Job Discussion Forums

[guest of Japan]

I'm curious of the choices people would make or have already made.

Here is a rundown of mine.

Past: Graduated university with a degree in history and secondary education. Did student teaching in a high school and a jr. high. I much preferred the high school experience so I concentrated on that. I spent several years doing various high school jobs including substituting, alternative high schools, and tutoring services. Then came to Japan to work in a conversation school for about two years. I followed this up with my present position working in a private Japanese high school as the oral communication teacher.

Future: Currently weighing my options, hence this thread. Immediate task is to do a TEFL distance diploma course through Tokyo Langage Arts College. Also plan to go back for my masters by Fall of 2005 in TESOL/Applied Linguistics.

Ideas which influence future decisions: money, quality of life, professional development, stability vs. flexibility, quality of students, quality of fellow teachers, autonomy, and expectations.

Thanks in advance. Mark

[fat_chris]

Mark,

This is a highly relevent post, for I am at the crossroads right now. I am just working a disposable job at the moment while I am reflecting on the direction in which I next wish to head.

It seems that I structure my life on ten year plans. I turned 30 in July and my first ten year plan was completed. I am currently drafting the framework for the next ten year plan.

During my junior and senior years of college, I decided that during the next several years I wanted to complete a master's degree, return to Europe and then head to a different part of the world and learn a third language. I didn't really care about money; it was all about adventure. My experiences have given me precisely all of the aforementioned: an M.A. in German, two years of teaching English in Austria and three years of living in China as a Peace Corps volunteer and English teacher trainer.

After being evacuated from China due to SARS, I have been doing a lot of reflecting. During the past year I wanted to go to business school and begin a corporate stint. After bombing the GMAT and doing some soul-searching, I decided that that's not what I wanted at all. I figured that there was something that originally drew me to teaching and I have realized that I do enjoy teaching and am good at it. It's now time for me to take my teaching aptitude to a higher level.

I intend to enroll in an M.A. in TESOL program for Fall, 2004--I have substantial experience, but no formal qualifications. I want to clear my debts and head back to Asia, either to Japan or back to China. Maybe I'll work on an M.Ed. as well before turning my back on the States for good.

Unlike during my life in my 20's, I am beginning to think of making some $$$ in this racket. I dare not think of getting rich but I do intend to live simply yet comfortably and sock some away into savings; henceforth, that is one reason why I'm interested in heading to Japan.

I've written too much. Enough from me.

Best wishes,
Chris

[shenyanggerry]

One thing to consider when thinking of TESL as a career choice - roots. I've lived almost all my life in Canada, primarily in two provinces. I now live in a third - and China. At my age and stage I feel a lack of roots. I often wonder if I would have been better off emotionally if I�d never left my home city to pursue a better career. Even a dozen years ago, such thoughts never entered my head.

If I had spent my life traipsing the world teaching English, I wouldn�t have any home. Now I have a reasonable semblance of roots but I wish for more. Think about it before you opt for a life as an ex-pat..

[Gordon]

Tough question. Sometimes I find it hard to plan what I'm going to eat tonight. 10 Years is just too hard to think about.
I plan on starting an MA in TESOL in 2004, but I just haven't found the right program yet. I'd also like to enlarge my family in the next couple of years. Yikes, more kids and a Masters, what am I thinking? I think I'll stay at my school for 2-3 more years too. I also want to concentrate more on learning Japanese. At some point I may work in the Middle East.

[fat_chris]

Actually that is a bit preposterous to have a "ten year plan." I simply labelled it as such because when I was in college, I decided that I wanted to achieve a number of goals and coincidentally, it took me 10 years to do everything I wanted to do.

Now I that I have finished everything that I wanted to, I am sitting around thinking, "now what?" I am drafting ideas as to what I want to do next--maybe it'll take me 5 years, 10 years or 25 years to accomplish my next round of goals. Of course, these things really can't be planned.

It goes without saying here that I'm quite goal oriented and I need to have a sense of long-term direction. That's simply how I function best.

