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wildchild
Joined: 14 Nov 2005
Posts: 519
Location: Puebla 2009 - 2010
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 Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| ...I've been working at DLI in San Antonio, Texas. It's been great!!... |
sure it has; all economies even remotely related to "security" are booming these days. Get 'er done!
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MELEE
Joined: 22 Jan 2003
Posts: 2583
Location: The Mexican Hinterland
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| Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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There are other great jobs that allow you to sleep at night.
You mentioned you never found job security? some university positions are tenured, offer retirement, and other benefits. |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 1:07 am Post subject: |
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| I'm sure the guy sleeps fine at night. How does teaching foreign soldiers English cause severe deteriorations in Human Rights. |
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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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| Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:18 am Post subject: |
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| Stephen Jones wrote: |
| I'm sure the guy sleeps fine at night. How does teaching foreign soldiers English cause severe deteriorations in Human Rights. |
Stephen,
Thanks for the input but don't try to use logic. This is not a political forum so we shouldn't even be discussing such topics. However, I must address one point brought up by a previous poster. Yes, I sleep well at night. As a matter of fact, I sleep much better than when I was a part of the language education industry where the school owner would hire people right out of college (myself included) with no teaching experience or training. I eventually got the MA but in the meantime, I was complicit to providing less than stellar instruction to the students and the owners' manipulation of educational policy in order to maximize profits. Still, I try not to judge people on this issue because I realize everyone has to make a living.
In order for someone to be completely guilt-free in the EFL profession, you'd have to be working for an NGO teaching students who are paying no tuition. Are any of my critics doing that?
'nuff said. |
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soapdodger
Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 203
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| Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 7:40 am Post subject: |
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| Actually I did, in Sudan. |
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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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| Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 10:12 am Post subject: |
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| soapdodger wrote: |
| Actually I did, in Sudan. |
I spent a year at a reservation in South Dakota tutoring Native American teenagers. We've all done some good things in our lives. If I may ask, what have you done since then? I really need to know before I can absolve you of the sins that you are so quick to accuse others of. |
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Vanica
Joined: 31 Aug 2006
Posts: 368
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 1:12 pm Post subject: |
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| So what and who are you teaching? |
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soapdodger
Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 203
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| Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Your absolution? Gosh it would be an honour. I am currently teaching medical researchers who are looking into probiotic cures for cardiovascular disease and veterinarians researching plant-based alternatives to antibiotics to treat gastrinal complaints in animals....for ludicrously low financial recompense I might add, and have been doing similar for quite some time. I do hope that is enough to clean my soul in your eyes, otherwise I shall be tormented forever. |
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Justin Trullinger
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 3110
Location: Seoul, South Korea and Myanmar for a bit
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| Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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Hey- isn't it nice to see that we can all be so friendly!
I don't mean to criticise anyone- but it's true that for some of us, working for "the army," (any army) would be a deal breaker, no matter how good the job.
The job you posted sounded interesting, till I found out what DLI stands for.
In response to this-
| Quote: |
| How does teaching foreign soldiers English cause severe deteriorations in Human Rights. |
I wouldn't say it does, in all cases. THough I think of some.
But, at the end of the day, the military decides who to teach things to based on its own military goals. ANd I haven't found an army yet that shares MY goals.
In response to this-
| Quote: |
| In order for someone to be completely guilt-free in the EFL profession, you'd have to be working for an NGO teaching students who are paying no tuition. Are any of my critics doing that? |
I'm not sure why I have to feel guilty if my students are paying tuition. Those who can pay, pay. And it subsidises a lot of opportunities to work with those who can't. Sometimes the government pays. Hell, sometimes I pay. (Welcome to the real world of non profit organisations...)
I won't earn what you're earning with the DLI, probably ever. But there are other rewards.
best,
Justin |
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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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| Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Justin Trullinger wrote: |
Hey- isn't it nice to see that we can all be so friendly!
I don't mean to criticise anyone- but it's true that for some of us, working for "the army," (any army) would be a deal breaker, no matter how good the job.
The job you posted sounded interesting, till I found out what DLI stands for.
In response to this-
| Quote: |
| How does teaching foreign soldiers English cause severe deteriorations in Human Rights. |
I wouldn't say it does, in all cases. THough I think of some.
