Job Discussion Forums

[Ellis]

You know, at times when I'm between jobs, I have occasion to give serious thought as to WHY I ever got into the @!%& ESL business in the first place. What factor, other than the titillation gained from foreign travel, could have ever induced me to (A)accept substandard wages for my efforts; (B)endure survival in squalid living quarters -- the kind I would have been much too embarrassed to take even one short peek at back in the States; and (C)dealing with ofttimes hostile American-haters ... yes, ALL OF THIS for the sake of attempting to bring a measure of oral cultural exchange to those who are either forced to -- or even think it's chic to -- attempt to learn English. Of course we run across that objective and highly conscientious ESL student from time to time ... the one who will actually give us the impetus to sign up for a second year. However, from reading the various teacher discussion outlets on the web, I gather that many of us have failed to realize any such source of inspiration.

I am certain that in the case of the majority of us, our intentions are sincere, and despite some harrowing circumstances, we remain wholly devoted to our craft. Nonetheless, many of us reach a point whereby we begin to seriously question the merit of our chosen plight. Naturally, many of us will be quick to identify this crisis as burnout and the necessity of seeking another line of activity. Yes, that is always one possibility. But for one who is truly aware of the concept of language education, I resent having to accept substandard conditions and attitudes which eventually offer me occasion to question the raison d'�tre of my proclaimed dedication and enthusiasm.

As it has been correctly suggested in these columns, many so called "teachers" have caused some foreign employers to be nasty and suspicious of their motives -- so much so, that many of the up-straight instructors have had to suffer for the nefarious actions of their misled colleagues. After all, people DO vary in their attitudes and performance ... even ELS teachers! Consequently, even though one signs a one-year employment contract, he/she is actually on probation during the ensuing month or two. This means it is within the realm of feasibility that ANY contract can be suddenly deemed null and void during its supposed tenure! That's WHY a request that the round-trip fare be PREpaid usually falls on deaf ears. As the late and sadly missed Humphrey Bogart eloquently stated the case in one of his epic gangster movies (I think it was Dead End - 1937), "In dis woild, yuh git nuttin' fer nuttin'!" Oh, yes, there actually ARE dream agencies on this side of the Pacific that both charge and get as much as $900 for the GUARANTEED location of that so-called dream job ... usually in an low-income area where it's damned near impossible to earn over $150 per week! And the dream school won't even pay for the $100+ teaching license for the teacher! MY GOD! What in hell induces us to crave this ESL business so badly? I sometimes think it's a form of psychosis ... but no, it's simply that we who are dedicated to the science of ESL worship human contact, and are the first to take ANY opportunity to create a new relationship via the art of linguistics. To this extent, there is only one powerful and all-encompassing reality ... the spoken word, that wonderful phenomenon which constitutes the sole basis of our steadfast dedication. VIVA ESL!


[/b]

[dmb]

I do it because I like it.

However I don't fit into any of your categories.
(A) I have a reasonable salary.
(B) I live in a beautiful apt.
(C) I'm not American

[Roger]

Only since I discovered eslcafe a few years ago have I found out that there are people who "teach their way around the world". PReviously I had always thought that once you accepted a position as a teacher you would put the travelling firmly behind yourself at least for a while.
I guess, the secure knowledge that I can always return to where I come from keeps me here; I don't need to "make money" here, though I do.
Without this kind of existential worries I can enjoy my life here more thoroughly.

[Bindair Dundat]

[japanjohn]

I have taught in Nigeria, Libya, Philippines, Taiwan and now almost 8 years in Japan. There are many times I have cried from frustration. Almost died of various illnesses and countless close call accidents. But after 25 years I'm still at it. Every time I go back to my home Victoria BC. I find myself, after a few weeks, on the net yet once again searching. I found a perfect job at a private high school in Nagoya, thanks to an employment agency.
Happy in Nagoya
John

[TEAM_PAPUA]

For me, life back in the UK is just too predictable and boring; simply working to make ends meet isn't living in my opinion.

I've been teaching 3 years now, 2 incredible years in Indonesia, and almost one year here in PR of 'Spitsville'. China has been ok at times, but not a long time career goal for me. As for Indonesia, I will return soon & imagine that I will stay there for good. The relatively low salary, the poor apartments/houses & the unenthusiastic students I can deal with in order to live in such a wonderful & challenging environment - beats the hell out of 'rat race' UK.


T_P

[Sweetsee]

I have been in esl since 1989 in Japan.

My job I have had since last year pays 2 bonuses and we have a big place with a big garden near the school and recently bought a vehicle. We have a 3 year old daughter. And travel all the time.

Its a life. A whole lot of good and a whole lot of bad.

Enshalla,
S

[tarzaninchina]

Here's something I wrote a while back in an email when I was hit with the big question of why. I just like the actual teaching and have since sought to improve everything else around it from problems with admin to culture. I'm sure toleration is continually tested and hammered out in one's mind, but here goes.

"The following is something I s'pose I should make public. Perhaps others could even use it. In all honesty, it comes from speaking with a number of people recently concerning the hiring of foreigners in general, specifically the negotiation process.

There are lots of classes out there, so as a teacher, you can't teach them all. So, how do you choose? It shoud be noted at this point that what follows is the answer for a person who wants to enjoy teaching and treat it like a job simultaneously (i.e. not just party). In my opinion, there are 2 determining criteria.

First, resume-building. That is somewhat obvious, but it means that you liked working there and that you worked there for a significant amount of time with significance. Don't want to waste yours or anybody else's life....

