Job Discussion Forums

CyberStylz · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 16 Location: Seattle, WA

Hi All!!

Just wondering what the age demographics look like for people involved (or interested to be involved) in the ESL field... Question

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I think another interesting question might be:

At what age did you get into the EFL/ESL field?

Some people start early in their lives, often just as an adventure, while others enter the profession after several years in a more... (what? respected? stable? "real"?) field.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

I'm now 56 and got into teaching EFL when in my mid-40s.

Many years ago when I was in my 20s and teaching English / language arts in a public high school in the USA, I taught an ESL night class to adults twice a week for about 9 months. In retrospect, I was probably pretty clueless about what I was doing in that ESL class back then, having had no specific training or experience in ESL/EFL. Embarassed

PanamaTeacher · Joined: 26 Jun 2003 Posts: 278 Location: Panama

good point denise Smile

Shonai Ben · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 617

I was 43 when I entered efl and have been teaching in Japan for 5 years now.I was a Science teacher before that,plus I had numerous part-time jobs.I enjoy teaching very much and I will probably continue to teach here in Japan.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Thank you, PanamaTeacher!

I was 23 when I did my TEFL certificate. After getting my BA in Peace and Conflict Studies and deciding not to pursue a career in that field (ironically, I found it to be very conflict-ridden... and too depressing?) I saved up some money for my TEFL certificate course and moved to Prague. I loved teaching instantly--shy little me!--and decided to go back for an MA. I am 27 now and very happily teaching in Japan.

Celeste · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2003 12:04 am Post subject:

I was 22 and straight out of university when I got my first teaching job. Since then I have also acquired a TEFL cert. Now I'm 28. I like my job but I am amazed that I am still in this field. (It was only supposed to be temporary, you see...)

MindTraveller · Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Posts: 89 Location: Oman

I got into teaching while earning a Masters when I was 25. I taught one-class. I didn't want to teach, but LIVE. However, when I was 27, I took a part-time English composition teacher position. I had to work two other part-time secreterial jobs to be able to afford the p-t teaching job. Quit after a year and got a low-paying full-time job at an isolated university.... After being an 'adjunct' in the USA, I first went overseas when I was 34.

I must admit, I once took a job and didn't know where in the world the place was - Jakarta, Indonesia. That's when I was very new at all this.

I'm 53 now, thankful for the USA pension plan from my university job back in 1980. I add lots of money to it since my USA Social Security isn't going to be much, having worked outside the USA for about 16 years. Friends tell me buying real estate (and renting it out to pay the mortgage) is an excellent pension plan alternative.

I tried to get out of teaching a few times, and failed. I'm still trying, but overall, teaching overseas is far, far better than teaching in the USA, IMHO. Or being a secretary. I'd just like to return to teaching kids, but university jobs are better paying and more stable.

rogan · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 416 Location: at home, in France

Qualified as a teacher in the UK at age 22.

Climbed the promotion ladder in State schools for 20 years.

Gained a CELTA

Moved "abroad" and have taught TEFL in various countries since 1991

leeroy · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 777 Location: London UK

I'm 23. Does that make me the baby?

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

21. Turned 21 in August, been teaching 5 months.

dduck · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 422 Location: In the middle

I also had a birthday in August, now the ripe old age of 36 with a massive 2 months experience. Still a baby Smile

Iain

khmerhit · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2003 3:34 pm Post subject:

I'm 39 but I look 38. Four years experience abroad. Hoping to find work in the Toronto area.... Very Happy

Canuck2112 · Joined: 13 Jun 2003 Posts: 239

I'm 23

Lynn · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 696 Location: in between

I actually had a very part-time job working as an ALT in a private jr.high when I was an exchange student. I was 20. Then, right after college I went into the JET program. I was 21 when I started then, turned 22 in September.

Now, I'm almost 29. I did a few non-tesl jobs here and there, but for the most part, it's been ESL. I'm like the previous poster, I thought TESL would be temporary...I still find it hard to believe that TESL is my profression. I guess it's because in the states TESL is part time. I keep thinking that I'll go back to school to get a masters or even a different undergrad degree (I have a BA: Asian Studies-Japan), but I don't know what I want to study...

We've discussed this on another thread, but I still wonder if I am cut out for teaching...