Job Discussion Forums

[chinadan]

Promise I am not a jerk. Just love a little spice in my old age. Remember you can't please them all the time.
At my age I quit trying.
But is fun to take the "piss" out of people as they say in Jolly Old.
Nothing gets the old mind working more than contraversy!

[joe-joe]

Have you ever considered a job inthe diplomatic service......??

[chinadan]

No but thanks anyway...........I think. Although I would like to be the mayor of Springfield. Quimby has it made.

[nomadder]

Yes there is a demand for teachers in the UK-hmm wonder why? See an earlier post. All the degrees in the world aren't worth anything if you have a bad attitude-the students will pick up on that pretty quickly. But then again maybe you were just having some fun. What I don't understand is why everyone felt so compelled to list their credits and defend themselves.

[chinadan]

Reason: I actually went through a recruiter to get here to the UK and found out that he not only ripped me off but was giving out bogus information to the schools they were recruiting for. Two young kids arrived here last summer on holidays after they were promised by the recruiter that they would be able to secure teaching positions in the local school system once they arrived. They both had CELTA certification. Both were turned down for jobs.
Perhaps they were just gullible or na�ve, regardless I get a little pissed when some really poor advice is given out without knowing the facts. I speak from direct experience and hopefully if only one person benefits then it was worth it.
While I agree that the majority of people here have everyone�s best interests at heart I still believe that it should pain no one to hear all aspects of an ongoing problem.
I also agree that PhD�s can be the worst teachers. I remember a saying that was written on the wall of the bathroom in the education building at my university.
Those who can, do
Those who can�t, teach
Those who can�t teach, teach teachers.
I don�t agree with the first two lines but in most cases I do agree with the last.
Live Long and Prosper. Thanks for all the great responses, I do appreciate.
Dan

[FGT]

There seems to be some confusion about what we are teaching, to whom and where.
I did a B.Ed many years ago which trained me to teach British kids in British schools.
I now teach Turkish adults in Turkey and only teach them English. For this type of teaching the CELTA/DELTA etc is far more relevant.
This is an ESL cafe and I would suggest that the majority of the contributors to this forum are actually involved in EFL teaching. Further, I would suggest that the majority of us are qualified to teach EFL.
Should we wish to teach British or American kids in UK or USA then different qualifications would apply, naturally.

[dreadnought]

[chinadan]

Dreadnought
I guess its the teacher in me trying to point out as firmly as possible that it is possible to circumvent some of the mistakes we all have made in the past. That includes me. Its all about "been der done it"

[dreadnought]

[chinadan]

"Aw, come on, surely part of the fun is letting people find out all this for themselves."
Thats ok as long as you are not out of pocket.

[shmooj]

[chinadan]

As a matter of fact I was recruited to come to the UK for the express purpose of taking the job as Head of Department, not as an English Teacher but ICT. I had been teaching ESL / ICT at a university in China.
For your information I did take over from a department in taters. Outdated equipment, no permanent staff and mostly a �U� unsatisfactory rating. This was a school in Special Measures. ICT got a complete failure. In the year I have been there the Head and I have worked on a plan to better the department. I was promised when I arrived I would have the complete backing of the school. They gave it to me. We now have 7 new ICT suites, 3 new staff members who are committed to turning the situation around and we all work our buts off to make it better for our students. We just finished an HMI inspection and passed with flying colors.
You are right about under funding, the social problems, the declining standards, recent testing debacles but if you have a Head who is willing to fight like mine and you are committed, things get done and the students appreciate it. You did however forget the fact that 30% of the teaching force will be leaving the profession in the next 3 years. I love my students. In many ways I am lucky as I teach 6th Form.
The UK imports Canadians and other countries teachers to England because no one in this country is interested in becoming a teacher.
Why: �the pay is too low� or �we cannot survive on the salaries paid to teachers here� so they abandon ship and go to China, Japan or wherever. The salaries are comparatively low there but it is a new experience. Something to write home about. You are the new Stanley and Livingston out instructing the ignorant.
I notice you are from the UK. As a Brit why are you not here fighting for the betterment of students in your home country.
The reason I am HOD and I am paid well is because I get the job done. I work hard to make my classes and my department an effective learning experience for all 600 students who take ICT classes. I have made a difference and I am proud of the fact. Grades have gone up considerably and students enjoy coming to class. Isn�t that what its all about.
PS: Grow up! I wouldn�t make fun of Canadians or other North Americans. We pulled you�re a** out of the fire in enough wars. I had family that died defending your island.

[nomadder]

Actually Shmooj I detected an antiCanadian sentiment in one of your previous posts too. What's up? I hope it's not one of those "Worked with a really terrible Canadian teacher once...." kind of stories because frankly I thought you would be above that sort of thing. What gives? Inquiring Canadians wanna know.

[denise]

[nomadder]

We all get bitten once in a while.