Job Discussion Forums

tedkarma · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:28 am Post subject:

I'm half with Anda and half with the others who say go now.

If you just tough it out a few more years and get that qualification - you really will be set to do this kind of life from the upper echelons rather than from the middle.

However, if you truly believe that you have the discipline to return home and do it after a couple years overseas, then go for it. But do be honest with yourself. A lot of people make those promises and never go back.

I suspect though, since you are still young and had the discipline to start and finish your graduate program, that you will be straight with yourself and return for the qualification if you decide that is what would work for you.

You may well find that you don't like teaching children and thus don't want to work in international schools. I have an M.Ed. and no certification (well . . . had one in adult education) - but I NEVER wanted to teach kids - of any age. The teaching kids notion is an important one to sort out as it can determine your long-term career path.

Teaching at universities overseas can provide a pretty good occupation just short of the international school route in terms of long-term benefits.

It is a great life and a great lifestyle. I first headed overseas at age 39 and have never looked back - now at age 56.

On second thought - just go do it.

You never know when these type things might just slip away and soon you are a drone with an SUV, mortgage, 2.2 kids, a huge amount of debt, high blood pressure and chest pains . . . Shocked

Hurry up!

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

Financial concerns are real ones. You should go somewhere, anywhere you think you can succeed or have a good experience, but you should also be absolutely certain you have enough money in your pocket for a return trip, whether for emergency at home or emergency to get out of some situation in that other country.

Many people think TEFL life is for backpackers, and their image of such people is not good. You won't do much to dispel that, other than to talk about what you are getting into as professionally as possible, and with the knowledge of the situation based on extensive research.

"Oh, I'll find something when I get there. Many people do." = bad answer

"I've contacted ABC recruitment agency, which supplies Wannaspeakia with 70% of its foreign English teachers. Good outfit. Good reputation. They set up hundreds of people every year..." = better answer

For what it's worth, I changed careers at 40, and a few of my friends were behind me all the way, but my parents thought otherwise. I'd been to Japan on other business years earlier, so it wasn't like this was unfamiliar territory, and I'd even studied the language at university, so I wasn't incapable of some communication. However, it was hard for them to imagine such a switch and to such a faraway place. After the first year or so here, I was repeatedly asked whether I'd gotten it "out of my system". Well, it wasn't a whimsical thing to get out! I have remained for 8 years more, have a family here, have moved up the chain, etc. This is my home.

My situation may not be what you face. Doesn't matter. Plan for success, prepare for failure/emergency, and know that it will all be a learning experience nonetheless, whether you stay 6 months or 6 years.

jm21 · Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 406

Hi, first post here...still researching info so I haven't made a newbie thread of my own.

I'm similar to you, was very frugal (and maybe a bit timid), never studied abroad...whenever I was about to go on some big vacation to Asia or Europe or wherever, some more "practical" expense ended up taking precedence.

Now I'm just about to graduate from law school, went there because of the career (and a really nice scholarship) only to find I don't really like the work, and the public sector law jobs have lots of competition for low pay (lower than high school teachers in many cases)...I'm burnt out and want to go do something interesting and finally travel, but worried what it will look like on my resume if I postpone/don't take the bar, but it'll cost me about $6k to take the bar and I'm not sure I can pass when I'm so tired of school. I have more student loans than when I had finished college that I'd like to take care of (maybe work for a few years and get them down), even more family pressure to keep moving down a career path...

Or I could drop it all, secure a job teaching somewhere, get on a plane, and do something I really want to do.

Anyways, I'm rambling a bit...but I guess my point is, there will always be something that seems more "practical," or more "sane," or whatever terminology you want to use. If you really want to do this, put your foot down, give the normal career path the bird and get on a plane. Otherwise it will be one more year, then one more, then one more, ad infinitum.

If you work hard, like what you do, and continually seek to broaden your mind, money and a career will follow. If you stick with something you aren't enthused about, you're a bit burnt out, you're always wondering "what if," you will find yourself unhappy and doing poorly and not really getting ahead.

Now if I could follow my own advice I might be a bit better off Smile

.

dakota29michael · Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 10

When you get all the negative voices going with family and friends...its all the more reason to go... Stay around...delay your dreams and ambitions...and you'll end up like them...trying to snuff the life out of a bright dream because they're envious...jealous...old...and too afraid to do something "different", interesting...and really cool...Go for it girl....!! If 23 aint the perfect age to break away and go for it..I don't know what is... And also... your plan has a great practical advantage...Spanish is huge... Proficiency in Spanish will set you way apart from any competition you come across when you return to the states to "re-enter." "Ouch....I hate that expression... Anyway.....that saying is true...there's no coming home.... Spend time in a foreign country and savor everything new and different and unique and beautiful...and you will never be the same...and also you will be less afraid..... You go girl !!!!!!!!!

