Job Discussion Forums

[Dr.J]

There are a few jaded EFL teachers around; we've all met some I'm sure. And I've noticed that when I complain, I end up using the exact same phrases as these teachers. It's almost as if I'm copying the big kids on the playground when they say "school sucks", just to make myself look cooler. Left on my own, I probably wouldn't complain half as much.

So, what if all jaded teachers are just copying a set of 'master' jaded teachers who had a really bad run around 20 years ago? I mean there is a kind of sub-culture going on here.

[denise]

I'd say it's more like getting older and realizing that you're becoming like your parents. You think, hmmmmm, all of a sudden what they were saying all those years ago makes sense...

The "school sucks" analogy doesn't really work for me because if young students are rebelling or acting jaded, it is, as Dr. J. said, in an attempt to be cool. But carry that coolness over to teaching--is it cool to be jaded in our field? Are all the bitter teachers out there who hate their host country, hate its people, hate teaching, etc. as cool as the bad boys/girls who used to hang out and smoke pot in the high school parking lot? Is it uncool to enjoy our jobs, be optimistic about our students, and really want to try to understand our host country?

If bitterness is inherited, I don't think it's out of a desire to emulate those bitter folks who have come before us. If so, then I am probably destined for geekiness.

d

[Dr.J]

uh, I'll put myself in context and try not to sound like such a sheep.

Personally I do not feel jaded with my life. However, when I come into contact with other teachers I invariably find we start criticising parts of the host country, and I have to stop myself. It's a social phenomenon. We all know smoking isn't cool, but you have to admit it's 'cool'. It's as if by criticising something you are putting out a signal that you have higher standards.

I'm not sure where I'm going with this. I just wondered if societies teachers have similar social patterns becasue of their environment, or if they just slip in to the roles of older teachers that they observe.

[Roger]

...but that's perhaps why so many of us elect domicile in a third-world country. We half expect people there to be more enthusiastic (which they aren't, at least not in schools!). We can, with the right frame of mind, create some thrill in our classrooms and get a more positive response here, but we wouldn't succeed half as well in a first-world country because, what was the word? Oh yes: jaded. Jade people.
I have often said this on this forum: most TEFLers are driven by civilisation fatigue.
We go back in time to an epoch we find in a different geographical location. And VOILA - people here reacht differently, perhaps more gratefully.

But as time goes by they will eventually be as morose as westerners in western countries.

[denise]

Hmmm... Let me re-think, too. I guess it depends on how you define 'jaded.' My first response was based on a definition of jadedness as an all-encompassing, permanent thing--the sort of teacher who just hates everything. Dr. J's second post seems to have a different definition, though, something more like venting. Going with that definition, I must admit that I do quite a bit of it myself. How, then, do we draw the line between occasional frustration (which I do feel), and permanent, perhaps irreversible jadedness?

d

[guest of Japan]

When I'm feeling especially down trodden I often think of Hemmingway's "The Sun also Rises." The characters in that book helped to shape my idea of what being an expat was really like. Perhaps that book provides the blue print for your theory.

My theory is that when we're alone we tend to grab onto hope because we have no roots to keep us steady. But when we come into contact with other westerners we begin to feel a little more grounded. These are the times when we can let our guard down and let our frustrations out.

I don't know about everyone else, but I find living in another country to require a great sensitivity. Since I am not a master of the Japanese language I've become highly attuned to facial expressions, gestures, intonation and poise. I have to interpret all these signs to make up for what I can't pick up in the nuance of the language. This all requires great care and patience. Despite the best of intentions feelings of confusion and frustration build inside of me. So finally when I get the opportunity to get together with a native English speaker these feelings spill out of me, often quite unitentionally.

[Louis]

[MindTraveller]

My deceased mother used to complain all the time. Yes, I think it's 'inherited' by example - learning environment.

It (depression, feeling aloof, not-connected to others) can develop into depression and tendencies towards depression are biological. Enough stress, and those with the tendency of the body not to be able to repair itself because the stress is extreme - yeah. That's biological/biochemical.

On the other hand, when I used to return home from being overseas for a year or more, I would actually relax sooo much, and depending on how much money I had..... would experiece BLISS. A beautiful bliss. Of being 'home'', not having to adjust to not knowing what people were saying, not being able to read signs, know where to go, who to call, how to find something I wanted or needed. I really miss those BLISS-months!

As soon as I got into a job, started paying bills regularily, my money running low, the bliss evaporated. Once the bliss lasted for nearly 3 months. I figured it was a super-relaxation of ALL my muscles that just constantly flooded my brain with dopamine (?sp). Miss it.

Anyone else have a similar experience returning home?