Job Discussion Forums

marblez · Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Posts: 248 Location: Canada

..."sigh".

After a full year of study in English, Linguistics, Grammar, and teaching students through partnerships and practicums, I have come to the realization that I have no interest in the field anymore. I haven't even been to my Linguistics class in 4 weeks.

Tutoring was fine, but the "real deal" is not as I expected. There are few jobs where I live that I would have any decent chance of obtaining (I am not working part time for less than $15 per hour, thank you, waitressing pays more).

Thanks for the help you guys have given me, but I'm gonna pack up and mosey on. I'm already registered to complete a BA in Criminal Justice by 2006 (my original plan after high school).

cujobytes · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 6:41 am Post subject:

Quitter.

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

Me too.

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

You guys are just having a Embarassed

day.

Drink a cold beer and chill out! Wink

ESL = Enjoying Some Lager Twisted Evil

merlin · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 7:02 am Post subject:

Just a few real quick questions:

What were you expecting?

You mention you are still studying. Does that mean you're basing your image of the "real life" on the content of this forum?

People move for their careers all the time. Techies, for example, moved to California in the 90's and now they're moving out. ESLers have to go where the market is. There are more jobs for lawyers in the Northeast US. Not so many in North Dakota.

I personally will get out of TEFL sooner or later but I don't see it as a dead-end. It's a stepping stone that got me out of where I was as a 20-something gen-xer. As a 30-something family man I find it a bit wearing. As a 40-something I want something else from my life, I think.

TEFL has allowed me to get to kow myself, the world and my fellow man/woman a bit. Without that there's no way I could take the next step that I'm going to take.

It may or may not be the same for you.

Not trying to convince you or anything - I have no financial or emotional stake in your decision. Just letting you see another side of the issue.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Maybe Kent said it best - you may currently facing the student's equivalent of a midlife crisis or burn-out, a condition endemic to most repetitive occupations.
Take a break - and return to the fold.

Zero Hero · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 944

A "full year"? Wow.

$15 (Can.) is but $98 HK, not much at all. In fact, you can earn more than that waitressing here.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

EFL/ESL is not for everyone. I applaud Marblez for accepting the fact that this isn't his/her chosen field and has decided to do something different. What is sad are the people who feel the same as marblez and continue in EFL/ESl year after year when they don't enjoy it.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

The North American ESL job scene isn't too great, but there are plenty of opportunities in EFL. I'm not looking forward to the crappy pay and part-time conditions that seem to be the norm back home, but after several years of EFL teaching, I know that at least I like teaching--might make the conditions more tolerable.

d

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

merlin · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 10:24 am Post subject:

31
How can you decide what's worthwhile for another person?
If some people find it worthwhile for them, then it is - until they decide it isn't worthwhile, when it won't be.

Like sex.
Is sex worthwhile? Does it put food on the table?
For me it doesn't put food on the table and contributes absolutely nothing to my future. It won't enable me to climb the career ladder and at times the consequences resultant from this activity adds considerable stress to my life.
And yet I still find the activity worthwhile. Go figure.

ntropy · Joined: 11 Oct 2003 Posts: 671 Location: ghurba

Well, at least you know now and it only took a year. I have never worked a day in the field I have my post-grad degree in. Spent much more than a year getting through that and don't consider a day "wasted."

People in myriads of professions "waste" years in professions before figuring out it's not for them. It's only wasted time if you consider it that. As Edison said after striking out for the hundredth time trying to create the lightbulb: I have not failed creating the lightbulb. I have successfully learned 100 ways not to do it.

And we all know what happened after that.

mlomker · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 378

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

ESL/EFL isn't for everyone. If the OP wants out, why are others bashing that decision?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN