Job Discussion Forums

[spiral78]

Ok, in the interests not of informing the OP, but in expressing my own dissatisfaction with the tone of some posts on this thread, which echo those that have appeared consistently for a long time:

This OP wrote:

[naturegirl321]

Right, it is completely possible. I think some people are just exprressing their concern over a couple issues. It may seem negative, but possibly the posters are simply try to let him know what he could be getting into?

I personally know that many non TEFLers think that we teach a couple classes a week and spend the rest of the time laying on the beach. And even back home, teachers at regular schools will be told what an "easy job" they have.

Teaching IS a professional job and it IS difficult. I think it's fair to let the OP know about some of the challenges it involved rather than just showing a picture that he can look at through rose coloured lenses.

[artemisia]

DougPr

I don't know if you'll ever come back and post here again. I hope you don't feel too insulted by some of the comments made in this thread about someone in your position.

I'll just say again for the record - you have everything going for you to start a new career and you sound like the type of level-headed person who'd be a success at whatever you take on and obviously teaching holds a big interest for you.

Good luck with your plans.

[sparks]

I'll second Artemesia's view, and must admit that you are in an enviable position. Go for the four-year degree, study what you like, take a variety of courses--any degree will suffice for TEFL and you may find something you like better than teaching. You definitely don't need to commit to a country or job for a while so enjoy your time as a student stateside. I wish I could go back home with 100,000k for school and 20,000k a year to live.

[MotherF]

I don't have a lot more to add to this conversation except that I don't think enough importance has been placed on the amount of pension this poster will recieve. I have a very good TEFL job in Mexico and I make about US 20,000 a year. On that I support my family of five, have a full time nanny, and pay a mortgage about twice what local rents are. A single man would live very well in Mexico on that. Sure he couldn't get my job because he doesn't have my qualifications--but he doesn't need my job because of his pension.

So our op goes to university and gets a BA in English, Education, a Foriegn Language, or really what ever interests him. Does a TEFL cert of some sort, then moves to Mexico or anywhere in Latin America in his early 40s, he could have a very free lifestyle teaching private classes or part time in a language school. The teaching would keep him busy and active, help him get to know the locals and get integrated into local life, and probably cover his rent and basic expenses. He could then live a very comfortable life on his pension. He could take long vacation, work only a couple of hour each day and be fairly "free" as he seems to want to be.

Sounds pretty good to me. He's not looking to get rich quick. He's not looking to make it to the top of the TEFL ladder. He's not looking to pay off student loans. I'm not sure what he's looking for, except to advoid the typical 9 to 5 US lifestyle, which is probably why he joined the Navy in the first place. And he can certainly do that in TEFL, and with his pension he won't strave or find himself teaching 40 hour a week in some Taiwanesse hovel either.

[DougPr]

Thank you for all the responses. I did see them all before, but declined to comment. I didn't mean to spark such an exchange.

I've continued to do my research and I've ruled out Japan as being my primary destination. I wouldn't mind having a job there after I get some experience under my belt, but a lower cost of living somewhere else would allow me to save more.

My goal is to find a place to teach with a decent enough "cost of living to salary" ratio to allow me to dump all military pension into interest bearing investments for retirement with possible room to spare to put a little of my salary in there as well. That probably means getting my start somewhere like China or Korea.

I've decided on a Bachelors in Education with certification and work towards a Masters in Education. I'll find a quality school that will take as much of my military training as possible to shorten my quest towards that first bachelors, which will allow me to put some of the GI Bill towards the Masters. (GI Bill pays for 9 full time semesters plus housing allowance up to the most expensive state college's undergrad per-credit price.)

I'm going to take it easy on money spending for the remaining time I have in Japan, which is approx 1.5 years. The weak dollar means my extra cost of living and ultility allowances, which are based on the value of the Yen, will equal greater savings in USD upon retirement. 8 more months of deployment in that 1.5 years means lots of savings.

For the "military has given me a bed and meals and it will be hard to adjust" bit. Only underway on the ship, which has been maybe 4-5 total years of my 20 was spent in that "government gives me shelter and food" state. And that was spread out over 6 month deployments and other short underways. The remaining time was spent in a "find my own place to live, pay my own way, and eat my own food" state.

I appreciate your concern about that Naturegirl321, and I've found your blog site incredibly informative, but it's really not like that as far as the "government assisted living" style. That hasn't been my life for most of my career.

