Job Discussion Forums

[gastronaut]

Hi everybody,

I posted here about a year ago when I had almost finished my BTeach (TESOL and English, sec.) and now I'm writing my final research thesis for my Masters.

Reading these posts from people about to travel the world teaching, and the advice given by experienced teachers, has been my inspiration for the past year.

I've been teaching ESL to adults for the last 7 months, and I love it.

I'm really excited, and I can't wait to travel the world and meet amazing new people, and live a life where every country is accessible. I think ESL teaching offers more freedom than any other job in the world.

I love what I do, and I respect teachers as people, and teaching as a profession. I've been told I'm an excellent teacher, and I've had great results from all the students I've taught so far (it's so amazing when you teach someone who can't speak English how to have a conversation with you!).

I'm going to spend 6 months teaching here at home to put some money in the bank, and get a bit more experience, and then I'm going to head to the Middle East, South America, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Africa and Morocco (not necessarily in that order). I also want to teach in Russia, China, and maybe Eastern Europe somewhere. I reckon that's the next ten years sorted, anyway!

I'm hoping my quals will get me good university jobs when I want them, and crazy jungle village classroom jobs when I want those. I wanna meet wonderful people who eat good food, drink good wine, and play music.

Yay!

Have a fantastic year, wherever you end up - what a sweet life we lead!

-gastro

[nickpellatt]

Great post! Congratulations on almost finishing the Masters, and best of luck with the future plans of travel and teaching.

I think on almost every level EFL is a job that offers some really amazing benefits, with travel being the obvious one. That equals a level of freedom, and when I talk to my friends stuck behind a desk, they soon get pretty envious!

Thanks for sharing something so positive

[gastronaut]

^^Thanks for the reply!

I handed in my thesis yesterday, fingers crossed it's good enough to pass, but I'm not too worried.

I agree, the freedom is the most important thing for me, and I can't wait to get overseas and begin exploring different jobs, cultures, climates etc.

I traveled for 2 and a half years, through Canada and Europe, doing whatever crappy backpacker jobs I could find.

Now I'll be going to new places with a career and a qualification, which feels a lot more sensible. There's a buzz from landing in a country not knowing what's going to happen or when, or what kind of work is available, or how you're going to survive... but I'm getting a bit old for that kind of adventure!

I'm off to read the rest of the boards and see what people are doing and where, thanks for writing back!

And everyone else - thanks to all of you, the posts here about various experiences, good, bad, and ugly, were literally the light at the end of my tunnel.

Cheers!