Job Discussion Forums

johnslat · Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 2:49 pm Post subject:

I got into the field by serendipity. Upon getting my MA in English Ed in 1978, I found teaching jobs around the Tampa, Florida area hard to come by at that time.
While attending the University of South Florida, my roommates were first one Iranian student and later two of his brothers also arrived. After my job search proved frustrating, they suggested that I go to Iran to teach. It seemed like a good idea, so I applied and was accepted at what was then called Pahlavi University (now Shiraz University.)
Unfortunately, my timing wasn't too good; I arrived in August of 1978, and the Islamic Revolution took place in January of 1979. The university closed down and I was out of a job, and, after a couple of months (the airports were all shut down for a while) out of the country as well.
But I'd been bitten by the EFL bug, and eventually I spent over twenty years in the field: nineteen in Saudi Arabia and two in Indonesia.
I've never regretted it - for one thing, I got to see a lot more of this wonderful world than I ever would have otherwise.
Regards,
John

Manaus · Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 52 Location: Orlando, FL

I never thought that I'd become a teacher. It seems funny to me that I love it so much now because growing up my mother told me she thought I'd be a good teacher/guidance counselor.
During my last year of college I was trying to plan a year abroad, but wanted to get paid during that time. I found a job teaching ESL in Brazil (thanks to this website!!), and when I came back to the U.S. I got my teaching certificate and took all of the Education courses I never took in college. My B.A. is in Anthropology - I never expected to become a teacher.

Now I can't imagine myself doing anything else. I teach middle school during the day and ESL to Latin Americans a couple nights a week and during my breaks.

Miyazaki · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 635 Location: My Father's Yacht

no. had a career and then left it to come tefl in japan.

roywebcafe · Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 259

Love of travelling and despair working in the UK. Then somebody mentioned teaching English abroad with out having to know another language. I was off like a shot. My first choice was Business then I.T. Never really like working in either.

Wish i knew about tefl years ago i was in my late 30's when i discovered it. That was 2003. After a tefl pgce and four years exp i am going off to Europe to do another contract. No security - pensions are not safe it seems anywhere so do it.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

Well, teaching ESL was my first job. As soon as I finished school I wanted to go abroad. At first I did it to go abroad but latter I found that I enjoy teaching but my days in ESL might be over in order to get a teacher's license in the United States. I would like better qualifications and the opportunity to earn $2000-$4000 at an international school in Eastern Europe or South America. I am not likely to make that much as an ESL teacher in Europe or South America.

Gregor · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 842 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

I was a printer before being a teacher, but I never pursued it as a career. I sucked at it so badly! I'm too myopic. My first career choice was musician, but discovered that if you're not famous, being a working musician as a main source of income is not a lot of fun. So TESOL was my second career choice. I've been at it since 1996 and I have yet to have a reason to regret it.

Justin's right - career advancement exists. Teacher to Senior Teacher to ADoS to DoS to corporation guy in the bigger franchises (EF, Shane, etc.). Or start your own school. My current boss here in Mexico, a British woman exactly my age - went that route and she's doing well.

My ex-wife always asked me what I plan to do when I'm too old to work anymore. Well, again, as Justin pointed out, this is a good enough gig to retire from if you stick to one place for long enough. I haven't chosen mine for sure yet but I'm going back to Indonesia after the summer so we'll see.

Anyway, if I'm too old to teach Business English, I reckon I'm about three days from being too old to BREATHE. It's not that hard to do, and the pay is great (yeah, laugh all you want, but I'm talking realistically; a salary -to -local-economy ratio - Teaching ESL is the best job I've ever had).