Hours I'm used to: 7-4 in port 5 days a week plus a 24 hour work day every 8 days. Underway is 7a-7p 7 days a week. Shore Duty was a little better with 7-2 as standard hours M-F, sometimes working through lunch and not much duty on top.

I am taking the somewhat harder path, as continuing to work in my field would be more lucrative since I would automatically add 20 years experience to a degree, but it doesn't satisfy me. I do eventually want to earn my way through experience and training to something like a University position somewhere. I always loved teaching and I was always good at it (that's why I did two tours of it), and I feel like I will meet more interesting people and just enjoy my life better if I'm interacting with different people on a daily basis instead of interacting with a computer screen.

I have visited other countries, and I could see myself successfully living in any of the ones I've visited, but obviously visiting does not equal living. I've visited Dubai, Bahrain, Malaysia, Singapore, Guam, China (Hong Kong), Australia, Thailand, and Korea. Japan I have lived in for 8 months, but 3 of those were underway. I rent a two bedroom house, I have a Japanese Drivers License (SOFA assisted), and I fend for myself meal-wise.

I know that I'm getting a late start. I will be 41 upon completion of a Bachelors Degree, and most countries won't want me after 60...maybe I could squeeze it to 65 in certain places. But my experience by that time and the amount of technology that will be available in 20 years might mean that I could continue teaching as a hologram in some classroom for extra money when I'm retired. Hopefully my continued pension and additional pay from retirement funds will allow me to live a comfortable life. I've never been married and I have no children, but I would like to eventually have both going on in my life.

I know I won't be a super rich guy who can put multiple kids through the US College system, but I'm willing to live a different life. I've been around enough to realize that the "USA is number 1" mantra that is drilled into every patriotic American isn't quite true anymore. Don't get me wrong, I love the US and I'm blessed to be from there as I have so many opportunities available that so many don't. But I don't like the direction that they're heading, which resembles the direction of a lot of fallen empires over history. But that's for another discussion.

I hope I didn't give the impression that I was expecting to walk in to a 12 teaching hour a week job with my zero years of experience. I know I will have to pay my dues. But before I start my journey, I want to be sure that I start off on the right foot with my degree choice and cert choice, and I want to maximize my GI Bill benefit and earned credits with current Navy training in order to achieve my goals.

My SMART Transcript shows the following possible education-type credits from the Navy schools that I've been through and jobs that I've held:

3 Semester Hours in:
Introduction to Education
Training and Development
Instructional Media
Instructional Strategies and Methods
Student Teaching
Intro to Teaching and Learning
Public Speaking
Educational Leadership
Instructional Methodology

I also have over 100 credit hours in electronics and computer related items which should count for some elective credits.

I know I will probably only get a few of the above items to count, but any credit from my experience/schooling is good credit.

Anyway, thank you again for the guidance and tough love. It did push my research outside of the narrow target of Japan that I had. I know my situation isn't ideal, and I know that my age is going to be a big obstacle that I will have to overcome. But hopefully I find a school that will take a lot of these credits and that I can come close to that M. Ed. degree before the money runs out.

My research and journey is just beginning. I have one more shot at advancement which would push things out 3 additional years if I make it, but the pension difference is worth the added delay.

I welcome any further guidance that you all may have. Sorry for the book!

[AGoodStory]

Two thumbs up for the OP's attitude and approach, which shows evidence of careful research, planning, and preparation, including the willingness to put the time and energy into qualifications. A welcome relief from the attitude of those who complain that getting a TEFL cert will "oh-my-god, take a whole month!"

.

[spiral78]

I'm wildly impressed that the OP has returned, and also think that his prospects are solid. Best of luck to you!

[eurobound]

Sounds like someone on this thread just likes the idea of picking on a Navy man! Bet you wouldn't be so brave in person

[Dilton]

I don't understand why we want to encourage this person to go running around after women or who knows what. Some of these countries are pretty impoversished and yes, they are available but that doesn't mean you aren't taking advantage. It doesn't mean you should only that you can.

[nomad soul]

Great goal setting, DougPr. At age 47, my dad retired after 31 years in the army and subsequently, took advantage of the educational benefits offered. It was a huge transition for him, yet he managed to move into something that inspired him and kept him busy for quite few years.

Your own background and experience would be a good fit for corporate training and/or instructional design if you decide to move away from EFL once you head into your 60s. But that's many years away!

Good luck!

[Sashadroogie]

Best of luck!

[7969]

[tttompatz]

[Glenski]

Welcome back, DougPR.

You asked for more guidance, and I will simply copy/paste from something you wrote earlier: