Job Discussion Forums

[donfan]

[donfan]

[kaw]

Someone, somewhere seems to have the wrong impression of EF here in Indonesia. I'm not saying it's a great place to work - because it isn't - it is the same however as most franchised organisations anywhere in the world.
I have been the DOS here for - well........long enough to know better and not long enough to be nearing the end of my contract. The teachers here are generally professionals and yes a few may only stay in the tefl world until the end of their contracts, but there are others who are in it for the long term. Saying that though - most of the teachers are very new with this being their first teaching job.

It seems to be that if the very first place you work straight after doing your tefl course is anywhere half decent you'll be in this game for longer than if it wasn't. Ok I may be the exception - my first boss was an alcoholic who shouted at both teachers and students but 4 years or so down the line and I'm still here.....

Oh and one final thing I'll say on behalf of EF - yes I have heard the horror stories about under qualified and experienced teachers becoming DOSs but there are some of us who do have experience and bits of paper coming out of our ears. I can name several off the top of my head...

[Roger]

Actually, the worst in this profession, from myh point of view, is that even if you have the best references, a solid experience, have demonstrable skills and have been in the country for years - you will always be welcome to accept advice, orders and suggestions on how you should teach your language to local students from the dumbest imaginable principal and undereducated parents.
This downside may be somewhat balanced out by your freedom to make the same mistakes all the time as you won't need much prep time for your oral English lessons.
The more you anticipate and fine-tune, the more you waste your efforts.

[Egas]

Donfan your history is remarkably similar to mine. I graduated with an arts degree in English and History, and then did honours in history. I did a postgrd dip ed a bit later on, and am a good way into a PhD (part-time) as I work full-time in China. I also tought in the "shocking" system in Australia, and also in the equally dismal NZ sytem for a few years. Then I headed to Taiwan. After a while there I ended up with almost exactly the same frustrations as you, and for the very same reasons. I got tired of schools who didn't give a rat's ass whether you could teach, had experience or were qualified. And the whole Americaphile thing was obscene! "Rah! Rah! America" was about the way to sum it all up. Now that the Americans are stabbing Taiwan in the back, (depicting the Iraq hegemony as "liberation" while at the same time discouraging independence and liberation for Taiwan - work that one out!! ) maybe the naive Taiwanese will start changing their tune.

Anyway, I am now in the mainland, and they are not so obsessed with America - there is even a bit of anti-Americanism here. But there are a whole heap of other problems. But I won't get into that.

The upshot is - if you can't beat 'em, join 'em - or leave! No use giving yourself an ulcer by fighting a system you can't beat.

[M.]

Forgive me ol Mighty Educated ones,

First, which of your Rears with Honors should I kiss first. Far be it for mere mortals to teach who did not recieve HONORS in there Undergraduate education. I do not know the state of the Australian school system. Yet, Every country I have lived in (Russia, Germany, and now Japan) seems to think they have a great system. Unfortunately, My parental Units Ejected Me onto this Earth on the plains of The Great Satan. There are many things I like and Dislike about this place but I am sure Oz has a few problems as well.

Many of the teachers in Asia are not teaching at state schools. Here in Japan there are Heaps of private for Profit schools, much like I have seen in Taiwan as well. I think Egas said it best- Dont sweat over it. Enjoy Taiwan -it is a great Country and a Great culture. If you dont like the Americanism junk, which I hate as well, go Teach In Irkutsk. There is a lot less there.........and the Peroshkis are better than in Moskva. Dovstrechi...........M......

P.S. If you dont like the Dummies that teach English (Seems like everyone is a dummy except the one your talking with who is bad mothing ALL the other moronic English teachers in the area) dont hang with 'em or go home and get a different job......

[Joachim]

I have a 2.1 in my undergraduate degree - not English or TEFL, but Psychology and I have a Pass B at CELTA, so I consider myself to be pretty standard, most of my colleagues and ex-colleagues have similar qualifications.

What really irritates me is when people whith no qualifications whatsoever can just walk into a job, immediatley command the same salary as me and then I am expected to help train them.

This generally happens in the more developing coutries (Indonesia springs to mind), which is one of the main reasons I've moved to Hong Kong. And these "teachers" are quite often sex-tourists who cannot beleive their luck, od thir job with a minimal effort and tar us all with the same brush.

And yes, the whole "hire me because I'm white, young and beautiful" thing does get tired as well. But then, my race and age have probably been seen as some of my positive points at the interview stage....

[Lanza-Armonia]

Well, I can see someone is proud of their credentials but, on one's other hand, there are teachers who work damn hard teaching correct 'everyday' English for meanial pay.

Nuff sed

LA

[bayabule]

Willy wrote: