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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
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 Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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I like not rotting away behind a desk.
I like the feeling that I am helping people--not specifically to learn English, but to learn to analyze/think critically. Of course, so many of my students right now just seem not to get it, and they almost REFUSE to be helped, but I've gotta have faith that something will get through to them eventually.
I like being trusted by my supervisor & colleagues enough that I can do what I want and they will believe that I know what I'm doing.
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Capergirl
Joined: 02 Feb 2003
Posts: 1232
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
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| Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:46 pm Post subject: |
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| dreadnought wrote: |
| not having to get up early in the mornings, people (especially beautiful female students) being forced to listen to my weedy jokes, monitoring (especially of the aforementioned beautiful female students), having a job where playing games and chatting about stuff you like is not only acceptable but is expected, not having to wear a suit..and many, many more. |
Where do you work? Hugh Hefner's mansion? 
I love teaching ESL. At this point in my life, I couldn't imagine doing anything else. It's the best job for someone who loves to teach, who knows the language well enough to teach it, and who is an adventure/travel junkie.  |
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struelle
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 2372
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2003 11:43 am Post subject: |
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| I've been doing this for 10 years and have worked in 8 countries. It still rocks! |
GREAT thread everyone, and what a motivational topic. Reading this is helping get the spark back into my EFL experience. I'm going through a fair bit of culture shock at the moment, but things are now turning the corner. I just got my CELTA certificate in the mail, so that helps. 10 years down the road, I want to say the same thing you did!
If there's anything to add to the list of EFL benefits, it's participating in teacher development workshops and reading books on how to teach EFL ( such as Jeremy Harmer's). Input sessions where teachers bounce ideas off each other on how to teach makes for very stimulating discussions - Dave's ESL is like that too.
Still, there is a downside to EFL. That is, how to deal with the "Oh, one more year" factor? We all know this concept. Go to a country, city, etc. Sign a contract, get familiar with the job, make friends, etc. You feel a time comes when you want to move on to experience a different city or country, but you feel settled enough in the current place. Your contract nears completion, and you say, "Oh, one more year"
I mention this as, for myself, it would be so, so, so easy to become 'Shanghaied' and stay in this city for 5+ years down the road. Many say this is the ideal time to be here and to catch the economic wave as the city develops. Over a period of time, a lot of money could be made in Shanghai for an experienced teacher.
I like this city a lot, especially the open atmosphere, things to do, career opportunities, contacts to make, expat services, restaurants, nightlife, and more. But the majority of benefits center around economics and I don't exactly enjoy a laid-back life here. As a student once told me, it's a great city for work, but not very good to reside in.
But the dilemma is, come contract renewal time, it's far easier to stick around than to move on to another city or country, even though I much prefer the latter.
What was your strategy to work in 8 countries over 10 years?
Steve |
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Twisting in the Wind
Joined: 20 Oct 2003
Posts: 571
Location: Purgatory
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 12:27 am Post subject: |
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| Wanbro wrote: |
Hear hear! Good to hear from some like-minded souls!
But perhaps this begs the question: why do people get fed up with EFL? Is it the money (or lack of it)? And when does this really begin to hit home? Is it the nomadic nature of the job?
Being relatively new to this game, I'm all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed - but would love to hear some insights from those at t'other end of the scale! |
We get fed up with it for the following reasons:
No money
No benefits
Not enough hours
If you are making "the money," you usually cannot get the hours. If you are getting the hours, you are usually slaving away and not getting the money.
Lack of employer respect--schools firing teachers for whatever reason and with no notice
Long commutes--in LA we're called "freeway fliers" because many teachers drive all over to their AM job, to their afternoon privates, and back home again in the evening. I've driven 100 miles a day before to and from assignments!
Lack of respect from students' parents who expect us to "do the laundry while we're there" etc
Absolutely no expectation while you're in this field for making enough money to marry and raise a family on, unless you're lucky enough to land a job in a school district with benefits
"So, why do we stay in it?" you may be scratching your head and asking right about now. For me, this is the most fun job I've ever had. I like helping students. I like having a job where I can laugh and joke in class. I like being respected and autonomous in the classroom. I have a good feeling when I come home at the end of the day that I may have contributed in some small way to making someone's life a little better. Perhaps I taught my student the English that helped him land the job where he met his future wife, and his whole life changed for the better, and that's no small hill of beans, my friends. That allows me to put up with all the crap that ESL teachers have to put up with and make it all seem worthwhile. |
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Chris
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 116
Location: Melbourne, Australia
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 5:55 am Post subject: |
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| struelle wrote: |
Still, there is a downside to EFL. That is, how to deal with the "Oh, one more year" factor? We all know this concept. Go to a country, city, etc. Sign a contract, get familiar with the job, make friends, etc. You feel a time comes when you want to move on to experience a different city or country, but you feel settled enough in the current place. Your contract nears completion, and you say, "Oh, one more year"
I mention this as, for myself, it would be so, so, so easy to become 'Shanghaied' and stay in this city for 5+ years down the road. Many say this is the ideal time to be here and to catch the economic wave as the city develops. Over a period of time, a lot of money could be made in Shanghai for an experienced teacher.
