Job Discussion Forums

[sistercream]

For the OP - here's another happy camper. Mind you, I regard myself as a teacher first and a TEFLer second - I started in an area nothing to do with teaching, but discovered I enjoyed teaching my subject more than practising it, then have expanded the subjects & age groups I've been teaching more & more over the last few decades. Have tried a few other kinds of jobs occasionally, but been bored to tears within weeks every time.

As far as TEFLing goes, my experience has all been in the greater China area (PRC, Hong Kong, Macau & Taiwan), and has ranged from soul-destroying to totally brilliant jobs. Factors that influence most what I think of a particular gig are what the boss is like, what my colleagues are like, whether the students want to be there or not and (way down the bottom of the list) what teaching materials are (not) provided and the pay.

I'm not rich, but can live without penny-pinching or panicking about retirement funding.

[tomwaits]

A big thanks to everyone who took the trouble to reply. I particularly liked those responses that detailed why they were enjoying themselves. These will help to keep me going through my CELTA and hopefully beyond!

[tttompatz]

[VietCanada]

I started out 12 years ago just past 40.

I love it. There was a time when people would yearn to retire to a Caribbean island. Well why wait for official retirement?

I feel I am different from most posters here. I could care less about PD or positions that require B.Ed.'s and other qualifications. I have a B.A. in math and it has served me well. I've rarely made less than $2000 USD a month. I respect those who have worked so hard to further their careers but I am content with my place in the scheme of things. I show up, teach and go home. The kids have fun and learn. The parents and the school love that. If the school wants more than that they need to ante up.

I started in Korea where a kind face was the pre-eminent qualification to go along with the bachelors degree. I had fun, made money, made friends and all the while I thoroughly enjoyed and thrived in the challenges. IMHO that is the most important aspect of this job. One must enjoy the twin challenges of living in a foreign country and teaching. I've met too many people who either hate their job or hate the country they live in. To those people I say go home while you can salvage a career.

Now I am in Vietnam. In between I went home and assured myself that I am very much employable in my first career. It actually pays more than this gig which should accentuate just how much I enjoy this second career. My 'retirement to the islands'.

To sum up- I have a skill I can utilize for employment back home if the need be and I enjoy the twin challenges of this second career.

Edit: I feel I must add that I've spent countless hours on the internet learning about what I am teaching and how to teach it. Classroom management is very important. The three L 's of teaching- learning, learning, learning. I've taken advantage of every opportunity to learn. Observing, being observed, picking people's brains when they're amenable to it. Anything my school du jour offers. I take pride in my work. I suppose I do PD of some sort after all.