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Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
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| Japan or China (or SE Asia) ? |
| 1. Japan |
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50% |
[ 9 ] |
| 2. China |
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22% |
[ 4 ] |
| 3. SE Asia (Thailand, Vietnam etc...) |
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27% |
[ 5 ] |
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| Total Votes : 18 |
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| Author |
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
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 Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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This could be another poll: How many EFL teachers got into teaching a) as a way to travel b) because they already knew and loved teaching c) for no apparent reason d) to escape some problem or situation at home e) ?????? . (Or has there already been such a poll?)
I don't know which category I'd fit into. I must say, though, that I don't believe that everyone has to have his or her heart already set on teaching in order to get into this wacky field. For me, a prospective teacher's initial motivation matters less than his or her actual performance once in a classroom.
Shmooj--there was one point in your post that I disagreed with--your statement that ESOL teachers should share your opinion. Isn't a diversity of opinions healthy? I know it makes it difficult to get a concrete answer on this forum when there are always 12,649 different viewpoints, but how can there be one "right" answer?
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Sonic
Joined: 16 Oct 2003
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 11:53 pm Post subject: |
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| shmooj wrote: |
Okay, this is not a flame at a newbie so back off everyone. This is how I feel and how I reckon a lot of people feel on this forum and how anyone involved in TESOL should feel anyway so...
Sonic... please do not bother doing a TEFL course. In fact, don't bother working in TESOL at all. Teaching is not something you should do because you think "I'd be good at it" as you say. You can greatly influence people's lives in teaching.
To be very honest, the industry does not need people in it who are using the industry for their own personal gain as a stop-gap until they can fulfil their dream of either living in another country as their calling or whatever.
If your calling is to live in another country and not to teach then I'd request you, nay beg you to leave our profession alone and stick to your music. Otherwise, you will be another brick in the wall of disrepute that surrounds our profession.
Bear that in mind and meditate on it as you make your final decisions. I sincerely and honestly hope the music works out for you. I really do. Conversely, I seriously hope the teaching doesn't.
Over and out... |
Shmooj, first let me say that I really don't want to get into a slagging match about this, as I really disklike that sort of thing. However, I take offence to your comments for the following reasons:
You really know nothing about me, bar a few hundred words of email posts. To generalise, and put me in the category of people who'll be taking 'your' industry for a ride, is unfair and un-called for. To tell me to stick to the music industry is to misunderstand my posts - I perhaps didn't make it clear enough that, besides wanting it as a hobby, I have no wish to continue with my music career. Although I still love music (naturally, I always will), I do not want it to be the focus of my life anymore. It is not a career with longevity. I no longer enjoy the business aspect of it. I no longer wish to spend my life in airports, touring. I want some stability, and to no longer have to be self-employed.
Should I avoid all other forms of employment now? Is it so wrong to start a new career at 27 years old? Am I not allowed to enjoy the fact that I can combine my love of discovering different culture with my work? May I not, also, potentially be a dedicated and skilled teacher, who influences peoples lives in a positive way? I apologise for these rhetorical questions, but you really have no way of knowing from my posts. I plan to give my all to the job, and, perhaps, it will be the best move I ever make. I am well read, love language in general, and can speak four to varying degrees. Both my parents are professional writers, and my childhood revolved around it. My father was also a TESOL teacher for many years. I have long desired to do it myself - if anything, music was a happy accident that got in the way. I didn't feel the need to justify myself like this, until I read your post. Now, I feel 'provoked' into trying to display my credentials, and wasting valuable time doing so.
It took me three weeks of constant research to muster the courage to upload my last post, mainly for fear of the somewhat precious flaming that I see so regularly on this forum. Instead of discouraging me, it would have been nice to just accept that I had made this decision, that nobody was going to change it (especially someone I'd never met before, and on the net), and to give me some positive advice instead. I have no illusions about what I am in store for, and I welcome it with open arms. Despite what you say, I hold by my earlier statement, that I could be good at it (clearly, no teacher will ever know until he has tried), and I am not the lazy, unskilled backpacker-type looking to take advantage of the 'easy ride' (which I know it isn't, clearly). I have the patience for teaching, and I know I will feel enourmous reward from seeing my pupils learn.
Also, you criticise me for entering into this for my own personal gain, and yet how many acts are genuinely, truly altruistic? Very few, I believe. Can you put your hands on your heart and say you got into this industry completely for other's benefit? Unless you're a volunteer, I do doubt it. Yes, I want to improve my life. I am not happy with it at present. Is it really such a crime?
You hope the teaching dosen't work out for me. Well, I could hope the same for you, but wishing someone's faliure, in my eyes, is very negative. Instead, I like to see the potential in people. I appreciate that my words are empty without the deeds to back them up, but I hope to prove you wrong.
Anyway, only time will tell, but I, and other far less qualified me, some who don't even know the difference between 'your' and 'you're', are going to keep coming and coming. I think you should get used to it. I'd like to think I'm slightly better equipped.
Now I've had my little rant, I'd just like to humbly ask my previous question once more...
I plan to enter Shanghai with just money in my pocket and no job. What is your advice for getting accomodation and work quickly and with the minimum of cost?
Thanks, (especially to dmb, who proves my point, I feel)
Jasper |
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Wolf
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 1245
Location: Middle Earth
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| Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 2:03 am Post subject: |
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I think that sonic has just passed his first test. 
If you can justify yourself for several hundred words over why you've started down this path in preference of all others, and how you're going to stick to this decision, well then that's the first step.
Shmooj has a valid point in that there are people who decide to teach whose motives have nothing to do with teaching. Now, the reality may be that the EFL industry relies on such unskilled labour (indeed seeks it out) it really drags down the overal quality of, well, everything. Lessons, contracts, career choices for those of us who make it a career, etc etc.
As for advice on Shanghai, I'll leave that to people who know it.
http://www.thatsshanghai.com
That's all the help I can give. |
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Sonic
Joined: 16 Oct 2003
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 2:11 am Post subject: |
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Thanks, Wolf.
Just imagine the pressure I felt under to use the (probably nearly) correct grammar in that post... and no, I didn't use Word, lol.
Jasper |
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