Job Discussion Forums

nomadder · Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2003 3:29 pm Post subject: A Comparison

For those who were regular teachers back home, I wonder how that teaching life compares to the TEFL life.

johnslat · Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2003 3:45 pm Post subject: Snakes and ladders

Dear nomadder,
For me, teaching back here in the States was more of a "challenge" in the classroom (admittedly because I always seem to be attraced to the "tougher" assignments: Learning Alternative Programs, Alternative schools. etc - hint: when you see the word "alternative" in a job description, run like the wind) than teaching overseas in Saudi Arabia. I never had "discipline problems" over there, while there were plenty of them here in the States. Of course, that compares only teaching life; my "out-of-the-classroom" life in the States was always much more enjoyable and varied than it was in the Kingdom. What you gain on the ladders, you lose on the snakes.
Regards,
John

ntropy · Joined: 11 Oct 2003 Posts: 671 Location: ghurba

Overseas, or me, hands down!

Even though I am at present teaching at "home" at a uni, I can't wait to find a suitable position overseas.

Why?

Better overall financial conditions, less classroom "crap," fewer teaching hours, nicer students by and large, respect for education instead of contempt, the lure of exotic horizons and new experiences.

rogan · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 416 Location: at home, in France

Teaching in the UK - too many problem - discipline, form-filling, targets, key stages, meetings, P.C. rules, etc etc

TEFL wins every day.

steampig · Joined: 27 Oct 2003 Posts: 28

I've been a Tefler now for 12 years and 6 countries and all contacts in the 'regular' teaching world in England tell me how awful it is. Totally exam based with no creativity left, or indeed expected of the teachers. Tefl strikes me as the last bastion of some of the better aspects of old style teaching. One in which, at the end of our day, we still have time to stand and stare. We are also encouraged to be a liitle creative. This wins every time.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

TEFL in a decent institution away from home wins hand down. I escaped from the classroom in the UK many years ago and I would not wish a job as a schoolteacher in Blair's Britannia on anyone.

As for the USA, I cannot imagine that teaching in school there is a desirable job. Have things improved since the days of "The Blackboard Jungle" ? ( written by that great novelist who penned police procedurals under the name Ed McBain)

Wolf · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth

Shonai Ben · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 617

Too many discipline problems back home and a lack of interest by the students.
TEFL is the best.

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

TEFL is the best. When I taught ESL, I always thought I should be overseas again where it was meant to be (or so I felt).

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

The only plus factor I can think of for teaching "back home" (USA) is that I could maintain a much higher standard of living there on my teacher's salary than I can here in Mexico.

For me, most of the plus factors for teaching where I am now have already been mentioned by others in previous posts. Here I'm not swamped with mountains of extra paperwork and record keeping (data-driven schools, No Child Left Behind, state testing, mainstreamed special needs students, etc.,) don't have to deal with crazy discipline problems, don't have to put in nearly as many hours per week outside of class to keep up with everything (although I don't care much for working split shifts,) feel that as a teacher I'm respected by students and society in general . . . and more.

Definitely, teaching EFL gets my vote.