But the dilemma is, come contract renewal time, it's far easier to stick around than to move on to another city or country, even though I much prefer the latter.
Steve |
Steve...
You've really hit the nail on the head. I came to Poland with the expectation that I would move on after 2 years (and become fluent in the language--Yeah, RIGHT!). Well, 6+ years down the road, I'm still here. I've stayed because of the wonderful friends I've made, both Polish and NS, many of whom have stayed as well. Also, the economic benefits of staying here have helped me to live a very comfortable life for Polish standards.
However, I realized a couple years back that I need to get away. I love Polish society, and will miss it dearly when I leave, but it's really a necessity. The novelty factor has disappeared, and now it's just like living back in the States. Well, not exactly, but I'm sure you get my meaning.
So, it looks like Germany is calling me. And it looks like I've got a job there. Not too far away, but a completely different culture. I should be ecstatic, but I'm not. But I am looking forward to the change, particularily in the language and $$'s!
There just comes a point when you know it's time to leave. |
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struelle
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 2372
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 8:37 am Post subject: |
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| However, I realized a couple years back that I need to get away. I love Polish society, and will miss it dearly when I leave, but it's really a necessity. |
I feel the same way. It is very hard to leave a place after figuring it out and making friends, enjoying economic benefits, etc. Not all that different from people who pick up and move around their own country.
But I try to take the long-term view. Looking back on life, it would be more interesting to have stayed in a different place for 2-3 years each time than one place for a longer period of time. EFL is great because it's a professional that allows this kind of mobility.
I'm feeling the call to a warmer and more relaxed climate with a slow pace of life, friendly people, and great food as a next step. Thailand is very high on the list, and experience confirms that. Vietnam is also on the list, as is the south of China (i.e. Fujian province).
Interesting how we both are thinking of places in our immediate region as next steps. Good luck in your plans!
Steve |
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biffinbridge
Joined: 05 May 2003
Posts: 701
Location: Frank's Wild Years
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:16 am Post subject: teaching |
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| Teaching is like sex...when it's good it's great,when it's bad...it's bad.Right now Im back in England so ...no teaching and no.....(sigh).Gotta get a broad. |
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lagger
Joined: 08 Apr 2003
Posts: 40
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:54 am Post subject: |
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I don't like the non-structured hours, the way you can't just leave behind when you go home and all the unpaid hours you put into preparation, marking etc. I find being creative and preparing decent lessons is a little exhausting. I just want to relax when I get home but I have to always think about the 5 hours I have to prepare tomorrow (speaking of which....)
The things I like is that you can be creative, you don't have a boss watching you all day, you meet genuinely interesting people and it's never boring. |
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 10:33 am Post subject: Re: teaching |
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| biffinbridge wrote: |
| Teaching is like sex...when it's good it's great,when it's bad...it's bad.Right now Im back in England so ...no teaching and no.....(sigh).Gotta get a broad. |
But isn't bad... teaching... better than no teaching?
d |
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shmooj
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
Posts: 1758
Location: Seoul, ROK
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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I like the way that, because you are teaching language, you can pretty much do anything with students.
Tonight I found out how electrocadiography is done and how doctors measure bone density from my private student. A few months ago we were working our way through Notting Hill. Before that...
Very stimulating... |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 1:29 pm Post subject: Gripes |
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Actually although I moan and groan incessantly on these pages, I enjoy TEFL more than other jobs I have done. You can have bad employers, God knows, but if you get a resaonable employer and you are in a country that is liveable then you could do much worse !
The difficult times come when you realise that THIS IS IT. You are not going to be an astronaut, or write that novel, or become a famous rock singer. And you are in exile - for good ! No going back ! |
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shmooj
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
Posts: 1758
Location: Seoul, ROK
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 1:44 pm Post subject: |
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But that would happen whatever you did. Even if you were an astronaut you'd be thinking that you can't play for Man U or something. Who's satisfied with their allotted number of years anyway?
So TESOL isn't to blame for that and if I live into my dotage doing it I certainly won't be thinking "Well was that it?" - beats accountancy. |
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MacMahon
Joined: 04 Oct 2003
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Saying that, if Scott were 780,000 miles away on the moons surface, bouncing about, Guitar in hand, looking upon us all, he may still have a burning desire to return to Earth and Teach. Saudi looks so sweet from up there. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 3:07 pm Post subject: $ |
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| Well Saudi looks pretty good from down here too - especially on payday ! |
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