BTSskytrain · Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 45

leave the nest and forget the rest. 23? be your own person and make your own decisions.

skytrain

notamiss · Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 12:24 am Post subject:

tedkarma · Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 3:13 am Post subject:

jpvanderwerf2001 · Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 1117 Location: New York

Money need not be a problem if you:
1) get qualified (you are doing so);
2) find a location you like/love;
3) show up for work, sober, every day; and
4) STAY in said location.
After that, the money will take care of itself.
Good luck!

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

Another thing to consider is that the teaching abroad lifestyle can often result in moving in and out of your parents house when you don't have a home base in your home country. I moved in with my parents to save money for three months before I moved to Italy, and then for four months upon my return. I am now teaching in Mexico, and I will be staying with them again for two months when I get back to Canada. Sure, lots of people my age (24) haven't left their parents houses yet, whereas I've been in and out since I was eighteen, but I do recognize that my choices affect their lifestyle. I wonder if you parents would feel better knowing that you had a few thousand dollars in the bank at home, so that when you returned you wouldn't be relying on them for food and shelter...

tedkarma · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:22 am Post subject:

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

And again, I think it probably has a lot to do with age. I moved abroad after my first degree, when I was just twenty, and returned at twenty-two to start my second degree. At that time, most of my friends were still students and many still lived with their parents. In your early twenties it's unlikely that you'll have a network of independent friends who you could stay with if you needed to. I finish this "job" (don't get me started) at the end of June and have a "real" job in the public school system lined up starting in September (I can't wait to have my OWN classroom with my OWN desk and my OWN computer...), but in those middle months I'll be in limbo again. I don't have ANY friends who have a spare bedroom, but I suppose I could crash on a couch for a few weeks if I felt so inclined... but really, my parents would never say no! And I keep telling them it will be the last time...

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

Well, I'm 32 and crash at my parents' house between jobs! I spent about six weeks with them between my jobs in Peru and Oman--I think that was my longest stay in about 10 years. It felt a bit weird, like I was 16 again. I was initially planning on getting a job at the uni in their town, though, so it sorta made sense to stay there rather than crashing with friends, who, given that I've been all over the world and up and down the west coast, live all over the world and up and down the west coast. I love having friends in cool places, but it makes it a bit hard to crash on their couches since they're so spread out. As far as I know, my parents don't mind having me, because they know that I am not just going to veg and waste away--they know that when I am between jobs I am quite intent on finding the next one. So they know that I won't stay for long.

I'm not sure I agree with jpvanderwerf's assertion that the money will take care of itself. Yes, you will generally earn enough to live comfortably by local standards, but few countries offer real savings opportunities (which I why I ended up with my parents when I left Peru!).

d

dakota29michael · Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 10

So when you guys talk about certification in one's home country, does that entail certification in TESOL. Is that as desirable as a certification in a specific content area. My situation is that there is a Masters program for TESOL where I live, and the program i work for will reimburse me for alot of the tuition because I teach ESL in my present job. I know alot of people who have gone the masters TESOL route and they are all very happy they did because of the wide and limitless opportunities this opened up for them. Here in the United States the ESL field is hotter than pancakes...

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

You don`t say how close you are to finishing your graduate degree but if it`s only a few months away then I would strongly recommend finishing it up and starting afresh in a Spanish speaking country in August.
Ultimately, you will be a more marketable teacher when and if you should decide to return to your home country. With Spanish under your belt, and international experience you will have credentials that surpass your peers who have graduated and stayed home. You will have contacts and friends in places of the world that seem like a paradise for you.
And what no one has mentioned is that you will have job opportunities that surpass your peers. What with the increase in Latino population here in the States, there will be a continued growing demand for those with multicultural experiences and you will have wonder options for summer linguistic programs in the states for Latin Americans studying abroad, foreign exchange student guidance counselor in American universities, mutlicultural programs in museums and work in international relief agencies, so should you decide that teaching is not best for you, the administrative opportunities might be a way out.

mcsam · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 65

Hi
I am really sorry to hear that your parents are not supportive. I expected mine not to be but they surprised me. I was 34 when I decided to take the plunge, I had a good job, earned a decent salary, had excellent benefits etc. I expected to get the "Don't you think you should think about this a bit more?" "What if it doesn't work out?" Blagh, blagh blagh, but I didn't! All my mother said to me was "Do you think it will make you happy?" I had to be honest and tell her I didn't know but I wanted to try and she told me to go for it.
I think that the question my mum asked me is the one you should ask yourself, and if like me you don't know I don't think there is any harm in giving it a go. I've been in this "game" for 3 years now and have no intention of going home to live anytime soon. However, my dear old mum, bless her is always more than happy for me to come home any time and stay as long as I like between contracts.
I guess I'm just really lucky.
Good luck to you.