Job Discussion Forums

mbcoolj · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 17 Location: Athens

Hello people. I am a teacher with many years of experince but as you experienced folk know, the money sucks.

What else would you suggest in this field other than teacher? I am already an examiner for Cambridge which pays well but is seasonal, Im far too lazy to consider 2 months of gruelling DELTA for an extra 2 quid an hour. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Mel

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Shelf-stacking in TESCO ? Drug-dealing ? Living off immoral earnings ?
Becoming a professional politician ?

mbcoolj · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 17 Location: Athens

OK. Now are there any 'proper' suggestions??

Let me just make myself clear before I get another ridiculous posting: I wish to remain in the EFL field - but just not as a teacher. Thanks!

quoi_de_neuf? · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 48

CELTA trainer? Open a language school? Director of Studies? Write a teaching manual?

Robski · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 50 Location: Middle Europe

I tried Saudi Arabia in order to stay in the business and make some money. Now I'm currently searching for a sensible way out. I was thinking of taking up tram driving in West Midlands!

Before I came here I was in the FE sector teaching ESOL (so called) and Basic Skills (well named) but even at FE colleges you find managers who want to pay themselves more and can only do this by cutting staff budgets.

Do something else mate - really.

jmundycastle · Joined: 31 Jan 2005 Posts: 15

Try the public school system - they're desperate for ESL experienced teachers and pay a BIT more.

OR, even better, become a "consultant." Get schools to pay you to train their teachers for a day or two with some kind of nifty gimmick.

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

Go to any third world country and take advantage of the crap economy to live like a queen. Or become a cleaner, nanny, house-sitter or dog-walker in London - all of which pay more than EFL.

The_Prodiigy · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 252

Deep sympathies, Robski for your plight.
Malaz is a decrepit area of KSA that I experienced for a year or so.
Keep your head down, save like mad and be aware : there is life after The Desert. Truly.
Hope they have given you a pool on compound to ease suffering.
Any advice, feel free to PM.

mbcoolj · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 17 Location: Athens

With each passing month I wonder what the hell am I doing! Have I been in this business too long to get out? Will I ever be employed in another sector? Will I get more money next year?? Will my prince charming ever come?? etc etc

ARGH!! I hate my life as a teacher right now!!!!!!!

Robski · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 50 Location: Middle Europe

Dear Mbcoolj.

I'm sure we all understand completely.

Here in Saudi Arabia it's just awful. You come here because you want to work for as a professional for professional organisation, get away from dodgy private language schools, and make a few quid while you're at it, and guess what ... You find yourself working for a dodgy language school with a posh name run by Arabs who don't care at all about education.

Suggested alternative careers to teaching English in Saudi Arabia that we came up with in our office this morning:

Stand-up comedian
Bus driver
Driving instructor
Cleaner
Baggage Handler
Bar fly
Materials writer
Bin man
Porno star
Disability benefit recipient
Cartoon character
Circus animal

Any other suggestion welcome.

ktodba · Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 54 Location: UK

The secondary sector is starting to realise it needs EAL teachers as they call it due in particular to the influx of students from Eastern Europe. Your skills would probably be valued (they would where I work anyway) but without QTS your earnings will be limited - don't know how thia links with you being too lazy for the DELTA but if you pick you school well then it may be an option.

mbcoolj · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 17 Location: Athens

I wish I knew what EAL and QTS stood for Crying or Very sad

SueH · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Posts: 1022 Location: Northern Italy

That is your initiative task for Wednesday! Smile

Robski · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 50 Location: Middle Europe

I believe QTS means Qualified Teacher Status.

And it's not EAL but ELA - English for Lazy Arabs.

In our office we are all well qualified in that.

ktodba · Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 54 Location: UK

QTS is indeed 'Qualified teacher Status' and EAL stands for 'English as an Additional Language' - It's another version of the EFL / ESOL / ESL / other set of letters which essentially means teaching English to people who are not native speakers.
To get QTS you need to meet government requirements which the TDA can explain on their website. Generally though this involves doing a post graduate course in Education (PGCE) or going through a Graduate training Programme (GTP) both of which last about a year.