Second is the quality of the experience. This would include working conditions, living conditions, income, and lifestyle. Each I consider self-explanatory as well as their summation.

There is one downfall to having this particular standpoint as an employable teacher. Whenever someone calls you greedy, it will be an insult."

So what are your thoughts on this?

[Ellis]

TARZAN IN CHINA WROTE:

It should be noted at this point that what follows is the answer for a person who wants to enjoy teaching and treat it like a job simultaneously (i.e., not just party). In my opinion, there are 2 determining criteria.
>First, resume-building. That is somewhat obvious, but it means that you liked working there and that you worked there for a significant amount of time with significance. Don't want to waste yours or anybody else's life....
>Second is the quality of the experience. This would include working conditions, living conditions, income, and lifestyle. Each I consider self-explanatory as well as their summation.

*There is one downfall to having this particular standpoint as an employable teacher. Whenever someone calls you greedy, it will be taken as "an insult."

===============================================

Hi, Tarzan ...

Thanks for your response to my post of last month. Your conclusions reached on the WHY of the matter seem logical enough ... however, you should not fail to recall the different strokes for different folksprinciple. Sure ... as for the younger, less experienced veteran of the international ESL scene, building a r�sum� while seeing the world would seem the #1 purpose of it all. But, regrettably, those who have placed a greater accentuation upon the "fun" part have made it most difficult for the qualified, well-intentioned bloke to be accepted in good faith by far too many Chinese employers, thus, ruining any chance of his/her bargaining power once having arrived on the scene. Thus begin the feelings of antagonism regarding both you and your nationality. Of course, I am not implying that this so in EVERYONE'S case, but by making
it a regular habit to tune in to http://www.eslteachersboard.com/, I have begun to SERIOUSLY wonder why, in the face of such adversity, Chinese schools and agencies STILL advertise for English-speaking teachers, and teachers STILL accept positions and bravely make the long trek to the Orient. Tarzan, my friend, I've heard QUITE a variety of explanations on this issue, e.g., I wish to contribute my part to the cause of international communication; I want to have saved $2500 by the end of the year's contract; I positively adore the women in China!

Now, we run into the issues of working conditions, living conditions, income, and lifestyle. Did I mentioned that the kid who had planned on saving $2500 for the year's contract -- and HE DID! -- was earning but RMB 4,000 per month!!! Christ on a bicycle, Man, I couldn't do that if I stood on my head and recited the entire Mao's Little Red Book -- SDRAWKCAB!!! By contrast, I once knew a Ph.D. who had a fairly good gig in Beijing at RMB 8,000 per month, yet experienced difficulty in taking his wife out for an occasional Starbucks Venti, and his two kids down the street for their beloved Big Mac's, Fries, 'n Giant Cokes! This, of course, is a matter of lifestyle. But not to worry ... practically everyone on this planet knows us Yanks to be spoiled rotten, while to deny us essentials such as the Colonel's Wings, Fat Burgers & Fat Fries, and pizza would be tantamount to denying us a major element of our culture. So far as income is concerned, many of us can --AND DO -- learn to live on far less that we earn on jobs at home. And, in the final analysis, since we DO come from a cornerstone of Capitalism, I would say that making a sincere effort to adjust oneself on an average ESL teacher's salary of RMB 4 - 6,000 per month DOES MOST CERTAINLY bespeak of a decided dedication to teaching English. Nonetheless, under these circumstances, if ever you are confronted by either a Chinese or fellow-western ESL instructor who, by virtue of your "excessive" income and your smile of contentment, dare view you as "greedy" ... merely invite that party to kneel down low and kiss your capitalist's derri�re!

Yes, Tarzan Man ... WHY (the #U*K) do we do it??? Ummmm-ugh ... In the final analysis, I reckon it's simply because we see it as the best thing to do AT THE TIME.

Peace,
Ellis

[tarzaninchina]

Since I'm replying to a reply, I'll do it as the points appear.

In regards to veterans versus travel-seekers, resume-building is a professional thing (i.e. pertaining to a job or career). Do you want to work at a school that will boost your standing as a career teacher/educationer? Or is it something else? This is an idea, like everything else in my prvious post, that you have to address for yourself. Do you care what's on your resume after you finish working at a particular school?

As fof a basic foundation, the "logic" in my previous post was why to choose a particular place. You've got all these classes everywhere. You can't possibly teach them all. So how do yo choose? This, of course, comes after choosing to teach English somewhere.

If you want to save some cash her in China, that's easy. Put 2,000RMB away evry month. This assumes you get paid on time with what's owed and get your airfare re-imbursement. I like to earn 6K per month divided as follows: 2K savings, 2K for traveling (whenever I go somewhere), and 2K for monthly living expenses.

As for the quality of the experience, you have to understand what an offer will really give you and what it will allow you to do. If you earn 1K per month and want western food all the time, something tells me you won't fare well with that offer and won't go for it (unless you've got something up your sleeve).

As for how much you earn and if it's more, better teachers have more opportunities to earn more, if they're willing to mingle among the Chinese and know who they gotta know to get those 'gigs'. A good vet with the basic BA and TESOL qualifications could easily earn 10K depending on the city and who they know. I'm alrady looking at that salary next year, but I desparately want out of pollution-ville.

In terms of basic reasons of why, you gotta be wanting to see some different place, you gotta be in need of some cash (otherwise why work, just travel and live your own high life), and you gotta like the idea of others learning to do something that you do very well. Different people will put different interpretations according to their own views, but anyway, that's my response.

Lunch time.