Job Discussion Forums

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 2:20 pm Post subject:

Still 17 years away for me- and I'm not spending too much time worrying about it.

Aged 50, I'd like to have stable employment that isn't excessively full time. Own, not rent, my home. Live in a country that I truly enjoy...

But who knows- life has a way of surprising you. I've always felt it's best to prepare for what you want, and then go with what you get. If you'd told me ten years ago I'd be teaching in Ecuador, I'd have laughed. But here I am, doing fine, and enjoying it a lot.

To get to my goals for 50, I need to buy the house. (Which is in the works) and reduce my hours at work. (Which may be harder...)

Best,
Justin

kuberkat · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 358 Location: Oman

GULP! Yes, apparently simple addition is not among those transferrable skills. Blimey. It seemed like such a long way off...?!? Time to definitely get off the old tuchus then, eh?

tedkarma · Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:48 pm Post subject:

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

I hope it has nothing to do with ELT/ESL/EFL/TESOL/TEFL(these insipid acronyms)...welfare,McDonald's ...maybe would be a step up

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 10:59 am Post subject:

A 21-year old if possible.

abusalam4 · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 143

To retire at the age of 50+ is too early. At the age of almost 58 years now, I feel I have reached something like the peak of my career - after earning my degrees, spending more than 15 years in teaching and research at colleges/universities worldwide, with around 30 works on my publication list, etc.
It`s a time in life to look back and to look forward at the same time. You will reflect on good and bad things past and attempt to do better in the future - at a rather mature age where you are self-confident enough to admit failures, and where you know about your own weaknesses and potentials perhaps only too well.
The special world of ESL is one of several worlds of realities - it represents only one and a small part of the overall picture of what learning and teaching is/should be about. The typical ESL teacher is a traveller, working abroad and changing employers from time to time. He never seems to stay for too long and appears to be a person for whom it is hard to find a place for permanent rest. It is less for reasons of teaching English that he does - rather, it seems to be a lifestyle making use of ESL jobs allowing him to live that way. At a more mature age, the traveller in ESL perhaps likes to set his feet on more permanent grounds without necessarily preparing for a permanent rest in his armchair at home.
At an age like that, it is the best time for doing both - learning about new exciting things in science and in life (please note that the apprpoach is essentially holistic!) while at the same sharing his knowledge and experiences with others. It is a good age to set examples for others in your own life and to guide whoever asks for guidance!