But, at the end of the day, the military decides who to teach things to based on its own military goals. ANd I haven't found an army yet that shares MY goals.
In response to this-
| Quote: |
| In order for someone to be completely guilt-free in the EFL profession, you'd have to be working for an NGO teaching students who are paying no tuition. Are any of my critics doing that? |
I'm not sure why I have to feel guilty if my students are paying tuition. Those who can pay, pay. And it subsidises a lot of opportunities to work with those who can't. Sometimes the government pays. Hell, sometimes I pay. (Welcome to the real world of non profit organisations...)
I won't earn what you're earning with the DLI, probably ever. But there are other rewards.
best,
Justin |
Justin,
Thank you for your sober, reasoned response. Although I may not agree with some of the things you said, I do respect your right to have a different opinion than mine and to choose your own career path. What is difficult for me to tolerate is someone who doesn't show me the same courtesy. You, obviously, are able to at least consider other viewpoints. I look forward to reading your comments in the future.
Last edited by Sadebugo on Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:08 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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| Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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| soapdodger wrote: |
| Your absolution? Gosh it would be an honour. I am currently teaching medical researchers who are looking into probiotic cures for cardiovascular disease and veterinarians researching plant-based alternatives to antibiotics to treat gastrinal complaints in animals....for ludicrously low financial recompense I might add, and have been doing similar for quite some time. I do hope that is enough to clean my soul in your eyes, otherwise I shall be tormented forever. |
The first sign that someone is losing a debate is when that person resorts to sarcasm . . . |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 1:02 am Post subject: |
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Sadebugo,
Don't mind soapdodger, he's been like that for, well forever.
| Quote: |
| I really need to know before I can absolve you of the sins that you are so quick to accuse others of. |
I think he was responding to this. Sounds a little too religious for my taste. I assume you meant it humorously.
Yes, some people would have qualms about working for the military in any post, just as I had some qualms about continuing work in 'little' government many years ago (reason, low motivation in most departments, nice people, but...).
As to working for pay, don't most people? I think that's the way the real world works, people need something to support themselves, and usually it turns out to be money. |
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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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| Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 5:24 am Post subject: |
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| gaijinalways wrote: |
Sadebugo,
Don't mind soapdodger, he's been like that for, well forever.
| Quote: |
| I really need to know before I can absolve you of the sins that you are so quick to accuse others of. |
I think he was responding to this. Sounds a little too religious for my taste. I assume you meant it humorously.
Yes, some people would have qualms about working for the military in any post, just as I had some qualms about continuing work in 'little' government many years ago (reason, low motivation in most departments, nice people, but...).
As to working for pay, don't most people? I think that's the way the real world works, people need something to support themselves, and usually it turns out to be money. |
Hey, Gaijinalways:
Thanks for your comments. Yeah, everything I said was in response to 'soapdodger's' criticism of someone working for the military. It's none of my business if someone works in a language institute and/or earns a good salary teaching whether they provide a valuable service or not. My objective was just to point out the hipocrisy of someone claiming it's a bad thing to work for the military and yet, potentially exploiting language students in a business environment. I don't see any moral difference between the two, but let me reiterate, I am not the one making judgments; I am just trying to point out the hipocrisy of those who do.
As for absolution, I am not certified to give it, but I can at least try, can't I?? |
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MELEE
Joined: 22 Jan 2003
Posts: 2583
Location: The Mexican Hinterland
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| Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Sadebugo wrote: |
In order for someone to be completely guilt-free in the EFL profession, you'd have to be working for an NGO teaching students who are paying no tuition. Are any of my critics doing that?
'nuff said. |
I work at a non-profit semi-public (it's partially funded by state and federal sources) university where 50% of the students pay no tuition. The other 50% pay depending on their ablity to do so only about 5% pay full tuition. No student goes into debt to study here and the poorest get 2 free meals a day as well. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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Dear MELEE,
I think it's wonderful that you have such a great (and guilt-free) job. Any openings?
However, I suspect that there are not enough such positions for all of us in the ESL/EFL field, so many of us must settle for less.
I, to, am fortunate. I work teaching ESL at a community college here in Santa Fe, NM. The classes and the books are free (as in your case, it's state and federally supported). But I'm afraid I wouldn't feel justified, because of my good luck, in judging the situations that others are in.
Regards,
John |
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