Job Discussion Forums

[ilovefall_50]

edited

[denise]

Well, first of all, at almost 23 you're fairly young. There are people on the forum and in the field in their 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s... Does your family just think you'll be traipsing around without a care in the world? This is an actual job, and you may well end up working a 40-hour week. If you've got a background in education, then what sort of "real" job would they expect you to do, if not teach?

If you denied yourself the chance to travel while you were in school, then TEFL could be an exciting opportunity for you. You get to experience the world in quite a different way from the way that a tourist would. I'm sorry that your family doesn't support you.

I do think you should have a bit of money saved up, but I wouldn't go so far as to say you're an idiot if you don't! Just to protect yourself in case you end up in a bad school and want out, try to make sure that you have enough saved up not only for the first month or so (while waiting for that first paycheck) but also for a plane ticket back home, and then some sort of financial cushion to return home to.

d

[Anda]

Well my bit of advice is to not move untill you have teacher accreditation in your home country. Teachers at international schools get very good money which is normally a lot better than your average English teacher. Also it can open up more countries for work. If you have more money and more time off you can have a much better life. English teachers if anything are in over supply these days. If the Western economies collapse then they will be two bob a dozen so to speak.

The Institute is responsible for recognition of teachers� professional capacity against professional teaching standards. To be eligible for accreditation to teach in a school you require a degree and an initial teacher education qualification or an education degree. Degree discipline knowledge must be related to the area in which you intend to teach


http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&newwindow=1&q=International+schools&btnG=Search


International school - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaInternational schools are schools that cater mainly to children who are not nationals of the host country, often the children of the staff of international ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_school - 19k -

[Insubordination]

Parents and family enjoy telling you what you can't do. If you obey, then they are right.

[Glenski]

Too old to be living this sort of lifestyle? What exactly do they think this lifestyle is, and who should do it? You've just graduated, right? Do they expect a teacher (a real job the last time I looked; just ask anyone in your own country, and have them explain it to your friends/family) to be some sort of vagrant or hooligan? Perhaps they have an antiquated vision of a backpack, hippie-long hair, and ditchdigging...?

As long as you are vocationally and financially prepared for this (and it sounds like you are), then research areas where you want to go, and go. By the way, I'm probably as old as your parents and got into this not all that long ago.

[MO39]

[johnsmither]

I am over twice your age, so if you are too old then what does that make me?
I have only been teaching for 2 years, I wish had had given up my proper job years ago, I had enough of the stress of normal life and although my earnings are a fraction of what they were my lifestyle is much better.
I can only say to you to do what you feel is right, personally I would go if I was in your position, just have enough cash to get yourself out of wherever you get to in case you feel the need to move elsewhere.

[wildchild]

no sense arguing with your parents; with the positions they are supporting, nothing you can say will change their mind; ignore them but do it with a smile, you might need them later.

ignore them, do what YOU want

[Extraordinary Rendition]

Anda is right on target. Have you got certified teacher status from your home country (i.e., to teach in primary schools and secondary schools)? If not, I believe his advice, and I would second it, would be to do that NOW, while you are young and have the support of your family. That status will enhance your marketability for a lifetime. Once you have that, with your other credentials, my advice would be... (never mind, it wouldn't be polite to say to a young woman).

[wildchild]

if she's ready to go now, then she should go. sticking around will only make her miserable. she can always come back and get the teacher accreditation later.

Go for it, GO GO GO!

[chrisms86]

I am not a teacher so I cannot speak to that aspect of your situation.

However, at 23 you are ripe for living abroad. Most every countryman I've met overseas was mid-to-late twenties and just finished school. Sure there are retirees and those older folks who quit the rat race, but I'd say the vast majority are people like you.

You've spent your whole life in school, you're young, go ahead and screw around for a while. Families always think traveling is weird or that you're out of touch with reality for wanting to do it. Do what YOU want to do. Because when it comes down to it, Mom and Dad and brother and sister are not the ones who have to sleep in your bed at night, do your work, and live your life. They might get a good feeling out of you finding "real work" but that doesn't mean anything to how, on a daily basis, you feel about what you're doing or what you could have done.

In the interests of full disclosure I am younger than you (21), but I've dealt with the same thing and have seen it all too often in the younger friends I've met overseas. They were having the time of their life abroad but felt like they were constantly being pulled back home unwillingly, some were able to resist and some weren't.

[denise]

[ilovefall_50]

Thank you all for your replies.

I will have certification to teach in my state before I leave. I do plan to teach English or bilingual ed when I return.

Thank you for your suggestion about teaching in an international school. I think they usually want 2 years full-time teaching experience, but I will research that some more and see if I can find anything.

My parents are very concerned about money because they cannot support me or help me out financially at this time (and probably not ever again).

[chrisms86]

[Nabby Adams]

You left
Your tired family grieving
And you think they're sad because you're leaving
But did you see Jealousy in the eyes
Of the ones who had to stay behind ?
And do you think you've made
The right decision this time ?

The Smiths