Job Discussion Forums

[lennonwasright]

My career as an ESL Teacher may be finished for the moment.

What career paths have other ESL teachers taken when they've finished?

Anyone know of some reputable companies started by ESL teachers?

Muchas gracias!

[Justin Trullinger]

Depends on a lot of stuff:

What did you do in EFL? (Skills, quals, languages learned)

What did you do before? (Anything you'd care to go back to?)

How come you're getting out of it?

PErsonally, when I'm done teaching, I plan to play the guitar full time.


BEst,
Justin

[johnslat]

Dear lennonwasright,
After over thirty years of teaching, twenty-tree of which were overseas, I'm now working for the state of New Mexico, teaching GED at the New Mexico State Penitentiary. It provides a very decent salary, good job security, and I get to meet some, shall we say, interesting people.
In the current economic climate, starting up a business would, I'd say, require a lot of grit, plenty of optimism, and a fair amount of cash.
Regards,
John

[SueH]

There's a UK tour company which brings very many people to my part of Italy. I don't think he was in ESL but the founder was certainly a teacher of modern languages.

[lennonwasright]

I've recently discovered that the folks over at Reach To Teach - www.reachtoteachrecruiting.com were all English teachers too.

It looks like some of them are teaching and working for Reach simultaneously!

Apparently even the guy who started it taught ESL too.

[Jetgirly]

I became a public school teacher and I love it! (But I only taught ESL for two years, and I had to go back to university for two more years to become a teacher.)

[Marcoregano]

When I came to HK in 1999 I started doing p/t freelance writing/journalism in addition to TESOL, dividing my time roughly 50/50 between the two for the next six or seven years. I also devoted about two years to starting a business - an entertainment listings guide - which flopped (for various reasons - too much to get into here!), but continued as a p/t teacher and occasional freelancer on the side.

Then, in 2006, the opportunity came up to become a f/t writer/editor for the HK government, but only on rolling short-term contracts - I don't have any long term job security. I have no wish to return to teaching, though it is always a possibility - which is one of the reasons I still hang around this forum I suppose. I'm also still an IELTS examiner - my only current working link with the world of ESL.

If you want something different, always keep your eyes and ears open to the possibilities around you - and most important of all IMO - maximise your contacts.

[naturegirl321]

I-d like to start my own school. And get into property.

[Sadebugo]

I stayed in ESL but work for the US federal government with DLI. It allows you to have the security that goes along with being a civil servant but also the freedom of an ESL teacher with frequent trips abroad. You can google them by typing in 'DLIELC.'

Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/

[Lhenderson]

Its very important to have a backup plan for after TESL.

[Vanica]

Translation and interpretation.

[MO39]

[naturegirl321]

[basiltherat]

[hydrogonian]

After 1 year of ESL in Korea, I knew that I would need to work on something that would provide better financial security, lifestyle benefits, and long term potential. I also didn't enjoy Korea that much. So I came back to the US and started a real estate investing business, with the aid of the money I had saved, and a close friend. (Im a tenacious reader of technical material, have good deductive reasoning ability and I was able to get a hold on investing quickly) Well, 1 year after my 'close' friend(I was best man in his wedding) ended the partnership so that he could overtake one measily deal on his own. So much for friendship. Its amazing what people will do for a little bit of cash.

Anyway, some great business experience and a hard life lesson later, I was able to see a hole in the real estate literature and I am writing a book to fill that hole. Im hoping it will finance my way back abroad, finance some other entreprenurial ideas, or maybe finance some grad school. Then, who knows. I have half an idea to become a prosthetist so that I can start clinics in third world countries without adequate resources for amputees.

The world feels like such a hustle anymore, and its the rare person who has an ideal situation. If they do, they usually ruin it by taking on too much debt. Anyway, if I do go back to teaching, I will be more satisfied in my role I think, after experiencing the cutthroat business/investing world first hand. I have huge trust issues now, which is good and even essential for survival, but bad for the soul.

And, btw, investing in real estate the right way is very hard to do and requires a lot of energy, skill, and knowledge. Therefore, be careful. If you dont know who the fool in the room is, then you are most likely the fool (as in you are overpaying).