Job Discussion Forums

[Glenski]

[johnslat]

Dear Glenski,

Hey, congratulations - glad to see you finally figured out a way to answer. As for my "data", well, rest easy. I don't plan to use it for a research paper, so my "poor or confusing wording" should cause no long-term harm.

But I think it's great that you monitor polls on here to try to ensure that high standards are maintained.

Keep up the good work .

Regards,
John

[santi84]

I've never taught as a hired professional, only as a volunteer and student teacher (I'd have to guess less than 4 months full-time experience). So I'll put 1-5 years. I was 7 months pregnant with my first when I finally finished my TESL degree and certificate, then moved across the country, now 7 months with #2, all in less than 2 years. I have no idea how I'm going to get into the game, let alone back into it

I do plan on continuing long-term though, who knows how long that will be!

[Prof.Gringo]

I think the poll is going to be totally out of whack, for each person that posts on this forum, perhaps 10-100 more are reading the forums & never post... Most posters seem to post between 5-50 posts and then I assume they move on from the EFL world, as they are never heard from again.

As the majority of comments show, the most prolific posters are those who have made TEFL a career, either by desgn or by default.

BTW I had no problem choosing a answer or understanding the poll question, I think the poll itself is fun and it's interesting to read the responses.

[chezal]

I taught ESL for 4 years full-time and 2 years part-time (UK summer schools).

I've now retrained and have been teaching science for 3 years. This last year has been in an International school, where the majority of the students are ESL students, so my ESL teaching has come in useful.

[it'snotmyfault]

[johnslat]

Dear it'snotmyfault,

Actually, I rather doubt too many (if any) people will be interested. But I'll do it for you:

1977- 1978: Internship in Pasco County, Florida; substitute teacher in Hillsborough County

1978 - 1979: EFL/English Literature instructor: Pahlavi (now Shiraz) University, Shiraz, Iran.

1979 - 1980: Learning ALternative Program teacher: Chamberlain High School: Tampa, FLorida

1980 - 1987: EFL instructor/program coordinator: Institute of Public Administration (IPA) : Jeddah (4 years) and Riyadh (3 years)

1987 - 1989: EFL instructor and program coordinator: International Language Program: Jakarta, Indonesia

1989 - 1994: EFL Instructor and Center Coordinator: IPA, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

1995 - 1996: Senior English teacher: Shiprock Alternative School; Navajo Reservation, Shiprock, NM

1996 - 2003: EFL instructor: IPA, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

2003 - 2008: ESL instructor: Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe, NM

2008 - 2009: ESL/GED instructor: New Mexico State Prison: Santa Fe, NM

2009 - Present: ESL instructor: Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe NM.

Most of the times that I returned to Saudi, it was because I ran out of money .

I got laid off from the state prison during my probationary period thanks to the financial meltdown.

It's been (and continues to be) fun. I've been very lucky; I discovered what I love to do and, for thirty-five years, I've managed to find people willing to pay me to do it.

Regards,
John

[it'snotmyfault]

Thanks John

I just find it interesting to see how peoples careers have evolved.

Regards

[IvanaShaanxi]

2, kindy and middle school

[cormac]

This is my third year (1 year kinder with Middle/High school thrown in) and 2 years University level in China. before this I worked in business orientated roles. I do genuinely love teaching but i don't think I'm good enough to be a professional teacher.

My plan is to continue as an University teacher part time (for my visa) and also because I enjoy my classes, but to thrown my main effort into something non-teaching related. I suspect I'd go crazy if I just focused on teaching, and would grow to hate it eventually.

My mother and father were both teachers for over 40 years, and I just don't have the.... "talent" or "particular discipline" for it.

Still I kinda admire those that do. Its a wonderful profession in many ways despite the many downsides.

[coledavis]

I have been a teacher and am now managing, with a fair amount of 'conversational' input. Assuming the school continues, in spite of the pressures put upon, then I intend to stay until retirement.

Teaching English isn't that difficult. Teaching it well is another matter.

[scholar]

[cormac]

[scholar]

This is called "linguistic drift" where the language user is separate from the main user base for too long and does not learn the new slang and popular phrases and so on. Language constantly changes, you can learn this in a basic linguistic class.

[cormac]