Job Discussion Forums

[denise]

Well said, yaramaz and sheikh. This job is as real as you make it. Some people get into it because they want to travel, some because they probably can't find jobs back home (those to whom this thread is dedicated??), and some because we enjoy it!

My idea of a "worthless" job is, well... for example, the job that I had before I got into teaching. I sat at a desk, answered phones, input stuff into a computer, stamped little payment stamps onto invoices, made photocopies, typed memos, etc., and at the end of the day, when I went home, I wondered what I had done all day. I didn't feel like I had actually achieved anything. Eight hours of sitting on my butt. The world was in no way a better place because of all of those photocopies that I had made. At least this way there is a chance that some of the students will learn some skills, language or otherwise, that will help them in the future. I'm not naive enough to think that I can change the world by teaching English, but I don't want that. I want, quite simply, to help those students who want to learn English and college study & writing skills. A modest goal, but entirely attainable.

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[william wallace]

Let's try to get away from personal attacks, as the only outcome will be a closed thread.
There is a high degree of defensiveness within ESL...A key question ,for me, is why ?
Like Denise, I too love teaching. Having stated that;I suspect that some of the sensitivity we all feel at times is due to how vague the term "teacher" is applied to anyone available. Case in point: I was trying to have some affect on students at this dreadful school a few years back,but sadly,it was a lost cause.During this brief(6-8 months)time a Italian lawyer came to join myself and a Nigerian fellow. This lawyer brought up two issues for me. Firstly, why was she fit to teach when her English was terrible,(IELTS band 5,certainly not 6) peppered with non-systematic errors.Secondly,While she could become a colleague of mine,what chance would I have had of becoming a colleague of hers ?

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

I've just deleted three inappropriate postings. Repeat behavior will result in sanctions.

[coledavis]

Perhaps there's a more positive side to things. Of course, the problem is that what we do is based upon a skill that is held in common with millions of our countrymen/women and the citizens of kindred nations. The answer, as with many professions, is to look at the quality: English teaching, once you've learned to address a group of people, is easy. What is difficult is doing it well.

I personally have a range of strengths and weaknesses. In my case, I get on well with my students, but am weak at remembering the names of grammatical structures. Also, I know that more experienced people can prepare more quickly and know a lot more. Perhaps your 'back-packer' is the person who doesn't reflect on improvement needs or try to improve.

Where to go? Well, as the old TEFL trade union isn't going to work in this most market-led of professions, perhaps a practice of advertising our skills. The internet has its advantages. How about promoting a use of videos of practitioners' performances? (Permission needed is a point here.) So, people can see what a person can do and, if dates accompany videos, how they have progressed over time. Then, the conscientious and truly skilled can be differentiated from the indifferent (in more than one sense of the word). A bit like other professions' CPD (continuous professional guidance - my other professions have included careers guidance and occupational psychology, as well as programming and research, the first two requiring CPD), although this solution would tell people more than the tired paperwork of most CPD methods.

This could be done by a professional body, if we can create one. Or, in line with TEFL life as currently lived, we could do it as a commercial practice.

[coledavis]

CPD - continuous professional DEVELOPMENT. sorry.