Job Discussion Forums

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

We always read how one progresses from a backpacking teacher to a career teacher, but has anyone done the opposite?
I've been working "up" the ladder for 9 years in Japan. I have a great job, but I wouldn't half go for a few years of teaching in half a dozen different countries.
The only thing is Ive gotten used to my "career" benefits such as a western salary, health care, even a pension. If I tell any of my friends that I'm thinking of leaving this job they think I am mad, and my wife....

But where has the adventure gone?

Or should I just be content with living vicariously through Daves? Wink

Anybody else find themselves wearing the "golden hand cuffs"?

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

A few years ago I finished a 3 year contract as a manager and I was just desperate to get out of the office and back in front of the whiteboard. So I changed job, took a paycut and regained my sanity.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

After being here for three years, I'm leaving a nice, secure university teaching gig in July. I have tenure, very good pay by local standards, benefits, etc... but I'm bored and I feel like it's time to move on to something new. I'll be going back to my home country and I hope to find a decent teaching gig there. If not, in the fall I'll fly off to a different country.

keepwalking · Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 194 Location: Peru, at last

I fell off the ladder a few years ago but now I'm on my way back up with far more wisdom than I climbed it in the first place.

I'd been teaching for about 3 years in British high schools when promotions started coming my way. I should have read between the lines a little better - each promotion was to replace someone who had left through stress! At one point I was head of English, head of Citizenship (personal health, social education etc) head of cross-curriculum literacy and the union rep. It was too much, I was burning out and came to hate the job.

So I left and took up a TEFL post in a university in Peru. After 3 months I was bored of teaching adults who wanted to learn and remembered the good things about teaching teenagers. I got a job in a bi-lingual school and am now the Head of English there.

It is the perfect job for me. After taking on promotions in an obsessive desire to challenge myself and get a better salary I woke up to what I really love about the job and have found the perfect blend between challenge and comfort, responsibility and freedom.

A change in pace or direction, or even a complete rejection of the whole ladder thing can sometimes be just what you need to re-evaluate what is important to you. Don't walk away from opportunities because they are perceived by you - or those around you - as a step down.

You can always come back to teaching. You have experience which can't be taken away from you and so will always be employable. But if there is something else you want to try, go for it. As Mark Twain said, in 20 years you won't regret the things you did, you'll regret the things you didn't do!

tedkarma · Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 12:21 am Post subject:

The maximum I spent in any one country was five years (Saudi Arabia) - though I am now passing that mark in Thailand.

Though I chose Thailand for eventual retirement - I do still have a hankering and a bit of envy for a friend who will soon be heading off to China . . .

I've always enjoyed testing my cultural-adaptation skills in a new setting and don't want to think that is over. But I guess I am getting older . . . Sad

Financially, I guess I could climb down now - but I think just a good semi-retirement and lots of traveling might soothe the wanderlust. Maybe.

TeacherTim · Joined: 10 May 2005 Posts: 89 Location: Deep undercover

I worked as a college lecturer in the UK for six years. Good pay and excellent holidays. I was a coordinator for three of those years and was expected to be made team leader.

So what happened? Too much stress - my two predessors quit through stress and are still on sickness benefit. I was working all hours and frankly the salary isn't worth losing your mind over.

So I returned to Asia. I enjoy the simple life - just teaching, that is, not spending 25 hours teaching to be followed by 30 worth of paperwork and mindless target driven nonsense.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has quit mainstream teaching in the UK for this reason. After all teaching is a vocation that requires satisfaction not headaches and panic attacks!

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

yaramaz · Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 6:28 am Post subject:

I've been going in quite a few directions over the past half decade, trying to find a comfy place to linger. I started out in what I later found out was one of the most respected K-12s in Turkey (I had no idea because I was in a small provincial city and it was the only gig in town), staying two years until the isolation and conservative culture started to do my head in. I then moved to Istanbul and got a short contract at a language school, which was lovely and easy but sure didn't have the same cachet as my previous job. I then moved on to a well respected university and stayed a year but didn't renew because I really wasn't happy. I'm back at the old language school, where they have shipped me out to a full time in company position where I get my own driver, my own classroom, a 4 day work week, free meals, and a laptop. So although I'm technically a few steps down from what are considered the 'good' jobs in Turkey (K-12, uni), I'm a lot happier and I'm making just as much money as before.

Maybe it wasn't a step down, but rather a step to the side. A happy medium.

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

I started teaching in Japan with NOVA and then headed back to Australia and worked teaching university entrance here. I missed Japan and went back for round 2 with NOVA. Biggest mistake I ever made. Largely due to my own growth as a teacher. Sure there was no stress working at NOVA but I also felt that I wasn't actually accomplishing anything, unlike in my previous job in Australia. I lasted 9 months and even that was only to make the hassle of moving countries financially worthwhile. So I guess the lesson learnt was something about not going... somewhere... again. Still love Japan, but career-wise I outgrew it. And no, I didn't have the patience to teach eikawa or public high school while waiting for the magic job to arrive.

Came back to Australia and shortly I'm headed off again. It's easy to get comfortable and certainly if you have responsibilities (e.g. family, mortgage etc) then it would be tough to leave a good gig. Not sure what I would do in that situation. For now though? It's back on the road to new adventures. I have a good job here but there are other jobs out there and we're all pretty fortunate to be in an industry that allows us to take up opportunities all over the world.

globalnomad2 · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 562

Tedkarma: Were you glad to leave the magic kingdom of KSA? I was in Malaysia and Japan, at American and local universities, and then with an unfortunate downturn in my life, wound up in Saudi Arabia for four years before upgrading again to Dubai. And what an upgrade that is. There is no comparison. KSA is the nadir of existence. I for one will never, ever go back for any amount of money (well...any amount less than $100,000 annually, and that's not going to happen anyway). What do you make of that small minority of western women who actually like it there and go ballistic when anyone criticizes the place? What's that all about? My wife had to get out before I did. She is sensible and normal.

globalnomad2 · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 562

To continue on my KSA theme...yes, because there's nothing to do there other than get your exercise by outrunning the muttawahs, and trying to arrive at supermarkets during the few precious moments when they're not closed for prayer, many people accomplish some personal things. I studied personal finance, taught myself better swim skills, and wrote a short memoir about China. Big deal--because later, back in the real world, my writing became much better. Why? Because the real world is not segregated and the real world allows for some freedom. Because the real world is not a sterile theocracy. Because inspiration and stimulation come from ALL types of human beings, not just from one gender.

keepwalking · Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 194 Location: Peru, at last

I love this thread! Normally I get dumb looks when I explain to people where I'm off to next, and all my friends' emails from 'home' begin 'when are you coming back?' but on this thread everyone is normal!! They all get the idea of broad horizons and life being about more than comforts. Ah, this is home!!

globalnomad2 · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 562

keepwalking: Indeed! And when it's 115 degrees F. outside (in Dubai) and the humidity is 90%, you know you're alive. I don't mean that sarcastically--things like that do remind you that you're a global nomad. Or...the most beautiful and passionate women in the world (in Malaysia) also remind you that you're alive. I even married one.

In any case, less experienced travelers, when asked about what can be learned by a life of overseas residence, preferably in a number of countries, often answer with things like "Learning about other cultures," etc. Yes, that's very important. But the most important factor is learning FROM other cultures.