Job Discussion Forums

mdk · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 425

I took up teaching ESL when I was close to retirement. Now I only return to the states to earn a stake so that I can go back to Europe. I have a second income and so the money I earn is to supplement that and to extend the time I can loiter overseas. For instance, this last tour ran 14 months and I hope to earn enough in about 3 more months to go out again.

My question arises from wondering what percentage of ESL teachers are following a similar path? Everybody else here seems to be doing ESL as their primary source of income and it seems to me that provides quite a different slant to the whole enterprise. So is anybody else doing this but mainly living off the old 401(k)?

Aussie Chick · Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 104 Location: Australia

I'm looking at ESL as a second career. I have been in the payroll industry for 15-20 years and am tired of it, so I have been looking at doing something else.

I am in my late 30s so I am looking at something I can do for another 25 years before I get my pension. Thus, it's not just a one-two year thing I'm considering, but something I will be relying on for my keep.

Time will only prove whether I have made the right choice or not.

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

I think there's a distinction between 'second career' and 'second income.'

Teaching is my second (actually, third) career, but my primary source of income. Which topic is your post actually more interested in? Maybe the title of the thread is a bit misleading here...

mdk · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 425

Come to think of it, second income is probably closer to what I am thinking of, but that sort of hits below the mark. I'm not ready to just vegetate, but I could get along in Spain (or pretty much anywhere in Europe) on what I will have coming in monthly after this October - if I had to.

So I would like to hear from people who are in that situation. Some people go off and paint, I like teaching.

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

I'll be interested to see who, if anyone, fits this category! My feeling is that most of the regulars here are 'professional' in the sense of earning the bulk of our income from teaching.

I think that one definition of 'professional' is if you earn 80% or more of your income doing whatever your profession is.

Not to cast any slur on your teaching professionalism!! Just musing about terminology today.

mdk · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 425

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

mdk · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 425

fancynan · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 5:21 am Post subject:

My situation is a little different. I am leaving a well paying job 6 years prior to gaining my retirement. I am saving money to supplement my income in Europe because I know I cannot make enough to live comfortably. Since I have no desire to go to Asia for a year or two to put away money, if I find I can no longer afford to stay, I will return home to earn and save more money. So, in a sense, teaching will be a second income, but more like third or fourth career!

mdk · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 425

That's interesting. May I ask where you are planning to head to?

When I first went to Tomsk, I had a $300 VA benefit to supplement my teacher salary and I was living in a Russian household. It was a bit tight, but 7000 rubles and $300 would get you thru the month in Tomsk in 2002.

The trick is to learn to live as much like a native as possible. It is more fun that way I think. Also, you will be surprised at how much more money you have to spend once you park the car.

Good luck

fancynan · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 5:35 am Post subject:

I am going to Paris. I will be taking my TEFL course in January and hope to be working very soon thereafter. I definitely plan to live as a native, and will seek a room share to make living expenses more affordable. It's also a great way to improve my French and meet people.

I am in the countdown mode - preparing everything I will need for this major life change. Can't wait!!

CJF · Joined: 13 Mar 2007 Posts: 28 Location: Wuxi

Ex-Commercial Pilot, (18 years,) can now afford to do whatever I wish but find ESL teaching easy, rewarding, (although not financially), and worthwhile.

Teaching student pilots in Ground School in the US was my link into ESL from my first career and as a UK national with an old fashioned UK education found the swap to teaching English a piece of cake.
Teaching is the same whatever your subject. If you know it you should be able to teach it, (unless you are a moron and I've met a few of those in this business).

If you have no ties, a home to retreat to and you want to travel and see other countries by living there rather than as a tourist, it's an ideal way to to add to your own knowledge bank. Glad I did.

mdk · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 425

Yeah,

I worked as a chemistry teachng assistant for a while back when I was in graduate school. I found it was a lot more useful in learning to manage a classroom and generally approach students than the TEFL.

Well, that was a couple of years and the TEFL course was 4 weeks.

Fancynan, have you looked in at the France forum? Not everybody could get a job in France, although if you are doing the odd private - well, few people would care, I think. You might have a look at Nice instead of Paris.

Mr. Kalgukshi · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 9:28 pm Post subject:

I've just edited one posting and deleted another for being off topic and confrontational. It would be a good idea for everyone not to comment on the messenger but rather stay focused on the message. One more ad hominem posting will result in something other than a warning being posted.

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