Job Discussion Forums

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

Now that the festive season has arrived (and almost passed) ,I find myself once again gloomingly pondering the carnage left in the wake of my EFL career and wondering just how long I can put up with this cowboy game in the future.First of all, let's make things clear,I am not a whinger.Also, I have had some great times,met some awesome people and been to some fantastic places.However, contemplating my return to the Middle East,(for financial reasons),makes me feel like a prisoner on remand awaiting trial.Reminscing about my career history only seems to remind me of all the lies and mayhem that go hand in hand with EFL recruiters/employers.Bare faced liars,broken contracts,bad references for non work related behaviour,sackings because some snotty nosed brat failed his/her exams and didn't get his/her 'groovy club badge' are the everyday occurences which litter this so called career path.Therefore, it is with no surprise that I find myself becoming more cynical with age. I have no fear of doing a runner or telling a boss to stick his job up his ****.My instincts have become focused firmly on MY best interests,which are usually monetary.Once,I would have considered such behaviour and attitudes unprofessional.So do you quit and try something else or do you continue?How many of you 'ole timers have felt or feel like this ?Just interested....

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Happy Chrimbo biff

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

Bah humbug.

lagerlout2006 · Joined: 17 Sep 2003 Posts: 985

Well said man. I would happily walk away from this nonsense and never look back but well...we have to make a living somehow. And the occasional good class makes it OK. We are pretty well compensated all things considered.

richard ame · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 319 Location: Republic of Turkey

Hi Bif
I think you hit the nail on the head quite smartly there and it is a brave thing to put those things in print. Like the vast majority I have met in this line of work our prime motivation is money but there is a lot of bs we have to put up with as well .
We usually end up if we are lucky with a half decent employer and semi intelligent students but it takes time to achieve that and may be thats why you are still doing this in the vain hope that one day you will really enjoy what you do and get well paid into the bargain I'm at least halfway there if only I could double my salary it would be perfect .

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Now approaching my dotage I wonder about wasting my life in this "Mickey Mouse" Industry. (Apologies to Disney Inc who created the widely successful cartoon character !)

But sometimes I think it is not so bad. I have ended up (?) with a cushy job that pays me reasonably and I certainly have a lot less job stress than people working in the Land of Tony Blair.

guty · Joined: 10 Apr 2003 Posts: 365 Location: on holiday

Your main motive is money, cant believe that, if it were why arent you doing a job which pays real bucks, like banking or insurance, or prostitution?
Answer, we do it to live somewhere, usually abroad, usually in a place we prefer to the one we grew up in, and we have to work to be able to live there.
We have all been charmed by living and working in one or more places with beautiful people/beaches/substances/nature/whatever. I would certainly take that over a lifetime in my own country even if it means I have less in the bank.
When those countries we find we want to stay in are cheap, eg East Europe, Latin America, parts of Asia, we can do a few years in the gulf and retire at 40 having bummed around for a lifetime.
Career, who needs it? I wouldnt change it for anything, except I wish Id done the 2 years in the Gulf already.
Happy new year Biff

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Retire at 40 ?
I never met ANYONE who could do that.

I am 56 and still working in the ME. Looks like I will be for another few years too.

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

I too would love to retire at 40. Impossible in EFL, but if you have any clues how it's done, please tell us.

guty · Joined: 10 Apr 2003 Posts: 365 Location: on holiday

I lived in Mexico this year for around 500 US a month.
That covered rent bills and living.
I own an apartment in the UK which I rent out for around 500 US a month.
2 years in the gulf = enough money to buy a place in Mexico thus saving rent and having more to live off.
I am 37.

No doubt I will work again, but for me retirement means working as and when I choose, and the absolute freedom to tell employers to stick it .....

Scott47, yeah but how much is enough? No doubt I could work for another 20 years too, but why?

gerard · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 581 Location: Internet Cafe

Retire at 40??? The only problem would be having no cash. AHHH details details!!! The problem is having no plan. One needs a plan. I can deal with no money but one needs a PLAN..

The plan is to have a job. And assassinate Scott 47 and take all his cash,. HEHEHEH!!!

Mouse · Joined: 24 Dec 2003 Posts: 208

Despite the disadvantages of the ESOL industry, and the lack of respect for teachers which seems to exist in certain circles, I would personally find it difficult to leave this career behind. There is comparatively good money to made in the right places, without the necessity to work all the hours under the sun (certainly enough to live on and to pursue other activities). For me, though, freedom and curiosity are what keep me in this field: there is always some new place to go, new people to meet and, dare I say, new food to sample. Who could ask for more?

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Maybe I just haven't been in this field long enough, but I have yet to experience those things that biffinbridge mentioned: the liars, broken contracts, etc. I have worked with a few unsavory fellows, but the situations were never bad enough to make me think about leaving the field.

I know that teachers often get no respect, our salaries suck rocks, many schools don't know a damn thing about qualifications and just hire the first naive blondie they can find, etc., etc., but I know better. I take my job seriously, and I am lucky to work with people who also take their jobs seriously. I know that what we do is hard work that is as worthy of respect as many other professions, and I am proud to be a part of it.

d

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Unlike guty, some of us have dependants to think about. Not unreasonably, my offspring expect to be fed, clothed, housed and educated.

Difficult to do that on the rent from some slum house in Manchester or Gateshead while hanging around in a seedy bar in Latin America.

Why have offspring ? Well unlike some I believe that it is our biological destiny to reproduce and that those who do not are missing out.

I will now sit back and await screams from those who have been offended by my political uncorrectness.

grahamb · Joined: 30 Apr 2003 Posts: 1945

I couldn't possibly inflict the fruit of my loins on humanity: One of me's enough.