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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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 Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:03 pm Post subject: Re: Why be an ESL teacher? |
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| Ernie Cuba wrote: |
I know this may evoke some passionate responses but why do some teachers pursue ESL to MA level and not pursue a career as a normal English teacher, ie; PGCE-trained etc?
I'm currently studying for a B.ed. after years of EFL teaching in institutions which have treated me badly, been badly managed and under-paid.
I know that when I complete my course and especially if I get myself a PGCE I will often be making twice as much as the highest paid EFL instructor in the country of my choice.
Any thoughts? What are the benifits of English language instruction over English teaching?
Thanks. EC |
Bottom Line: Teaching in the public school system does not facilitate work/travel in other countries and this is one of the attractions of EFL. Also, I'm not sure about England, but teaching in US public schools is less lucrative than teaching in Korea and certainly the Middle East once you factor in tax free status and paid housing. Finally, the students can be a pain and the workload is intense.
In some countries, having a PGCE AND teaching in an international school would actually be less lucrative such as in the Middle East.
Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/ |
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BELS
Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 402
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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No! Bottom line is teaching privately in groups. Do it yourself direct. Forget trying the big business way, and employiing teachers.
Get yourself a small space and teach your groups, of course get through the red-tape in the particular country you are in.
But anywhere in the world, the schools are disrespecting your pleasant attitude to help others. Go for profit, because within a few years you might have a wife and a family to take care of. As a professional you should already have this respectable income.
TEFL is the most profitable revenue in the World, make it yours. D it yourself, or be ripped off. |
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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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| BELS wrote: |
No! Bottom line is teaching privately in groups. Do it yourself direct. Forget trying the big business way, and employiing teachers.
Get yourself a small space and teach your groups, of course get through the red-tape in the particular country you are in.
But anywhere in the world, the schools are disrespecting your pleasant attitude to help others. Go for profit, because within a few years you might have a wife and a family to take care of. As a professional you should already have this respectable income.
TEFL is the most profitable revenue in the World, make it yours. D it yourself, or be ripped off. |
I think what you're saying is to cut out the middle man, i.e., the employers. But, in most countries you can't get a work visa without having a legal job so your suggestion is not practical.
Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/ |
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BELS
Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 402
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Sadebugo wrote: |
| BELS wrote: |
No! Bottom line is teaching privately in groups. Do it yourself direct. Forget trying the big business way, and employiing teachers.
Get yourself a small space and teach your groups, of course get through the red-tape in the particular country you are in.
But anywhere in the world, the schools are disrespecting your pleasant attitude to help others. Go for profit, because within a few years you might have a wife and a family to take care of. As a professional you should already have this respectable income.
TEFL is the most profitable revenue in the World, make it yours. D it yourself, or be ripped off. |
I think what you're saying is to cut out the middle man, i.e., the employers. But, in most countries you can't get a work visa without having a legal job so your suggestion is not practical.
Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/ |
True for some, but not to me. Get residency in that company, or do do what the schools are doing, get a company. I all depends which country you are talking about, but believe me, if you can do it in Russia as a foreigner, you can do it anywhere. Be business minded. You can easily do it in the UK. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:52 pm Post subject: |
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| arioch36 wrote: |
Nature Girl
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| If I taught at an institute or uni, I'd make about a third of what I make now, and not have vacations |
huh? don't uni's have the best vacations? My current school I actually teach 28 weeks a year (for some reason 15 weeks instead of the usual 18 weeks, with at least one week off because of national holidays)
Two-four hour mornings, and one six hour day. four days off a week. As much extra work as I care or don't care for.
Are unis different elsewhere? |
I suspect they are different.
At mine, I teach classes 4-5 days a week. One to three classes a day. Semesters are 15 weeks long, but what you call "vacation" I will call time not teaching because during those breaks we still have to do work and show up in the office. |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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I would imagine the vacation times for unis would depend on the country. As glenski said, it would vary a lot, even from school to school. I saw one govt. graduate school in Japan that paid well, but they were on a tri-semester, so not much vacation time.
As a uni part-timer in Japan, I get about 5 months off a year, though I currently work at another job for perhaps about 3 1/2 months of that (though that usually is a 4 day a week schedule, not exactly back breaking  ).
