Job Discussion Forums

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

This dates back to the very early days of ESL, so far back in fact that I doubt there is 1:20,000 ESL teachers who are still active in this field.
In the late 1960s through to the mid-70s young Hippies and want-to-be-hippies went backpacking to find themselves and expand(rebel) their cultural horizons. In comes this fairly new and growing area of work-ESL
It was booming by 1980-85; make big buck, and travel the globe. Then when the word got out, more and more people started to hear about this amazing promise of great adventures and big bucks. But now ? I'd have to say the "backpacking teacher" is archaic and is need of a new term, especially post-WWW.
How about the in-between jobs teacher ?

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

Backpacker still seems legitimate to me in some cases.

Yeah, there are many people who just want to visit a foreign country and teach, but geographically speaking, they fall into 2 categories:

Those who are happy to stay in one place.
Those who want to bum around the country during the year and grab any sort of work they can. (To me, this second group qualifies as the backpacker, and you can still see them posting on forums like this.)

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Yeah, I think there are still quite a few people seeking work for very short-terms, like two to six months - to me, they qualify as backpackers.

For example, there's a current query on the Turkey thread about just teaching there for the summer - which must mean bare weeks, as it's already August! (or maybe the poster means next year, but it's not clear)

Teatime of Soul · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 905

GF · Joined: 08 Jun 2003 Posts: 238 Location: Tallinn

The term 'backpacker' (as I see it) has changed a bit since the early years of EFL. Today, it means people who are more interested in something other than teaching and are using EFL to fund their other interests/adventures. The 'surf and teach' crowd is a good example. Just the order of the words tells you a lot about the order of priorities.

miski2 · Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 52 Location: Kuwait

Isn't an ESL 'backpacker' the staff member who lets everyone else make the resources and then puts them into their bag as they leave at night....?

Frizzie Lizzie · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 2:38 pm Post subject:

A couple of years ago, a bloke walked into my office claiming he was interested in getting a teaching job at our school. He was wearing a sweaty T-shirt and carried a ... backpack. He'd just got off the plane. He had a recognised TEFL qualification and I gave him a chance simply because we were crying for teachers at the time. He proved to be reliable, and even had some decent clothes in his backpack. However, he left after a month because he'd applied for a masters programme prior to getting the job and his application had just been accepted. Of course, he failed to mention that when I "interviewed" him.

Over the years, I've met quite a few people who got teaching jobs, signed contracts and then walked out because they had "suddenly" decided to do something else.

Would you blame them for not being honest about their plans in the first place?

miski2 · Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 52 Location: Kuwait

I went to put in an application at the English dept at Kuwait U- when some teachers came in to collect their salaries, clad in 'jesus sandals' and backpacks I decided to go to lunch instead.

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

I think a big part of it is no livable wage in the West at present. I live where the manufacturing jobs went-China. In 1985(arbitrary date) with a degree and some modest specialization, you could blow into Japan for 200,000 Yen and pick up extra work anywhere in Nippon,or a fat M.E contract with lots of perks - With the knowledge that you could get work back home when your self-imposed exile had run its course. I do not see that as an option in these times.

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

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

Glenski :I know that ya know, as I've at least seen you on these forums for 8+ years. Japan must've been something in its hay-day.The M.E. folk say it's still robust there,but I strongly suspect it isn't nearly as robust as the 80's...not to mention the war terror.

tedkarma · Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 12:44 am Post subject:

I think the world is a much smaller place than in those times. The idea of flying across the world is no where near as daunting as it might have been - nor as expensive.

We still get our share of backpacker types on Phuket. "Yeah dude, do you know where I might pick up a chill teachin' job for maybe a week or so - uh, if they let me have afternoon's off to hang on the beach . . .?"

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

But I bet you 9/10 times they have to either settle for no job or change their demeanor,eh ?

tedkarma · Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 5:37 am Post subject:

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

...but it's an attitude that's 20 years out of vogue; so, where is it coming from? It's not like you could swagger into your local Tesco or Wal-Mart and ask for a job.