Job Discussion Forums

sidjameson · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 629 Location: osaka

I feel it but I wish I didn't. After 6 years in Japan I have had enough of teaching. Especially the BS that goes with the job. The real killer for me is the hours I have to spend in the teachers room at my junior high school.

Simple question. Has anybody out there been burnt out left for a while and come back to enjoy it? or once gone did you leave it for good? Unlikely I guess given the nature of this forum.

Should I take a break now or accepting that this is it squeeze the last out of it that I can. Two more years doing what I'm doing and I will have enough to retire but if I left I wouldn't get such a good deal again.

I really hope that I can avoid "terminal burn out" as I would love to teach in a different country where financial considerations would no longer be important.

Lanza-Armonia · Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 7:37 am Post subject:

Hey Sid,

My gf's sis has just come back from Japan for the same reason. She thought it was getting to her although she only survived 3 years as opposed to your six.

From what I've read, the Japanese are nuts on working and have minor personalities and little-to-no social life. If you go to Japan, one would probably expect one to get used to the Japanese way of things.

Ruth said she will be going back but not after a year in China where the hours are really low and the work load is a joke. It's more like the school wants a foreign face more than anything else. Then go back to one of the biggy 3-5 companies (whatever the number is).

End of any given day, it's up to you. You're the only one whom can decide.

Enjoy life

LA

James_T_Kirk · Joined: 20 Sep 2003 Posts: 357 Location: Ten Forward

Hi Sid,

If you're burned out now, sticking it out for two more years is going to be hell...life is way too short for that! Six years in one place...wow! I could never do that! If you're unhappy, get the hell out of there. Go someplace cool where you won't necessary make a lot of money but where you will have a good time (might I suggest Thailand?). After a year or two, go back and start saving for retirement. You said that if you left you might not ever get such a good deal again...how can you be so sure? Even if this is the case, it is really worth it to be miserable for the next two years? Only you can make this decision...good luck.

Cheers,
Kirk

yaramaz · Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 11:36 am Post subject:

I am kind of burnt out after only two years in Turkey and one year in Canada... But I think I just need to take a year or two off to regain my balance and enthusiasm. I'm currently on a 2 week holiday from school for winter break (in London) and am loathe to go back to the yelling,hyper, bored kids...

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Sid,

I'm at the end of six years too but i only have two weeks left. I could not face another two years at my present job. I could face an alternative position in Japan but actually, now I'm going, I'm glad.

Personally I think that it would be best for you to quit now if you can because everyone will suffer if you don't, students, colleagues, yourself and Japan will always be a bad memory for you.

So, if you have the opportunity, get out while you can before you burn out completely.

Or perhaps its not Japan but EFL in Japan. EFL elswhere can be a whole different ball game. Try it and see.

Guest · Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 10:04 pm Post subject:

Hey Sid

Go somewhere like Vietnam, for a complete change of lifestyle and easy (low hours) teaching. I think you just need a change of Country.

shenyanggerry · Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 619 Location: Canada

Bail out now! Either teach in an easy environment like China or do something totally different. Remember, while you're doing the other job EVEN IF IT PAYS D*CK, your investments are growing.

Drive a truck, shovel sh*t, tend bar, work in an office, etc. After a respite, you'll have your batteries recharged and enjoy it again. Wink

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I don't think that my job is that easy here in China. There is tons of pressure from the parent's that their kids speak english. And I"m at school ALL day. Always busy. But I love it.!

shenyanggerry · Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 619 Location: Canada

I guess I should have been more specific. I teach at a university. I teach 16 - 50 min periods a week. Occasionally whole classes take off on work studies, etc. Sometimes they even tell me about it before it happens. I see no parents.

