Job Discussion Forums

AintDeadYet · Joined: 09 Jul 2005 Posts: 2

Hello

I'm 55, teaching ESL in Boston, Mass. USA and I believe I'm ready to do some distance travelling & teaching. I've never taught overseas and have never been to SE Asia, though I've travelled extensively in Central & South America and the Carribean for the past many years. I was once the scruffiest of backpack travellers, and have upgraded my comfort level only slightly: I now seek out places with actual toilets rather than footpads & holes in the floor, that sort of thing.

Are there any teachers on this forum who've made the move to SEAsia at a mature age? Or have any of you worked with teachers who have been in my age range?

I'm most interested in Thailand and Indonesia, as I'm a scuba diver and figure I can get some diving in on my holidays.

Thanks for all replies and advice.

ADY

Volodiya · Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 4:25 am Post subject:

Good god, man, sometimes I wonder if we aren't in the majority, over here!

tedkarma · Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 11:31 am Post subject:

53 here, my coworker at the university where I teach - is 54. Started out at 37 (joined the Peace Corps) started TEFL at 39. Come on in - the water's fine.

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

^ This thread has put me in a good mood. At 44, I feel like jailbait !

AintDeadYet · Joined: 09 Jul 2005 Posts: 2

keep it coming, keep it coming. At an age when many folks in the USA start shopping for RVs (despite the fact that gas is now $2.65/gallon) it's encoraging to hear from you all who have instead chosen to embrace the wide world.

Volodiya · Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 5:45 am Post subject:

Although Thailand has a mandatory retirement for uni profs at 60, there are lots of other opps, like private universities.

In China, there doesn't seem to be a ceiling, and I've heard tell of uni profs (expats) still working into their 70's. Here, at least, age seems to be respected, rather than suspect.

I don't plan to give it up until I can no longer be rolled into the classroom!

junkmail · Joined: 19 Dec 2004 Posts: 377

That's good. Korea can make you feel old at 35.

Welshguy · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 143

It really dosen't seem to matter at all, though of course as a mere 43 year old ..........

No worries mate. Out here they tend to equate age with wisdom and not incontinence.

Good luck to you.
W

brewsterbudgen · Joined: 29 Apr 2005 Posts: 43 Location: Bangkok

Leaving my job after 21 years and taking a CELTA in Bangkok. Then who knows what's the future for a mere 45 year old!

k8tell · Joined: 22 Jun 2005 Posts: 6

I've been teaching ESL in Philly and I'm headed to Thailand in two weeks to look for a teaching position there. I'm a bit nervous about the age thing too (I'm 43) so the encouraging comments here have helped.

Volodiya · Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:40 am Post subject:

Uh, oh. The youngsters are coming....

twinmaster · Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 7

I got my first EFL teaching job in Korea at age 42. I'm 46 now and still teaching. I'm about halfway thorugh my second 1-year contract in Korea (I taught in China and Vietnam for six months respectively and also went home to the USA a few times between jobs before coming back to Korea in March). My Thai girlfriend is 34 and in about three weeks she's coming to live with me here. We're going back to Thailand in March. I'm planning to take either a CELTA or TESOL in BKK, and then we're moving to my girfriend's homtown, Khon Kaen, and getting married. I'm going to keep teaching EFL and see where it leads. I also plan to start a family with my new wife and live the good life in the land of smiles. It's never too late and you're never too old to have a new dream or start a new life for yourself.