Job Discussion Forums

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

Said by one of my co-workers this week: "I've never worked with so many old teachers before." This is his third Mexican university.

I've been teaching in the same university EFL program for several years. The number of teachers in our department fluctuates a little, somewhere between 15 and 20 full- and part-time English teachers during my 9+ years there. Almost all are in their 40s or 50s. There are only two younger ones in their mid-30s. Additionally, there are only 3 foreign (native English-speaking) teachers in the department, which may or may not influence the age range in some way. I don't know.

Do you think this age distribution is unusual for university EFL departments in this country? Just curious.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

MELEE · Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 4:06 pm Post subject:

At my university we've had a trend over the years that I've been here to get older and older. Smile

We are now at 15 teachers, all native English speakers. The youngest is 29 and the oldest is 62. It's pretty evenly spread through the ages, with 5 under 35, 5 in the late 30s to late 40s, and 5 in their 50s or early 60s. When I first arrived in 1998, we only had 11 teachers and seven were under 30 (youngest about 23) and no one was over 55. So we've been aging. Razz

WE've also gotten pickier about who we hire.

saraswati · Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 200

Ages at my school range from the early 20s to late 50s, the majority being in their late 20s and early 30s.

Kristy Love · Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Posts: 9 Location: California

I teach at an elementary school, so many of the teachers are very young. The director of my school is 25, and I think I am one of the oldest teachers there- I am 25.

kristy Love

chola · Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 9:00 pm Post subject:

So.....it's not gonna be weird being a 40+ esler.....is there much age discrimination? anyone else out there a new tesl/tefl instructor in their "middle years". What was it like trying to find a job in Mexico?

saraswati · Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 200

Chola,
It won't be "wierd" at all. "Older" teachers bring more life experiences to the classroom. Students appreciate it and respect you for it. In any case, your age shouldn't be a factor in deciding whether you're suitable to teach or not, what you can offer your students should.

MixtecaMike · Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 643 Location: Guatebad

It's easy for older teachers to find a job in Mexico, a LOT easier than it is here in the Hub of Northeast Asia, a.k.a. Korea.

First question. Teacher, what's your name.

Second question. Teacher, how old are you.

Answer. 42

Reply. Ohh, teacher, very old. Old man.