Job Discussion Forums

[ntropy]

No, not a teaching question.

I realize most of you here are young whippersnappers and not old coots like myself, but how do you see your TEFL career progressing in a perfect world?

How would you teach yourself this (eg prepare so that it does come true)?

[lozwich]

Something I've been thinking about myself in the last few days ntropy, although I don't know if I qualify as a young whippersnapper, but neither do I identify with 'old coot' .

My very very loosely based plan involves finding somewhere on the planet to live for a decent amount of time, where I can a) feel happy and b) speak Spanish. I think I've found the place, but the TEFL working conditions there are not that easy, and I don't feel equipped to be there just yet.

So, I've taken a job in another country where I think criteria a and b will work nicely for a year or so. The job is going to give me skills that I will need for working in the difficult, but heavenly, place of my heart (no, I'm not telling you where that is!) and also prepare me to do an MA in something or other (probably TESOL) which I will be able to do via distance learning when I relocate to the land of my dreams.

After that, whatever happens is a delightful mystery! And all completely subject to the changes of mind brought on by the idle whims, tempestuous romances and cantankerous moods I experience from time to time!

Have a great day!

Lozwich.

[Irish]

Speaking as a middle aged coot with a freshly minted MA and little experience, I'm looking forward to starting my first overseas teaching gig this September. Funny thing is, it wasn't on my list of ideal countries but the more I learn about it, the more I like it. Maybe the reality of living there will change my mind but I can see myself staying there for at least a couple of years, perhaps longer.

In my perfect world, I'd end up in an Arabic or Spanish speaking country with a teaching job that would allow me to pursue my odd little research interests on the side. Moving up in the ranks isn't a priority -- I just like to teach and study. As long as I make enough money to live and satisfy my simple needs, I'm set.

What I've got now isn't perfect, but it's good enough for me at this point in my career. And who knows? My idea of perfection may change because of this.

[undrmynd]

I have yet to teach anywhere, as I am currently in the process of finishing my TEFL course. I would really like to work somewhere that I can save money and hopefully pay off my student loans. Then I am thinking about getting a B.A. in something so I can get a better teaching position. I am starting to think that I would like to teach ESL for a living, but I want to do it right. That's as far as my plans go for now. But I am sure I will have a better idea of what I want to do when I finish my course.

[nolefan]

I decided to take the TEFL route to decide wether I was cut out for academia in the long run.. I did not want to spend umpteen thousands on a M.A. just to decide that it was not for me.

After 3 months in China, I am fairly sure that I will spend the rest of my life in academia as I enjoy the challenges of this particular envirement.

I will propably stay in the PRC for another 3 years just to be sure before I go back to school for the M.A. and then ph.D .......

[denise]

Well, as long as the topic is the "perfect" situation...

A nice, cushy little teaching job--ideally an IEP or ESL community college class--in California. Either the Berkeley/SF area, Monterey, or San Diego. Full-time, decent benefits, plenty of holidays, and a salary high enough to a) allow me to pay the exorbitant rent in the above-mentioned cities, b) allow me to pay off my loans, and c) allow me to have a modicum of fun. Weekend snowboarding trips, dining out, going to shows, etc. And of course a darling man. And a little cocker spaniel named Sophocles.

Suddenly, Denise wakes up...

d

[denise]

Friggin' censors!!!

d

[yaramaz]

In order to realise my Future Perfect conjugation, we will have to slightly alter the universe as we know it. Whups. Blip! Fwump!

It follows thusly: I get my MA, paid for with a grant and excessive living allowance by a school in Istanbul that loves me so much that this is an investment they cant afford not to make. By some miracle, this school is also a Japanese pottery school with a studio based in a lovely zen garden area on the shores of the Bosphorus. After I complete my MA, I begin teaching my full-time schedule of 10 hours a week with a charming and witty and motivated group of buddhist monks and nuns, the dalai lama amongst them. (ok, so he isnt a zen buddhist, but hell, it's my if-clause future tense we're talking about and I want a raku pottery studio in the near vicinity). As part of the ten classroom hours, I also teach a course designed specifically for intelligent, witty, gorgeous Turkish men (who have impeccable manners and not a hint of overt lechery) and strong, independent Turkish women who read widely and dont believe that marriage is the meaning of their life. I will work three days a week, from noon till 3pm, with one hour reserved for mini field trips to drink rakı and eat fresh fish in cafes by the waterfront. Conversation practise.

I am given a free lovely three bedroom restored Ottoman house on the waterfront, with a clear view of the blue mosque and hagia sofia, with floor to ceiling windows and a wrap around balcony wide enough for holding dinners and starry wine-evenings. Hardwood floors and jacuzzi and a lovely kitchen with a full sized oven. Within a few minutes from my home there are ferries and dolmuşes and trams and metros, which will whisk me for free (school-provided transit pass) to any point in Istanbul directly.

O, and in my neighbourhood there are several english language bookstores, great cafes, Thai-Japanese-Mexican-etc restaurants that are affordable and very authentic and good quality, and a few funky bars and clubs. My students will often take me for sushi, then we will dance and laugh, and practise our equally sad Turkish...

The school will provide me with a full pension and benifits, and 4 months paid holiday in summer as well as 2 weeks at Christmas and all national holidays.

My salary will be similar to that of a neuro-surgeon, allowing me to save enough to buy a gorgeous home somewhere in the San Juan or Gulf Islands off the west coast of BC/Washington. I will spend most of my 4 months' holidays travelling around the world.

[dmb]

Hmm, you might be a bit disappointed with the new job at IH-the salary is nowhere near that of a brain surgeon

[anthyp]

I hope to teach in China for a few years, then go back for my MA, then teach a few more years maybe in Japan, before finally returning to Spain, where I must have lived in another life. Hopefully you'll still be there, loz!

[lozwich]

Anthyp, does this mean you're not coming for beers at the end of September???

Loz.

[willy]

After 10 more years working 50+ hours a week I plan on being replaced by a younger and cheaper almost teacher, at witch point me and my family will live out our lives in an airport, with no visa or cash only an expired MasterCard and a few handouts of yesterday�s sandwiches. With starry eyed hopes of the new inter galactic highway coming thru�.