Job Discussion Forums

[Sudz]

Thanks for those replies.

MotherF - I would one day like to learn a second language (my pitiful Vietnamese doesn't count, and I think that ship has already sailed!) If I were to learn a tonal language though, I think it would be Mandarin. I think I would need to be in China to really have the desire to learn it though.

bdawg - Some very good points there. It's a tough choice for me. At the moment, the romance period of living in Vietnam has long past, even though I still mostly enjoy it here (and love the travel opportunities). If it weren't for the cash that I'm able to save here, I'd have beat feet to China, Japan, or who knows maybe even Myanmar long ago! Don't get me wrong though, I still love it here some days, I enjoy the job (mostly), and the travel opportunities as mentioned (this is something I'd have to give up back home).

The MA TESOL would be entirely self-funded, and by the end of the year, I should have the entire tuition covered (or close to). Also worth noting, is that there are very few on campus lectures (despite it being an on campus degree), so I'd be able to continue teaching while doing it (even here in Vietnam if I desired). The class is through the Nottingham Malaysia campus btw, and if it weren't for Air Asia, I probably wouldn't even consider still working here.

As mentioned, I don't feel like I'm quite done with living overseas. Who knows though, moving back (at least for a significant period of time) could be a positive experience. My brother really missed Japan after returning home, but seems to be doing well now. It's good hearing from someone like you bdawg who has relocated back home and seems to be quite content. It's also very true that life in the ESL world is not necessarily better - definitely up to the individual's taste. I could definitely see myself doing this for another decade though, provided I had a change in location, and the qualifications to move a little further up the ladder.

As for a potential move back home, the student loan aspect is pretty huge for me. After living the lifestyle that I do here, it would be VERY hard to trudge it out for 4+ years. If I were to stay here for another year, I could potentially cover most (if not all) of the tuition for nursing school. Add that to a student loan to pay for the cost of living, and who knows it might not be so bad.

A tough choice indeed! I have a few weeks to decide whether or not to accept entry into this program (though honestly, I'm sure I could just re-apply should the need arise!) Nursing IS a good career to get into for those getting a little on in there years, which is why I could see myself doing this for a little while longer, and entering a BSN at a later date.

I do like the idea of living in Toronto for a few years though! Choices choices.....

[Zero]

Life is only so long, there are only so many resources, there is only so much time to get a return on investment from your education. Generally speaking I would say don't do both the MA TESOL and the BSN. I would do one or the other. Doing both sounds pretty expensive.

MA TESOL would be good if you want to go to the Middle East or one of the few other areas on this globe where it is truly rewarded, and you want to stay there for a while.

Otherwise, BSN all the way. Extremely useful degree. If it is like in the U.S., you'll need some prerequisites in order to be admitted to a program. Probably chemistry, anatomy/physiology, and microbiology. You could most likely get some or all of those out of the way with online classes. That is how a lot of would-be nursing students in the U.S. are doing it, and the nursing schools tend to be fine with it. They even include labs. For example, for the anatomy labs, some schools are sending such things as a real pig heart directly to your doorstep. Others are having you do labs via CD-rom and such.

[JZer]

Yeah, I have to decide to go home on August 27 and become a Speech Pathologist or to stay in Asia.

What should I do?

[naturegirl321]

[naturegirl321]

[Von Dut]

I've been doing a lot of thinking into what I want to do. On one hand I do love teaching but TEFL'ing has recently started feeling like a dead end (I'm sure others feel the same way). I want to do something worthwhile with my life and being a dancing monkey just doesn't fill my needs.

So after months of weighing the options and pro's and con's of it all I have decided to go back to school and get a master's degree in Humanitarian work. I still want to travel around the world but I want it to be a more worthwhile career. Although I still may end up being a teacher somewhere I am looking more at places that it's more important. Something along the lines of being more than just a TEFL teacher. I'm going work for an international NGO. I haven't decided which but one of them that works directly with improving the daily lives of the people in need. I don't care about making money, it's just paper to me, I care about making a difference. I don't feel 45 minutes a week for one class of 60+ students is making a difference.