As for roots, that isn't a concern of mine as I gave up such a notion a long time ago. I have my family in my hometown, so I guess I still have my roots.

Another way of looking at it is it is exhilirating to have friends all over the globe. I've been invited to Mardi Gras in N'awlins, a wedding in London and a snowboarding trip in Switzerland. I've made solid friendships with interesting people from a wide variety of backgrounds. I'm not sure I would have been able to do that had I stayed put in one place.

[fat_chris]

[Gordon]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Chris.
BTW, not even Stalin had a 10 year plan, he only had two 5 year plans.

[fat_chris]

[scot47]

Career ? In EFL ?

Surely it is just a succession of jobs rather than a career.

And as you get older you focus more on the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$'s and less on the thrill of being in a "groovy place".

Personally I wish I had trained to be an electrician or a bus driver.

[denise]

Great topic!

I too had a five-year plan--it ended up only taking four, though, or six, depending on where I decide that its end point is--and it went quite well. I'm happy with the choices that I made in the past: after realizing that I couldn't see myself following the path that my undergrad degree would have led to (Peace & Conflict Studies--I benefitted from it greatly and it has seeped into my personality, world views, etc., but I didn't see a career in it), I decided to get into TEFL. Spent two years saving up money for a TEFL course, two years teaching, and two years getting an MA. All according to my master plan.

Now what, though?!?!? I love this field, love teaching, and am very happy in my current position--great colleagues, loads of support, nice living environment, etc., but the roots issue is always at the back of my mind. I fear that eventually I will realize that I have no home anywhere, no family (meaning "no man"), etc. Right now I am loving being free (financially burdened, but still free...), and I can only hope that over the next few years I keep feeling and enjoying this freedom, but the Big Milestone--turning 30--is just two years away, and I'm worried that when that day arrives I will feel like I need to grow up and settle down--concepts which are really quite alien to me.

I mean absolutely no disrespect to those of you who are over 30! In my head I know it's silly to worry about age and arbitrarily select one year as any sort of milestone, but I confess that I still have certain stereotypes of "youth" and "normalcy."

Wait--was the original post seeking advice? Or is it OK to just unload my own random thoughts here? Unfortunately, I have no advice to give! Sorry!

d

[Deborann]

I don't really make plans - just do what happens to come along. Started teaching because I won a bonded scholarship from the Education Department that required me to teach for a period equal to the length of time I studied. Taught at a secondary school until I married and had children (although the plan was for me to finish the bonded period and travel - ain't love grand?).

Returned to work but taught at a technical college - part-time. They wanted me full-time so I pottered off to find another part-time job - child protection. Completed another degree. They wanted me full-time so pottered off again - supervision and rehabilitation of offenders. Finally went back to work full-time. Completed my Masters, changed jobs into management. Now manage a statewide program for Indigenous employment for gov't. Life caught up again and I became de-married - certainly not in the plans!

Now - it's time for a another change - and ESL teaching here I come! Would never have had these plans and experiences if I had tried to stick to a plan. Have no idea what happens after this.

Isn't life what happens while you are making plans?

[guest of Japan]

Thank you all for your responses so far.

Denise, there are no rules so feel free to unload your random thoughts. I think it's great to see the thought processes involved as well as as the plans.

Scot47, are you being cynical or wise? Either way you don't paint a rosy picture.

[struelle]

[biffinbridge]

I agree with Scot,only I'd have been a plumber.

[guty]

I think Denise is right about milestones, no matter how much you may pretend it is just another birthday, turning 30, or 40 I guess, is a big psychological moment, and will cause many people to reevaluate where they are. It also generally comes when they have embarked on a career, or on a second career, are thinking seriously about families, or have young ones, and when, like it or lump it, you are not considered young anymore, even if you only feel 12 inside. For me it was quite a positive experience, some hard decisions had to be made, but a few years later it was all for the best.
Scott 47, you are right about money becoming more important, but for me that is because I now have other people to support, and like most EFL teachers, no pension, and not a great deal in the bank. And maybe what is considered groovy changes with age.