Job Discussion Forums

[kev7161]

Hey, there's the "World Famous Topeka Zoo"!!!! (not what I'd call it!) There's Fred Phelps. It was featured prominently in Stephen King's "The Stand" and one of his Dark Tower books. It's been the site of a couple of made-for-TV-movies (gee, can't remember the titles). Until recently, it was the home of Menniger's private hospital where all the famous, yet crazy, celebrities would come to hide out. It has the school where the famous "Brown vs Topeka Board of Education" originated. It is the capitol of Kansas don't you know. Arrowsmith AND Cher both started off world tours there a few years back (not at the same time, though).

Wow, this is the most off-topic I've ever been, but it's not my fault!

[ContemporaryDog]

My father got together with my mother when he was teaching her guitar at an Adult College's evening class. in fact they fancied each other unbeknownst to each other for 2 years before they actually started dating...

So if it wasn't for teacher-student relationships, I never would have existed.

I must stress though, they were both adults and of a similar age, around 25-26.

I think this is different from an older teacher getting involved with a 16-17 year old. That IMHO is dodgy.

[yeka]

matt, I see nothing wrong with your situation. She is not currently your student, and is above the age of consent. Kudos to you.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

Although not the same thing, I think it's similar in some ways. Some of my closest friends are former students. However, I don't think I'd have felt comfortable with such close friendships while they were my students. Even in a country where nepotism and favoritism based on relationships are common practice, I think I'd feel uncomfortable having to evaluate my friends' performance in my classes. Would I avoid developing close friendships with people simply because they were my former students? No way.

[Boy Wonder]

What's all this sanctamonius posturing by prigs who harp on about 'it's ok to be with an ex-student but not a current one'!!!!!!!

You are taking your job and 'profession' far too seriously.

Being a TEFL teacher is very different to teaching in a state secondary school.

So what if she or he is a current student.

As long as she/he is an adult....what could possibly be the problem.

Personally I've had flings with teachers..teachers assistants, receptionists and students.....and if the cleaner is s.e.x.y enough I'll get it together with her too!

At the end of the day a woman is a woman and on this earth to be appreciated and loved......it makes no difference to me whether she is an employee or student. I couldn't care less!

For those of you declaring it unprofessional to get involved with current students......I ask you this.....If you are so professional why don't you get yourself a proper teaching job in a proper school...

TEFL is not a career.

It is a travelling experience.....get a perspective.

your writing from a bedful of young nubile students...

Sir Boy Wonder....esq

[Gordon]

[denise]

I'm with Gordon. This is a CAREER for me, not just a short-term lark. I'm in it for the sheer joy of being in the classroom, not for the potential to hook up with my students.

Some of us treat this job as a profession because for us that is exactly what it is. And some of us work in "proper" schools in which sleeping with a student would be just as inapropriate as it would be in a "real" school back home.

d

[Boy Wonder]

Gordon.....
No my job is not for losers.....but neither is it a respected career option.

I've worked in six different countries in three continents....

Rarely if ever have I encountered the kind of respect from employers that you get in a more specifically skilled job.
From pay...conditions....working hours...accomodation....to employer-employee communication...!

How many staff meetings do you have in your school.?
How many daily,weekly,termly and yearly lesson planning sessions do you attend?
What are your prospects of promotion or salary increase?
What code of discipline exists in your school?
How many parents evenings do you have?

To equate Tefl teaching to working in as a state school primary or secondary school teacher is a joke.
They are simply not in the same league.

Tefl is an easy to obtain ' qualification '...it takes 4 weeks....�1000 and half a brain.
A PGCE takes a year.....a great deal of hard work and lots of sacrifice.

People taking a year out of university teach Tefl.....committed travellers teach Tefl......recent graduates teach Tefl.....and people who have opted out of their own society for whatever reason teach Tefl.

Ambitious career minded individuals do not.!!
If they do then they are in the wrong job!!

Tell me which countries a Tefl teacher can live in to take out a mortgage on property....and have a fair degree of job security.....have a decent yearly holiday and a good standard of living.

Apart from the Oil jobs and certain Efl University jobs the list won't amount to much.!!

I am in this job because I love a woman who for various reasons right now cannot live in my country.
I do the job for her......and her alone.....when possible I shall return with her to the UK to find proper career work!

And Earn enough to take out a private pension...a mortgage....have a decent car in the garage and not be answerable to some unqualified idiot of a school owner.!!

[Gordon]

If you want to make TEFL your career then you will have to get more than a 4 week TEFL certificate. Yes, it is possible to jump from job to job and country to country, but that is a person's choice along with a lack of educational qualifications.

I get 4 months off a year, go on at least 2 overseas holidays with my family/year, save a bundle and teach 12 hours/week. This is full-time too. How many jobs in Canada/US/UK/Australia/NZ could you do this?

I'm not saying that you have to have these kinds of conditions to have a respectable job either.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[Ben Round de Bloc]

To Boy Wonder:

[mesmerod]

good posts boy-wonder.

[Boy Wonder]

To Ben Blue .......

Exactly.....you work in a university!!

Open your eyes.

Where do the vast majority of TEFL teachers work.......
Universities......!!!!

No don't think so!!!

Enough of your 'I'm all right jack attitude'.....

The fact remains...MOST EFL jobs are the graduates equivalent of Bar work.

What union representation or employee representation do EFL teachers usually have?

Who can they turn to if unfairly dismissed as i have seen so many teachers(especially in the Gulf )?

What rights do they have?

What kind of pension scheme is available to them?

How many people in the industry (daves eslcafe apart ) take their job seriously?

As it happens I have worked in State and Public schools in the UK....
Language schools in Poland and Greece....In-Company in Spain.....
For supposedly reputable chain schools in Italy.....for Oil companies, Colleges and private institutions in The Gulf and for the British Council for nearly 3 years.
I've been round de bloc as well ...you are not the only person self important and arrogant enough to think that your opinion is gospel!!!!

The only place I found an inkling of respect was with the BC.....

I repeat you cannot equate a TEFL school set up with that of a primary/secondary school.
Facilities....back up.....timetabling....professionalism are all markedly superior.

Yes I would like the kind of working conditions and pay I encountered in previous jobs.....but I am back in Europe and away from the BC....for a girl....my choice of institutions is limited to the Cowboy outfits or the ripoff merchants......Unfortunately.

The vast majority of teaching jobs in Europe are for wide eyed 25 year olds who armed with their Lonely Planet giudes can be easily spotted on the metros and buses of Europe at the weekend.

The wages on offer..working hours and general conditions reflect this.

As for my previous careers and skills..Mr Mueller.....well it's none of your business thankyou very much.
But if you want your wiring done then I might be able to save you a few quid.....as I was an Electrician for 4 years

[Ben Round de Bloc]

Boy Wonder,

I certainly hope you feel better after getting all that off your chest.

The bottom line is that if you are so terribly unhappy with your own situation, then there are two options: learn to live with it or change it.

[Boy Wonder]

To Bentim Muellerbloc Deround
Thanks to your kind understanding and compassionate advice I have become not only a better person but am also learning to live with 'it'.....

yours in multiples of gratitude

Boy Wonder....Tefl failure and unqualified berk.