Oh, and yes, I make pretty good money for what I do. As to the international schools, yes, some of them pay well, but you also need a good amount of experience to break into those jobs (for the better paying ones, especially). |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 1:23 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, and have you pursued the Nigerian job yet? Not exactly where I'd like to be working, safety on the streets is not exactly guaranteed, though I suppose you could sleep in the school  with your body guard  ! |
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Marcoregano
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 872
Location: Hong Kong
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| Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 4:15 am Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| arioch36 wrote: |
Nature Girl
| Quote: |
| If I taught at an institute or uni, I'd make about a third of what I make now, and not have vacations |
huh? don't uni's have the best vacations? My current school I actually teach 28 weeks a year (for some reason 15 weeks instead of the usual 18 weeks, with at least one week off because of national holidays)
Two-four hour mornings, and one six hour day. four days off a week. As much extra work as I care or don't care for.
Are unis different elsewhere? |
I suspect they are different.
At mine, I teach classes 4-5 days a week. One to three classes a day. Semesters are 15 weeks long, but what you call "vacation" I will call time not teaching because during those breaks we still have to do work and show up in the office. |
Vacations vary hugely across the tertiary (uni) sector. Apart from the obvious variations from country to country (ie. semester length, etc), much depends on whether your contract is short-term (bad) or permanent (good), and whether you are employed by an "English Centre" (bad) or by a proper university dept or faculty (good). In HK, for example, I know people employed on permanent uni dept contracts who get up to 4 or 5 months' summer hols (honestly), while those I know working for university English Centres (usually one-year contract or less) get from zero up to or a few weeks.
In the UK, many universities now employ EFL teachers on one-year (or shorter) contracts and such staff do not enjoy the same terms as other academic staff (though it should be pointed out that in the UK, university jobs generally are not as good as they once were). We can thank Mrs T and her assistants for many of those changes. |
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Fike2308
Joined: 30 Jun 2007
Posts: 52
Location: CHINA
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| Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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I basically teach ESL in China because I enjoy the experience.
Yes, sometimes it's very frustrating but that's true of every job.
Basically, I'd just like to look back on my life when I'm an old man and say I travelled around a lot when I was young and learned about other cultures to some extent.
I'm definetly not in this business for the money.
Also, the fact that I usually work under 20 hours a week here is another perk. I have so much free time to plan for lessons, study mandarin, relax, etc.
It's great! |
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Kootvela
Joined: 22 Oct 2007
Posts: 513
Location: Lithuania
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| Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Here it's always in demand so I can bargain up my rates and earn a living, NOT making a fortune but having a better life than teachers of other subjects that aren't so popular with private students. |
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phantombedwetter
Joined: 29 Nov 2007
Posts: 154
Location: Pikey infested, euro, cess-pit (Krakow)
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| Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 5:38 pm Post subject: Re: Why be an ESL teacher? |
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| Ernie Cuba wrote: |
I know this may evoke some passionate responses but why do some teachers pursue ESL to MA level and not pursue a career as a normal English teacher, ie; PGCE-trained etc?
I'm currently studying for a B.ed. after years of EFL teaching in institutions which have treated me badly, been badly managed and under-paid.
I know that when I complete my course and especially if I get myself a PGCE I will often be making twice as much as the highest paid EFL instructor in the country of my choice.
Any thoughts? What are the benifits of English language instruction over English teaching?
Thanks. EC |
Nice avatar by the way, do you think terrorism is funny?
Do you wish to emulate the behaviour of the scumbag in your picture?
I'm sure you will set a great example to your students in the state system 
I only hope my children don't have the 'pleasure' of attending one of your tutorials. |
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parrothead
Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 342
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 2:48 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| For example, I saw a job recently on TES in Kaduna, Nigeria that offers a house with all utilities paid, a car and driver, 1500 GBP a month plus 400 GBP in local money. 25 hour working week with seven weeks paid summer holiday a year. |
I received a similar offer via email once. When the deposed son of a Nigerian king personally asks you for help, how can you say no? |
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sweeney66
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 147
Location: "home"
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:00 am Post subject: |
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Why be an ESL teacher?
um...personal satisfaction?
I mean, I quite enjoy it, myself. |
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Hoosier Dada
Joined: 18 Mar 2008
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:18 am Post subject: |
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One reason I rarely post here is because of the infinitely recurring number of threads like this.
Why can't there be a proper, enforced separation of general and newbie forums? |
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BELS
Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 402
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:43 am Post subject: |
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| Hoosier Dada wrote: |
One reason I rarely post here is because of the infinitely recurring number of threads like this.
Why can't there be a proper, enforced separation of general and newbie forums? |
I look forward to contributing to your next creative thread. Go on! Give it a go. Perhaps some of us here, have been in Moscow too long now, and we have lost our creativity. |
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