Job Discussion Forums

[davidmeta]

Hello All

I've decided to take up a career in TEFL/TESOL. I'm looking to begin in Sept 2009. I thought I should list a few reasons why I think TESOL would be my ideal career. Perhaps then some of you can evaluate my Utopian vision!

1. First, I love education. Essentially, I love learning new things and learning new things with other people. So this involves teaching others what you know, as well as them teaching you what they know. As you can probably see, TEFL is ideally suited to this two way learning process, since you are immersed in another culture whilst teaching the ways of your own (albeit with a focus primarily on language �ways�!). State teaching in the UK is certainly not like this, the national curriculum system is something I am weary of - I did a bit of primary education experience, and I think those classrooms could really benefit from a more interactive approach (i.e. children�s play and imagination could be promoted more, to develop the class learning experience, as in Steiner philosophy for example).

2. I love free communication. Again, a bit of a broad statement, but to take an example - Wikipedia. What is Wikipedia, if not a globally successful communication channel? Yes there is knowledge in there, but since anyone can edit that �knowledge�, essentially it is all about subjective (i.e. free) communication. I think a career in TESOL, or further a career in languages education, can promote this. I think this because I get the impression language teaching is primarily about sharing the tools for free expression � please correct me if I�m wrong!

3. I�m young, free and single! I know that many people have successfully taken up TESOL in mid to late life, however I think a lot can be gleamed from this career if you have fewer responsibilities. In fact, I think languages education involves a great many responsibilities � nomadic responsibilities!

There you go, please let me know what you think!

D

[dakota29michael]

God Bless you brother. I think its great what you are doing. Ive been in the field for a couple years...but only teaching ESL here in the United States. Ive about to enter a masters program in TESOL which will take about 15 months...and then im unfurling the sails to hit the countries and beaches and hidden environs of the world. I would love to know the feel you got for the best qualifications to have as you begin your treck...

[Sadebugo]

I say definitely go for it! It sounds like you have the right attitude to educate your students and adapt to different cultures. I envy you starting fresh again. A lot of people enter EFL to fill some kind of gap but some of us find we like it and make it our career. Do keep us informed on this board as to how it all works out for you.

Best of luck!

Sadebugo
Djibouti, Horn of Africa
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/

[davidmeta]

Hi Dakota Michael. Thanks for the support. It sounds like you're preparing yourself properly, good luck to you! From my research, it seems working in ESL within the UK is low paid. I need to pay off a loan and save a bit before I embark, so a lower salary is not an option.

I'm not sure what you mean by best qualifications? Do you mean a cert. in TEFL/TESOL is 'just the ticket' to my ideal career? My plan is to take a CELTA in Prague, at Akcent IH. My initial thoughts are to learn a bit of Czech, then move on to Poland, which has a similiar language.

Hey Sadebugo. Again, thanks for the support! Yes, to take up TESOL as a career is an idea I kind of fell into. A friend suggested it to me, initially I thought the idea unsuitable (uprooting etc.), however it gradually became more and more inviting.

Cheers

D

[Glenski]

1. Loving education is one thing. Obviously a career teacher should be into that. But in your case, is that providing it or being on the receiving end? Looks like you are more interested in the latter.

2. I'm a bit lost on the meaning of "free communication". Yes, anyone can edit Wikipedia, but they do have people held accountable by providing references and with an advisory staff. Wikipedia is a far cry from teaching EFL, though. Yes, TEFL is largely about providing the tools for language improvement, which leads to communication, free or otherwise. I'm still trying to wrap my head around your take on this. You teach English, be it oral comm, writing, reading, listening, TOEIC prep, etc. Depending on the country and sector of the business you are in, that could mean many different things.

3. Nomadic responsibilities? Isn't that an oxymoron? To be honest, being young and single are good for starting out in TEFL, yes. They have their disadvantages, too, but you can't change your age.

[davidmeta]

Hi Glenski!

1. Well, I tried to suggest that I think education can be a two-way thing. I know that is a little counter-intuitive, but I think the students have as much to offer as the teacher(s) in a classroom. Yes I expect to learn, which is why I favour TESOL over other forms of teaching in the UK, but I fully expect to bring my own knowledge of English to the table. I also respect that there might be some teachers that attempt to learn the native language during lesson, that is not my intention.

