Job Discussion Forums

[Deicide]

[spiral78]

An Historical Context & Tale of Work & Luck:

I got a BEd. a million years ago and quickly realised that teaching in the US public system wasn't for me. Followed that by a decade + of working in the corporate sector, before becoming totally fed up with the entire scene.

Well, I started ESL as a newbie with a CELTA equivalent in Prague 12 years ago when I was 38. I taught a year at that level, and then I got a marketing position in the new training centre of that school. Then we relocated to Luxembourg for spouse's job and I did a contract period teaching English in the financial sector Then we relocated here, again for spouse's job, and I served an apprenticeship here and then worked as a freelancer for 3 years at this uni.
Spouse transferred to Canada 4 years ago, and I went. Landed a uni job that gave me curriculum development and international project experience. Got the MA TESL/TEFL from recognised British uni. Hated living in that bit of Canada (don't want to slam the whole country - just Calgary's not for me) and when this uni invited me to return a couple of years ago, I jumped at the chance.

So, hard work + luck - the uni needed a couple of full time staff, remembered me favorably, and were willing to do the Visa Dance on my behalf.

Dutch, well, I'm about B1 - I understand most of what I hear, but my accent when speaking is dreadful and people don't understand me....so I get discouraged quickly. Also, I have a relatively high pressure job (my choice - I could just sit back and coast as a teacher) just now developing a series of new courses. I have little spare time - am at the office at the moment, in fact (Sunday afternoon). Dave's is a nice little distraction when I need a concentration break

Really, man, you're ahead of me at 31! Part of your problem is the economy - you may have to drag along a couple more years, but it will improve, really.

[Deicide]

[spiral78]

Phonology's the easy part - pronunciation is regular - if you see the word in print, you can pronounce it properly. However, the 49 different noun forms....that's more challenging.

Fortunately, my focus is on effective communication, which I have achieved, so I am not feeling perfectionistic just now about the details. When we eventually move permanently back to the CR, I'll have time and energy to perfect the details. I do look forward to this!

I'm the only American in this uni language centre. They still like me Like you, I've adopted British spelling and the British wording that's different (trousers, not pants, for example) simply because it's what people understand in my living/working context. It's all ok.

[Deicide]

[spiral78]

'Cause we love living there above all other places It's the only place I've ever been homesick for in my life. I've had about 40 addresses so far (had to total them up for a security clearance a couple of years ago). The Czech Rep is the only place I really want to live. Strange to find a 'home' so late in life.

[Deicide]

[spiral78]

Economics. I make vastly more money here -enough to save

[Deicide]

[spiral78]

Yes...so beautiful, but still ....if you have to think of the future, well...it's too tough.

[coledavis]

Re this point about EFL being entertainment rather than education. You have a point, well sort of. It's generally studied in the students' free time, on top of work or full-time education, so yes, it ought to be entertaining to some extent. Try to think about it as if it were you. However serious you are about acquiring new skills, you want to enjoy something you're bashing away at in your free time. So, while I don't quite go with it being entertainment per se, I do think that this should be an element of one's teaching.

If you don't agree at all, then yes, perhaps you are better off out of it and becoming a book-keeper or something. Having said that, and as that sounded a touch harsh, remember that there are different ways of being entertaining. Ok, in summer school, I think games are de rigueur; I don't like them, but when I needed them I raided the facilities at Dave's (well done, contributors - you saved my reputation!). But on the whole, especially with older adolescents and adults, I rarely if ever use them. What I do do is to occasionally digress. When 'the book' raises a particular subject, I might discuss an issue in greater depth and maybe introduce something about how it's done in my home country/their country. Or I might just inject some material from elsewhere that has some interesting content. It may entertain, but it also educates.

I hope that's not too much of a digression, but you might just make your career more interesting (for you, as well as your students). Then see if you still don't like it. (Just a point of view.)

[ITTP]

[PattyFlipper]

[eclectic]

heres my c.p.e.s.:

hit the $$$ I target and GTF out!

[AndrewR]