Job Discussion Forums

MamaOaxaca · Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 201 Location: Mixteca, Oaxaca

Inspired by the keys to success, I ask myself, what is TEFL success?

I know there are probably as many answers as there are TEFLers but I'm interested in knowing what others see as success in this field.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:43 pm Post subject:

No more business classes where executives leave you waiting, and answer their cell phones throughout class.

Fixed wages without cancellation problems.

Enough income to enjoy life, and free time to do it in.

Students who enjoy learning, and colleagues who enjoy teaching.

Wine.

Best,
Justin

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

To Justin's very apt description, let me add Location, Location, Location.

I think many of us (well, me, for sure) have a strong need to live in places/cultures where the values and lifestyles are more in line with our own outlook on life than in our home countries....

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

And wine, of course! Very Happy

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

A nice, friendly environment for our children to live

Ample vacation

Friendly and helpful colleagues and fulfilling work environment (it has been so many years for me I have forgotten what this is like)

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

Respect is high on my list, and we all know it's hard to earn or even find in TEFL.

tedkarma · Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 12:34 am Post subject:

I think it is the ability to have a long and satisfying career, that treats you well in terms of finances and some level of respect and status. One shouldn't have to be eating out of garbage cans in their dotage because they chose a career in TEFL.

Frankly, I think I found all that. Not always perfect, but what career is?

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

-A post graduate qualification in TESOL/Linguistics [I know the China crowd will scream, but guess what?]

-An employer who only employs the professionally qualified

-A career structure, which does not involve short term hire and fire

-Employer contribution to a retirement fund, as well as on-going professional development

-A serious educational setting: not a language mill

Sounds impossible? Teaching TESOL in your home country, or at least a similarly cultured one, may be the way to go.

cangringo · Joined: 18 Jan 2007 Posts: 327 Location: Vancouver, Canada

I would say success is when the students actually learn something and are happy to learn it. I think the measure of any teacher's success is what their students take away with them.

Ok and location...

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

Jizzo T. Clown · Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:45 pm Post subject:

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

Success, for me, means not getting asked when I am going to go home and find a real job or what job I do back home (I've gotten that question from students). Basically, being accepted as a teacher, not a starry-eyed traveler who just happened to stagger into a classroom.

d

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

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

In Peru, I think my university typically brought in native speakers on short-term contracts. It seemed like it was some sort of treat for them to bring in native speakers. I had a one-year volunteer visa, so the whole thing seemed temporary, and the students might have gotten that impression too, since many of them asked me what my job back home was. Maybe they figured that the Peruvian teachers were actually serious, trained teachers and the native speakers were just there to have fun?!?!?

In Japan and now in Oman, the entire staff were/are trained teachers, so there's at least a feeling of seriousness.

d