I have tried to get direction from the department. So far the closest thing to a comment on my performance is that they are bringing me back this year.

misterkodak · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 7:03 pm Post subject:

Burned out? Well, I spent 5 years in Turkey... a year in Cologne, 5 months in the military (again) and now I am here in Eastern Germany. I came here to work for Inlingua and got screwed over (surprise!) . I am working a few different jobs to make ends meet.
I'm not burned out on teaching. I am burned out with the major Iceholes and losers involved in the leadership and "management" of ESL. Any idiot can open a language school. If had a steady job, everything else would be cool. Yeah, the salary and hours aren't like I would like them to be (are they ever?) but I can't fault students for that.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

To each according to his or her own needs.

I have had the burnt-out syndrome a number of times and might be suffering another bout right now; I found that taking leave (or enjoyhing those holidays for which our occupation is so famous) away from the supposedly educated environment in which we live helps a lot.
It's no different to working in any other occupation: you have to grin and bear it - or face the consequences.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

I work with a burned out guy. Let me tell you, he is not fun to be around.
He "teaches" but doesn`t really plan, and is glued to his computer. He is just here for the money.
He doesn`t want to learn Japanese or socialize with Japanese people.
When he talks he wants to talk about anything but teaching. He treats his job like he was working in a factory. Punch in and punch out.
I have heard complaints about him. He moved from another school to my school, because they got sick of his lazy attitude.
I wish he would quit but he wants to stay. Sucks for me.

Last Thursday he "forgot" he had to teach one class and a teacher here decided to cover for him.
He got to leave early because he was "sick". (this has happened before) I couldn`t cover since I had to teach at that time. But I didn`t really want to anyway.

Maybe you need to teach at a language school and get away from teenagers. Or go to a nicer part of Japan, if you are in the concrete jungle of Tokyo.

The way I have managed to stay here for over three years was by changing jobs.
I started out at a junior high school but moved to a high school.
I deal with less b.s. here and have a better boss.
The junior high where I worked seemed like a combination of boot camp and summer camp. I got sick of the conformity. It reminded me of the bad things of US military life (I used to live on an army base).

Obviously teaching teenagers is challenging, and every year I notice a drop in academic ability. But that just means that I have to keep trying. I get a good salary, but I do have downtime and I have to be here on Saturday mornings. But that is just the way it is. I either deal with it or I leave.

If we feel like doing a half *ss job, we should not work at a secondary school.

sidjameson · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 629 Location: osaka

Thanks everybody for your replies.
Actually it hasn't gotten that bad yet. I mean to be honest for only person that is aware that anything is wrong is probably me. I still am very, well, quite professional in the class room. It's just the second that I walk away from it that I can't be bothered with anything. Admin, the waiting and worst of all is the having to make small talk with the Japanese teachers in the teachers room. Honest I am a friendly guy it's just that they are soooo boring. Thats where the real burnout lies.
I think you're right when you say to try elsewhere. But the money? 40,000 dollars a year after tax. Would love to save a couple years more and then I can teach anywhere and never have to worry about money again.
I don't worry about becoming a bad teacher. I'm pretty confident I would never become that. I just don't want to ruin teaching for me. You know like the guy that works at the chocloate factory. Have to sign next years contracts today. Ummm, one more year and.....

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

Hi Sid, I'd say you're letting money cloud your judgement. One of the good things about this line of work is its versatility, unless you're tied down with kids. If not, like somebody above suggested, take a time-out somewhere laid back like Thailand or Vietnam. You'll probably be able to return to your current job or something similar if/when you want to. It sounds like you've hoarded a fair stash....go and spend some of it and recharge your batteries at the same time. Nobody ever has 'enough' money and remember - there are no pockets in a shroud!

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

I got tired of being in the teacher`s room too. So I go downstairs to the main office. I guess we are lucky at our school since we have three offices for English teachers.
So in the main office, sometimes I speak with Japanese teachers (mostly in Japanese).

I think the book about baseball in Japan is so true.
It is called You Gotta Have Wa. And in one part, the foreign players are together and one of them says, "Should I stay another year?" It depends on how much they want money vs. how they feel about working in Japan.