Job Discussion Forums

[naturegirl321]

The problem with teaching couples is that if one person doesn't like it, then the school loses two teachers.

[artemisia]

But the OP's husband is not a teacher, right? Nor teaching inclined which makes TEFL teaching abroad and having to support a partner more complex unless you go somewhere that pays really well.

[mfelix87]

Artemisia, you are correct: my husband is not a teacher. Therefore, I am expecting to have to support him on my salary. Also, in reference to your question earlier, I am not currently an ESL teacher.

TEFL is something I have always wanted to do, and since job prospects are low here and we are already living off the bare minimum, I have been seriously considering taking the leap. I know I won't be making a fortune teaching--for me, that isn't terribly important. I just want to teach, make enough for myself and my husband to live a comfortable, if meager, existence (i.e., not starving to death or going into massive debt) and take in a new culture. But so far the outlook is not so good

[Glenski]

I repeat a very important question:

What exactly did your husband figure he would do for work overseas?

You mentioned "I" five times in your last post plus one "me", yet we have heard practically nothing about his feelings in all this. It's possible to support both of you in many situations, but not all, and having a spouse sit at home unemployed with no/few job prospects and no command of the local language will not make him very happy about your new life. What is his plan or feeling in all this?

[Zero]

[mfelix87]

Glenski,
My husband is quite supportive of the idea. Of course, he has reservations, especially regarding money and language, but overall he is positive about the idea. He currently works a low paying job that he doesn't particularly enjoy. There is a regular threat as well that the place may go under, so I wouldn't call his work reliable or a career by any means. I've always been more career-oriented than he is, I have more specific goals and a college education, and he has always shown support for me career wise. (It is probably worth noting that we are both in our early twenties and don't have much tying us down right now.) My main concern is not so much about how he will fill his time while I am working; of course, his happiness is very important to me, but I don't anticipate this being much of a problem, at least not right now. At the moment, I am trying to figure out if the two of us going abroad is even financially feasible because, at this point, the two of us are assuming that I will be the sole bread winner.

I think it is worth noting as well that I am not planning, at this point, to teach abroad for my entire career. I have been thinking about teaching abroad for a few/several years, then coming back to the states to get a state teaching credential. Part of the reason I am interested in getting the MA TESOL from CSUSB is that it is geared both towards those who want to teach abroad as well as those who want to teach ESL students in the states. If I go this route, then my husband would be able to begin working again.

To wrap up, I came to this board to get advice from experienced TEFL teachers moreso about TEFL jobs, not so much about my husband, since I talk to him at length about this regularly (although I do appreciate the advice/questions I have received thus far).

[artemisia]

Hi mfelix87

True, your focus is TEFL but when you're new to going overseas, issues can crop up that you haven't always thought about or prepared for in advance. The other thing is that there may be opportunities (like study overseas) that you haven't factored in.
I always find it useful to get a broader picture of something especially if it involves my going somewhere noticeably foreign and with (perhaps) less than stellar conditions. With a first job abroad that is often the case but not always so. I guess your asking about possible work for your husband raised the issue that due to a lack of quals and language skills, getting local work would be pretty difficult for him and therefore what could he do.

I think your plan is pretty solid. Getting the MA TESOL from CSUSB does sound like it offers you quite a few choices in the short and long term. I also think you could support yourself and spouse in the ME (and probably Korea) from what I've seen of those advertised jobs but am less sure about elsewhere. Just looking at as many TEFL job boards online as possible would hopefully give you some idea of salary and conditions abroad.
All the best with your plans.

[Zero]

[Glenski]

[artemisia]

MOD EDIT

Glenski:
Yes, I agreed with you but I did also say getting an MA could give the OP some options in my previous post. If someone is going to go ahead with pursing EFL teaching abroad then it makes sense to become as highly qualified as possible. What makes this a more complex situation than more usual ones is having a dependant you have to support on a TEFL salary - and that's not straightforward at all. However, qualifying and pursuing work where there really is work seems to me to be a more solid plan than staying in an impoverished state in your own country.

No-one can really know someone else's situation or the complexities of another�s relationship. Mfelix87 has made it clear she�s really just interested in information about her professional situation. That�s fair enough; it's her business after all.

[Glenski]

[spiral78]

Glenski: I repeat a very important question:

What exactly did your husband figure he would do for work overseas?

You mentioned "I" five times in your last post plus one "me", yet we have heard practically nothing about his feelings in all this. It's possible to support both of you in many situations, but not all, and having a spouse sit at home unemployed with no/few job prospects and no command of the local language will not make him very happy about your new life. What is his plan or feeling in all this?

Again, this is you talking about him. Please answer my question about his feelings for trying to find work overseas and especially what he thinks he can actually do.

I don't think the OP is under any obligation to answer pointed and repeated questions about her partner. It's not really the purpose of the forum to advise on these matters.

OP To wrap up, I came to this board to get advice from experienced TEFL teachers moreso about TEFL jobs, not so much about my husband, since I talk to him at length about this regularly (although I do appreciate the advice/questions I have received thus far).

Fair enough.

[artemisia]

Mfelix87 has been very clear that she's specifically interested in professional information about getting work to support herself and her husband and where in the world she might be able to do this. Clearly the initial questions she asked about possible work for her husband, while they're abroad, were not a particularly pressing issue as I myself first thought.

It is possible she can support herself and her spouse with an MA in TESOL in some parts of the world. That is really the only important point here and I can see no benefit to her in answering personal questions about her husband's wishes etc. I would not want to discuss such issues on a public forum about TEFL jobs. I don't know who would.

[Glenski]

[spiral78]

The questions posed that I find inappropriate are not related to her job prospects.