Job Discussion Forums

[fragganika]

I've noticed a couple of posts briefly listing this in the list of no-no's... but to me, it's no-no #1!

I know 3 people, myself included, who've done that, and come out sorely regretting it. There are two significant, practical problems to living with a manager.

#1 - A school is always at least a little bit "off," i.e. there are always some logistical problems, inefficiencies, mistakes, etc. Usually, it's because the managers (who are often hired based on their english skills and not their management skills) who don't set up appropriately run environments. So when things go wrong, they might just take it out on you at home!

#2 - Many first-time host-families have a fantasy, glamorous image of what it'll be like to live with a foreigner. Many host families ARE first timers, and it's JUST like the fantasy, glamour images WE have the first time we go abroad.

They get disillusioned fast, seeing you eat, drink, and breathe just like them. That's kind of unavoidable. But, imagine a disillusioned school manager taking this subconscious disappointment with him or her into your work environment.

[Guy Courchesne]

You conjure up memories of an earlier assignment of mine...

As a TEFL trainer for Teachers Latin America, my employer provided me with accommodations in our Acapulco, Mexico facilities..with all the TEFL students. Let me give it to you from the other side of the coin.

At first, it was alright...sort of like summer camp. But being in my position, I had to be available 24-7, well, I didn't have to be, but ended up being so available. When we would get larger groups, it became a nightmare of having to solve little problems all day long...little things like cultural adaptations, translations, tour guide work...stuff I certainly don't mind doing, but not 24-7.

Doing it long-term, such as in a language center that provides group housing for EFL teachers...I couldn't imagine surviving more than 10 minutes, either as a manager or as a teacher.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

On a similar note, at the first language school where I taught in Mexico, the owners of the school were also landlords. After I'd accepted a job with their school, they put a lot of pressure on me trying to get me to rent a house from them. Interesting that the monthly rent would've cost me more than what I was earning per month teaching at their school. Admittedly, they told me that if I rented the house from them, I could then rent out the two extra bedrooms and possibly make money off of the deal. Since it was my first time teaching abroad, I didn't feel I wanted to take on the extra responsibilities that renting out rooms would've involved. I also discovered later that what they were going to charge me for rent was much higher than the going rate for similar houses in similar neighborhoods.