But that's just me. I've recently hit the 33 year mark and feel that if I stay in TEFL'ing much longer I wont be able to get out.

My question to all of you is that as China becomes more of a world power and America continues the way it's going, how long do you think English as a Second Language will survive? I think that many countries are becoming more interested in learning Chinese as a second language than learning English. There are some amazing teachers that are improving the English level for many students but there are also many that really don't put much effort into the job. Will the market continue or will there be a shift to a different language (Chinese)? Remember when the world was learning Russian or German or French or any other language? ~ Just my thoughts.

[nickpellatt]

Von Dut - I dont think there will be a shift to learning Chinese. I am learning it myself via the UK's Open University, but I believe professionally, its a dead duck really. I cant see a world switch towards it at all.

I believe that if I ever see a position that wants an English / Mandarin speaker, I will be forever trumped by a Chinese native speaker of Mandarin, who also has good English skills. With the tens of thousands of Chinese born nationals studying overseas, there is not going to be a shortage of people with both English and Mandarin skills. Add in the overseas born Chinese in English speaking countries who learn Mandarin from their parents etc, and you can see why demand for non-natives to learn the language is slight.

Although some schools in the UK do now offer Mandarin as a GCSE subject, I believe most people who take the option to study it are ethnically Chinese and its unlikely to become a mainstream language for the general population. The reading and writing make it too difficult for a start, and this difficulty plus the huge number of people already fluent in both Chinese and English means demand will never be there IMO

[Sashadroogie]

[Sudz]

Zero - You're right, going for 2 degrees wouldn't be the cheapest endeavor. The MA TESOL would work out to be considerably less expensive though if you were to factor in the fact that it takes less time, and that I'd be able to continue teaching during it. I'd have the chance to work in Malaysia as well (while studying), though the pay would be about half of what I make here in Vietnam. I do like Kuala Lumpur though, and would consider it for a year perhaps.

It's a tough call. I could continue to work in Vietnam and save some pretty good coin, but there are some days when I'd really like a change. Luckily, traveling is very doable here (been to 12 countries during my time here, some of which I've been to multiple times). I would be interested in working in the Middle-East should I choose to go through with the MA TESOL. Actually (besides perhaps Korea), the ME would really be the only area where I'd be in a better financial situation (esl wise) than here (at least that comes to mind). I wonder though: Saudi seems to be where the major coin is (I could be wrong), and I'd have to question whether or not living there would even be enjoyable (perhaps I'll ask on the SA board). I'm quite accustomed to having my own transportation (scooter in my case), and enjoying the odd beer or 10 when the desire (or need!) arises. Fermented bathtub ale doesn't sound too appetizing! Anyways I don't want to portray myself as a booze fiend - I partake about once a week.

One thing worth noting is that I lack a work permit. They've recently become 'more necessary', and having an MA TESOL could remedy this ordeal. Honestly though - in this country - I could probably fork over a grand to someone working and *poof* "here's your work permit sir!" That said, having a nursing degree would be just as good for the WP (should I one day want to return).

If I knew I could be independent (have my own place), and live reasonably well in Toronto (don't want to live in a suburb at the moment), then I think I'd have to lean towards the BSN if I were to choose one. Not now perhaps, but maybe in the next 5 years...

[Von Dut]

[/quote] English is not going to be displaced any time soon - even by Chinese. Even if America were to lose world power status, English would not. It was already an important world language before American hegemony. [/quote]

Good point. I didn't think of it like that. I like to think that eventually English would be the world language and everyone would know it. Still many, many years away if it ever happens. I was just thinking of it in terms of country power.

I love being able to hear others views on things! Helps me see things in a larger picture!

[MotherF]

[smithrn1983]

[santi84]

I'm looking into an MA in TESL with the hopes of doing some work in my local CEGEP/university here in Montreal. I need to upgrade my French language skills and get some more experience first!

[markcmc]

I've been in TEFL for over 20 years now and have enjoyed it. A few years ago I invested in an MEd TESOL, which was good fun, but actually I think I'd have been better off spending the time (and money) on setting up my next business; which is my next step.

[holoholo girl]