Job Discussion Forums

[jobe3x]

Hey guys and gals,
I'm sitting here in my little cubicle in North America trying to muster courage to take that first step into esl. I was wondering if anybody would like to share their success story on how they got into esl. I would especially like to hear about ex office workers who made their escape!

Sometimes it hard to make a change. With some of the negative comments on the forum, it's giving me second thoughts about making the leap to this crazy field. I also realize it's unhappy people who usually take the time to post. I would like success stories to balance it out.

[khmerhit]

Yes, the first step is a big one, Job. It's just a question of confidence, not competence. You might want to do some volunteer literacy work to get the hang of teaching one on one. Literacy is close to ESL/EFL.

Then, take a course like the CELTA or the TESOL, that will help you a lot in gaining confiednce. After that, the world's your oyster! Just do it. You can always go back to your cubicle later.

Try Cambodia, there's always work to be had there, and it is the best country in Asia. Expensive to get to, but cheap thereafter.

As for success stories, how would you define success? That's an open question. Get some experience first, then come back and ask again.

best of luck--
khmerhit

[denise]

Trust me--not all of the posters here are unhappy. I love what I am doing, and haven't regretted it for a second.

I was an office worker before taking the EFL plunge, but I had already decided to do it--the only reason I was doing the office job in the first place was to pay for my TEFL course.

How to take that first step? Just do it. Sign up for a CELTA or TEFL course a few months in advance, and spend those months getting psyched up, doing research on different countries, and telling your friends, family, neighbors, neighborhood cats, etc. how excited you are about it. Yeah, it can be nerve-wracking, you'll wonder what you're getting yourself into, etc., but those feelings are natural for potentially-life-altering changes.

It took me two years of officedom to get both the money and the confidence to do it. In that time, I joined Toastmasters (www.toastmasters.org, I think...) to get some public speaking practice. I didn't do any volunteer tutoring or teaching, although maybe I should have.

Good luck! And don't be put off by negative posts. Even people who love the job have bad days, and Dave's is a good place to vent.

d

[FGT]

My story:

I fell in love with a country. Gradual process. Had a good job back home, eventually toyed with the idea of moving. Knew that to work there as a foreigner I'd have to teach English. (I'd already, many years previously, done a B.Ed and found the only useful thing to learn was that I didn't want to be a teacher). I was cautious. Whilst still employed ( as a bookshop manager Hatchards/Dillons/Waterstones) I did a one-week TEFL course, liked it (to my surprise)! Gave notice and came to work in tourism (just to check that Turkey was for me) for the summer season. Returned to unemployment and the determination to make it work. Did the Cambridge certificate and then came here in September '93. No regrets.

Your future:

[jobe3x]

[Newfoundland]

I'm here sitting in my cubicle and thinking... Why did I leave? But then I cheer up because I realize I only have 3 days left and then I'm on a plane to Shanghai to start teaching again. The decision for me came down to did i want to do it?, and was I leaning anythng I would miss? And do you really want to be saying to yourself years from now What if?

In my experience the people who usually mull it over for a while before saying they have to do it are usually the people who end up enjoying it the most. And the reason you dont hear many good stories on here is becasue "No news. Is Good news."

[sallyally]

Taking that first step was really hard for me too, but then I just jumped right into it. Found a job teaching in a language school in Cairo and stayed for 3 years. It was wonderful! I had a secure job and was paid very well (for a language school) considering I had no previous teaching experience. It took me a while to adjust to living in Cairo, but I eventually figured it out (kind of) and had lots of fun. I'm back in Canada now and missing it all very much.

What I find interesting is that if I had read some of the negative comments posted on this site, I might have never gone to Egypt or even applied to teach in the school where I was treated so well. I would probably have spent those 3 years sitting in an office wishing I was somewhere else.

In my opinion, there really is no way to know for sure if you will enjoy teaching or living overseas until you try it.

s

[Roger]

I suggest you first get to know some country and try to picture yourself living there for a while; spend some time and funds on reconnoitering it, then, when you have toured it you can say: THis is it! I can put up with its foreignness, differentness; I even can communicate in the locals' lingo to a reasonable extent.

Only if you really accept and tolerate being the outsider should you consider coming overseas.

But, I am not saying you should go to the opposite extreme of saying: I love this country...etc.,; you just accept it, without making unnecessary comparisons!
You should only want to improve the English competence of locals, not the country as such!

[Laura C]

Go for it.

Go for it go for it go for it!

I have never met/heard of anyone yet who wishes they hadn't gone overseas. Even if you don't like it, at least you know you went for it. And it's practically certain you'll like it.

Don't be like my friends at home, in jobs they hate, envying me my travelling yet not thinking they can do it too. There is so much more to life than staying in your home country working 9-5.

Good luck.

L

[Deconstructor]

Nietzsche said that first you must listen to everyone's advice before you make a decision, but once you've made it, never listen to what anyone has to say.

Having said this, first, I think you must find our whether you like teaching (adults as well as kids). Also, do you like travelling? Can you deal with loneliness? If you can answer these questions, your decision will be easier to make; if you can't, then close your eyes and jump. What doesn't kill you will make you stronger.

In fact, my first job as an ESL teacher was as a volunteer at a community center through the university where I was a student. My second job was in Korea. For that one I closed my eyes and jumped. It could've turned out to be a nightmare and I might or might not have been ready for it. It turned out to be a great experience. Bottom line: I WAS READY FOR NOT BEING READY!

Life is about choice and risk and nothing is more dangerous than safety.

GOOD LUCK!

[ls650]

[Roger]

[quote="Laura C"]Go for it.


. And it's practically certain you'll like it.

.
Well, this is way over the topi, dear poster! In fact, I have known plenty who never got around to liking their host country, its natives, their manners, the climate, the chaos on the roads, working conditions and living conditions from day one!

Let's be a bit more hands-on: if you don't like your own country, job, fellow country people, government and what not - you are NOT GOING TO LIKE IT HERE EITHER!

It does take a little more maturity than that - enthusiasm is NOT enough!

[Guest]

Hello Jobe3x

I was in the same office working for the same Boss for 25 YEARS and now I am teaching English in China. I have only been here for just over 5 months but plan to stay at this school for 2 years. It is a wonderful experience and if you would like to know more, email me on

[email protected]

Best of luck

[Laura C]

Yep, you're right, Roger, based on what I said.

But I didn't make myself clear enough cos I was in a hurry.

OK. What I *think* I meant to say was, I think that going abroad is a positive step even if someone finds they don't particularly like the country they go to. At least they went! So this is why I would recommend it to anyone -- it's practically certain it will have some positive effect, even if that's only an increase in self-esteem for being brave enough to jump.

Realism is needed, yes, but I think what I meant to say is not to think about it too much, just go for it. As you point out, some people won't be happy anywhere -- but I think that for almost anyone else, going overseas will be a good experience. So go for it!

L

[tammy]

I agree with Laura.
When I first went abroad to teach I was as nervous as hell. I thought to myself "if I don't take the first step and just go for it, then for the rest of my life I'll be wondering why I didn't go. On the other hand, if I go and I don't like it, I can either try and live it out for a few months or just come back home." So I went, and I loved it.
Read through the comments here for some advice, but don't rely on them too much - esp. the negatives ones - to make your decision. If I had discovered this site before going abroad, it might have stopped me from going to Turkey as there were some very negative posts about my city and school. The way I see it your experience is what you make it.
Hope you make the right decision