Job Discussion Forums

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

Do you think that their will be an unprecedented flood of people coming into ESL/EFL due to the collapsing global economy ?
Will global ESL shrink marginally or as dramatic as other sectors of the economy ? A hiring freeze in major ESL markets ?
Cheers,
William Wallace

Lhenderson · Joined: 15 Dec 2008 Posts: 135 Location: Shanghai JuLu Road

I expect it and hope so.

It will allow people in hiring positions such as myself to have a greatter pool of applicants to choose from for open positions. This will improve the whole profesion of ESL and make it more profesional then now.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I expect we'll see an increase of recent graduates from the US and Canada getting in EFL abroad, as it becomes more difficult to find work back home. While the economy wasn't as bad off, I think we saw this happen in 2001.

BenE · Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 321

I think there's a delay before these things happen though but I think you are all right. People need to plan these things before they go abroad and teach. I personally am doing my CELTA in Vietnam and it has taken quite a while to plan and prepare and find the cash to go.

This plan first started to come to light in early October. I leave in February.

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

Lhenderson · Joined: 15 Dec 2008 Posts: 135 Location: Shanghai JuLu Road

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

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

People have already come into TEFL in droves from other careers. In the last few years, I've seen more prospective teachers from the IT world than ever before. And, this is an age of IT!!!!!

People are going to get fed up with their jobs and change, as usual, and come into TEFL, as usual.

Others are going to lose their jobs (not just quit them), and wonder if they can afford to go overseas just to make ends meet and start a new career or get things going just for a few short years, etc. These are the ones who may increase in number, but it all depends..

on the individual and his awareness that TEFL exists,
on whether they have enough money to do it,
on what stories they hear from those of us abroad living in equal squalor (recession is everywhere, y'know),
and on what stories they have heard from others who DON'T keep up with what is happening.

On that last note, I still see posts from people who hear that the streets of Japan are paved with gold and lucrative long-term positions are everywhere, etc. Sorry, that was 10 years ago or more.

BenE wrote:

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

...so obviously the media alluding to the Great Depression is a mere illusion. Wink

jpvanderwerf2001 · Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 1117 Location: New York

One theory I have is that the ESL industry won't be adversely affected by the crisis. Workers who are concerned about keeping their present positions--or looking for new ones, attempt to separate themselves from their colleagues/competition by upping their skills. Therefore, since English is valuable for many job-seekers, more and more people will take English lessons (viewing it as a necessary expenditure for future career success). Also, as the economies in non-English speaking countries dwindle, professionals will be looking towards other countries to live, work or study in--and need English to do so. (For instance, as an indirect result of the crisis, I have three executive-level private students who want to go to Canada or Australia for an MBA and need IELTS.) This is not to say, of course, that English-speaking countries haven't been affected, but I surmise that many are much more bullish longer-term on the US and the Commonwealth countries to weather this.

Whaddya think? Wishful thinking? Laughing

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

Thanks! I hope that ESL stays viable,but there seems to be a separation from what is going on(hence reported in the media,NOT created by the media!) and an attitude of seeming ambivalence on these forums.

I was quite effected by the 1980-83 recession,and almost all sources are leaning towards the 1930s;the 1980 recession is being considered mild to this present downturn.

Madame J · Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:27 pm Post subject:

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

If scientists reported that a large comet was six months away from crashing into the Pacific Ocean extinguishing 80% of life on this planet; would posters still be asking mundane ESL questions for 5 months and 20 days ? Surprised

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:42 pm Post subject:

Dear william wallace,

"If scientists reported that a large comet was six months away from crashing into the Pacific Ocean extinguishing 80% of life on this planet; would posters still be asking mundane ESL questions for 5 months and 20 days?"

Of course not - we'd only ask them for 5 months and 15 days. I figure I'd need at least two weeks to make it to the highest elevation as far away from the Pacific as possible.

Regards,
John

anospi · Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 9:52 am Post subject:

I dare say wishful thinking jpvanderwerf2001. I was supposed to return to my old school in Poland in three weeks, but was recently informed I no longer have a job thanks to the financial crisis. My school had a lot of contracts with big companies, which counted for more than 50% of the students. A lot of these companies are having to make cutbacks, and the first thing to go are the employee English lessons. As such, my old school has lost a LOT of business, not to mention their best teacher. I was assured for months my job was secure, but apparently not.