Job Discussion Forums

[tomwaits]

Hi,

Would be good to hear about some success stories where people are enjoying themselves and are glad they made the decision to work in TEFL.

I'm in my late forties and about to start my CELTA. Would be good to hear from some other late starters.

Thanks in advance.

[contented]

Hello!
What a nice topic for a thread. I don't regret my decision, actually I wish I would have started 2 years earlier than I did. I guess a little timidity and overly protective parents were the reasons I didn't. I think I am successful so far. I'm learning a new language, experiencing a new culture, dealing with a lot of challenges I wouldn't have encountered had I stayed in my hometown, travelling, and saving money. I think you'll have a great experience if you make the most of it and embrace the cultures of the lands you travel to. All the best to you in your endeavours.

[spiral78]

I started almost 14 years ago and have never regretted changing careers
Business in the US was depressing enough way back then.....!!

I've had a lot of good luck along the way, - - and have put in some work to keep upgrading my qualifications and credentials.

I think it's generally true that those teachers who are content to remain at entry-level in terms of qualifications often end up with some (maybe mostly financial) regrets.

[SahanRiddhi]

I think you're asking the wrong question. To ask for positive stories means you will hear ... only positive stories. Go for a well rounded picture, positives and negatives, before taking the plunge into any new endeavor. In your late 40s there isn't as much room to make mistakes and recover from them, unless you already have a pension or large retirement savings put away. Even then, seek out the whole story, especially from the particular country or region you are interested in.

[tomwaits]

Thanks Sahan - I understand that there is little money to be made, I am not in it to make money. I have pension for a modest retirement and house equity to buy a similarly modest flat/house, albeit dependent on final divorce settlement. With respect I think I have asked the right question. There seem to be plenty of threads with negative sentiment, which I take on board. I would just like to hear from those who have been happy or very happy to have taken the plunge.

[artemisia]

I think a genuine assessment of teaching will always be balanced because there are positives and negatives as with most kinds of work. I agree, tomwaits, that there has been little balance in some of the threads on this forum.

I didn�t exactly �take the plunge� as such because TEFL has almost always been mixed with other teaching for me. However, there have been long periods when I�ve done only English language teaching, and that�s currently the case. I�ve seen it as important as any other kind of teaching and invested in improving myself as a language teacher in all kinds of ways. It�s paid off for me in that I�ve been able to get work I find rewarding and save as well.

Despite that I sometimes feel the need to take breaks from teaching and have taken them at various times. I�m surprised whenever I hear it described as easy work, as I think it can be quite draining. However, I always miss it after a while and am happy to return to it. Indeed I worry I�ll lose some ground if I don�t keep my hand in with it. A great class can put you on top of the world. Even a less than great class invariably has great students, and seeing some of those less than great students start doing really well is a kick. I feel fortunate that my line of work means there have been, and still are, opportunities for me in various countries.

[microbabe]

Wish I had done it earlier in my life, but at the time it never occurred to me. Love the teaching, hate the politics and management situation. Wrong school at the moment . Will move and hopefully management will be a bit better.

[EFLeducator]

If you want to enjoy your time in EFL, make sure you work in a country that pays good. That leaves out Latin America. Try S. Korea or Japan, or the Middle East.

[denise]

[Guy Courchesne]

Latin America can pay well only when you take the long view or if you upgrade your education. Mexico and Colombia stand out for this.

Ditto on money isn't everything...quality of life is measured in many different ways.

I'm quite content with the choices I've made, in my 12th year in Mexico now happily settled and with a growing family. Getting a little harder to travel around the region now with two young children - so much more gear than simply renting a car and heading to the beach with the dogs and a backpack, but that's no regret.

[Prof.Gringo]

[Prof.Gringo]

[Prof.Gringo]

[Prof.Gringo]

[EFLeducator]