2. Yes, �free communication� is a very broad idea, sorry about that, I�m being quite philosophical about all this! I used Wikipedia as an example because it is such a success, yet a lot of that success, I would argue, is because it can be edited by anyone. It�s openness is attractive, and that�s what I�m getting at with �free communication�, it leads off from my first point about two-way education; learning is much more attractive and productive when everyone gets a say. A class of students with an entirely different background to you surely presents new challenges for teaching, and new ways of understanding language.

3. I�ve read a bit of Deleuze and Guattari, and then Rosi Braidotti, which is why I use the term nomadic responsibilities (Braidotti argues for an ethics based on nomadology). What I do not want to do is settle down, with a well paid job, and a large plot of land, just so I can then visit other parts of the world as a tourist. I want to visit other countries on the terms of the people that live there.

Hope that makes my thoughts clearer!??

Cheers

D

[Henry_Cowell]

What you haven't told us about are your specific interests and expertise in:

Linguistics
Language education
English language (for example, knowledge of grammar)
Foreign language learning

If you pursue an entry-level certification and possibly a post-graduate degree or two, you will be spending a lot of time with these topics. What are your qualifications, experiences, and special interests in such areas?

Otherwise, you might just as well be interested in teaching the saxophone overseas.

[naturegirl321]

Yep, you could do it. And if worse comes to worse, you only do it for a bit, then go back home, but at least you've had the experience

[davidmeta]

Hi Henry Cowell. Well I graduated in 2005 with a degree in communications and cultural studies from the UOL, Goldsmiths College. Essentially this involved lots of study in the philosophy of communication and its social consequences.

I have an A-Level in English Lit/Lang. but nothing strictly in the field of linguistics, lang. education or foreign language learning.

I also have little experience in any of these areas at professional level, I have worked in advertising communications and office management, so neither really qualify.

My interests are primarily in music and events. I DJ and produce techno music, which is why my first choice destination is Berlin - a mecca for techno. However I have read that Berlin is not an easy place to start in TESOL, so I figure Prague would be the best bet, since it is a train journey away, and it is also more central, allowing other travel around Europe.

I do have an interest in language learning, especially where it involves semantics and semiotics. I am also partial to a bit of 'deconstruction', via Judith Butler usually. I have very nearly applied to be a state school English teacher in the UK, but I feel I need to explore the world a bit first.

[Glenski]

Before Henry comes back to (rightfully) lambast you with more about sax lessons, hear me out.

You have said scant little about any desires to teach EFL or ESL. Most of your last post was totally unrelated to teaching whatsoever (but the musical connection hits home with Henry's saxophone lessons point).

If you are really, truly, honestly serious about TEFL or TESL, you'll get the proper education for it and have a valid reason for doing so.

Right now, I think you are a perfect candidate for the 2009 JET programme. Come over to Japan, experience public school assistant teaching through JET, and see if testing the waters that way leaves a good or bad taste in your mouth. Meanwhile, I suggest you enroll in a TESL/TEFL certification course and/or start a master's degree in something more closely related to teaching a foreign language.

[Henry_Cowell]

[davidmeta]

Hi Glenski and Henry.

I've done some primary teaching experience in the UK and I was very good at it, however, I felt that now was not the time to pursue a teaching career in the UK. That is because I am also very involved in my music, and I'm keen to develop that by traveling. Since TESOL allows one to travel/move abroad whilst also teaching English, it seems the next logical step.

I do aim to take the CELTA in Prague Glenski, as I mentioned earlier. I think the fact that I want to actually teach English in the UK is reason enough to want to teach it elsewhere first, I think TESOL will be invaluable experience for when I come back to teach at home. Of course, I may prefer to continue TESOL abroad.

Henry, yes I am aware that teaching (in any subject, home or away) is not easy - a have many friends who are teachers and they tell me about the extra hours. However, I enjoy it, so its worth it.

[Aussie Chick]

Ahhhh, the energy and enthusiasm of the young!!!!

You'll never know if you never go, so my suggestion is to pay off your loan, save some money (the British pound goes a loooooong way against the Czech krown) and come over here. Get your Celta or Tefl certificate, and start teaching. You are lucky, being that you come from an EU country, so you at least won't have the legal hassles of getting a work visa etc.

My advice is also to take things one year at a time, especially if you are planning to live overseas. Life away from home can be difficult, especially in a country like the CR where wages are low for teachers.

Anyway, good luck in whatever you do!

[Justin Trullinger]

[MO39]