Job Discussion Forums

Atassi · Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 128 Location: 평택

I would add that some of those without MAs are damn good teachers. They're a pleasure to work with.

globalnomad2 · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 562

MAs should be required for f/t employment in intensive EAP pre-university programs...Foundations, as they're called in the Gulf

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

globalnomad2 · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 562

EAP faculty should be able to feel like regular academic faculty, and be able to communicate with them, most of whom have PhDs in any American institution. They should know what it is like to do a serious thesis, and have a broad understanding of university governance and not just be BA-level schoolteachers. Schoolteachers get paid less and s*** on more. Not that MAs in EFL aren't...but...anyway, this is the system I'm used to. A PhD on the other hand gets one out of EFL because you'd be a fool to get a PhD and then return to Foundation-type programs because you'll still be teaching 20 hours and getting s*** on like a schoolteacher.

shuize · Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 1270

jonniboy · Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 8:19 pm Post subject:

It really depends on you, what you want and what your background is. For example being up to the eyeballs in debt may be suitable for some people but not for me - I've never had a credit card in my life.

My grandfather lived a wild and carefree and I'm sad to say alcoholic youth. As his son, my uncle, pointed out disparagingly, when it came to his 70s he got all his care (maybe 100000 dollars worth) paid for by the state whereas responsible people in identical situations who hadn't p-i-s-s-e-d their money up against a wall were forced to sell their properties. Moral: life isn't always fair and hard work isn't always rewarded the way it should be.

Lifestyle wise, yes I know that a lot of friends who had plum jobs in London *did* envy me. Yes on paper, they had great jobs and high salaries but it was all swallowed up by higher band tax, rent (1500 euro a month to rent a decent flat in the centre of the city) travel (almost 50 euro a week) and other costs.

Obviously the most satisfying jobs are not always the best paid. One of my previous jobs was signing people up for store cards. I thought I'd hate it but actually strolling around all day chatting up nice women and chatting to men about football suited me just fine (maybe it was an omen for TEFL?!) Assistant accountant was my main background. Well paid but utterly soul destroying mind numbing nonsense. I have to admit that at the moment I'm considering taking a one year sabbatical from TEFL to work in London for the dual purpose of upgrading qualifications and saving a bit of money but the thought of that accountancy lifestyle for the next 30 years has me reaching for the razor blades. TEFL ain't ideal but there is much much worse out there.

zorro (3) · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 202

Just out of interest Jonniboy, why did you quote the cost of health care in Britain in dollars, and the price of rent in London in euros? Confused

jonniboy · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:59 am Post subject:

Euros/Dollars are usually easier for our dear readers to understand than GBP.

zorro (3) · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 202

Has this thread gone funny?
I posted a few hours ago and it's gone!

comenius · Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 7:37 pm Post subject:

Seems to still be here for me! Very Happy

supervisor133 · Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 35 Location: Australia

The original idea that TEFL is a dead end, it's boring and will leave everyone penniless has little basis in fact. If you are 40 years old and still working for an entry level wage in a conversation school then you've obviously considered it and have decided that it is what you want. Personally, I've moved from conversation schools in one country to another to working in EAP in my home country. The opportunities to make more than an entry level wage are definitely out there as many people on this board can attest. While I can gripe about the hours and the marking I also have a teaching position that allows me to be creative and challenge myself and my students on a daily basis. Seriously, how many people do I know that have jobs that are completely different everyday they walk in? Very few, and for that I'm grateful for a career in this field. Yes, I may walk away from it at some stage to pursue other things but that's the beauty of choice. If you're unhappy with the options available to you then who is to blame? Perhaps instead of looking at the industry you could look at the attitude you have towards your own job. Honestly, I'd be really upset if I were paying for tuition from someone that really didn't give a rat's ass about what they were teaching.