-like, you can write your novel or your poetry, or do an MA, or sell stuff on ebay, or hang out on eslcafe or whatever. Sodoku, maybe?

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

When I was working at an entry-level job in Italy I had horrible hours. I would often leave my apartment at 7:45 in the morning, head to a series of in-company classes, return home for lunch around 2:00, go back to the school for evening lessons and prep, and then return home as late as 9:30 pm. A lot of teachers put up with that- after a few months I refused to work extremely early or late hours that went above my contracted hours. I didn't mind doing overtime during regular business hours, but not at 8:00 at night! There were weeks when I was scheduled to teach thirty-nine hours, plus I had about twelve hours per week of travel time. As a new teacher, add in prep and you're looking at close to seventy hours per week (of which I was initially getting paid for thirty-nine until I protested the lack of pay for travel time). I think that in Europe most NEW teachers end up working split shifts and doing in-company classes, so that's probably not a good place to start out if you're looking for free time. By the way, the contract I signed wasn't clear on things like split shifts and travel time so I just went by what I was told during the interview. Needless to say, they knowingly lied to me.

In Barcelona I had friends (also new teachers) who worked from 4:00 to 9:00 five nights a week, but the school was located more than an hour from the city center by train. They didn't have split shifts, but their travel time to and from the school (which is not the kind you get paid for) was horrible. I could never handle getting home from work at 10:30 at night!

If you really want free time, look into the public school system! You get days off for professional development in addition to Christmas, Easter and summer breaks! Plus, the pay is way better! As a newly-qualified public school teacher (BA and BEd) in Canada I would earn more in one week than someone teaching ESL at a university in Mexico would earn in a month. I intend to live simply, save money and travel during school breaks.

sallycat · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 303 Location: behind you. BOO!

well, if you work for one of the big 4 eikaiwa in japan, you aren't going to have much free time. otherwise you should be fine.

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

Like sheik and others wrote, it depends.

Universities offer 5-10 classes per week. You are your own boss. Nice.
Some conversation schools want you to work noon to 9pm, with maybe no consecutive days off for a weekend, and only national holidays off.

sheeba · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 1123

Are you the type who likes to take things in their stride. I am so my position suits me .I'd recommend a Chinese University . I get plenty of cash to live on My planning is about 1 hour a weekI even save a bit if I'm frugal and I work about 10 hours a week. There is minimal pressure here . I am doing a distance course and it is going really well simply because I have the time to dedicate to it . I also have time to learn Chinese and socialise if I care to . Life is nice and easy and I am at the same time progressing with qualifications and experience. Europe to me seems like hell compared to this !!