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Professor
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 449
Location: Mexico City
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 Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 7:30 pm Post subject: Transitioning OUT of EFL |
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To all of my close friends here on Daves...RELAX!! I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here in beautiful Mexico City for the forseable future. 
I want to start this thread with this topic for those who have been in EFL and now wish to do a career change for whatever reason and because there seems to be PLENTY of information on how to get STARTED in EFL and what one needs to do to move up in the exciting world of EFL, but there's little to no information for those who may want to do that career change.
The skills one picks up while living and teaching EFL in another country are many and can help those transitioning out in many ways. How? Any ideas are appreciated and welcomed with open arms. 
One could stay in education. Get certified to teach in their home country and/or work a part time gig at a community college teaching ESL. I was paid 24 an hr for that and sometimes I would get ten hours or more a week.
An excellent part time income. Work for the State govt? Translator if your Spanish (or whatever language you speak) is good enough.
International Business. The options are endless. Any other thoughts or suggestions on how one could transition OUT of EFL?? Let's not only help the newbies but the oldies as well. 
Prof. Gringo...you seem to make excellent money back in the States. Has teaching and living in Mexico City helped you get that gig? Looking forward to mant thought provoking and useful information. |
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gregd75
Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 360
Location: Tlaquepaque, Jalisco
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| Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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How about becoming a Cambridge examiner / IELTS examiner?
That'd be a transition out of teaching, but still within the same 'umbrella'
Another area to consider would be Academic Consultant with an editorial..... |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:30 pm Post subject: Re: Transitioning OUT of EFL |
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| Professor wrote: |
To all of my close friends here on Daves...RELAX!! I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here in beautiful Mexico City for the forseable future.
I want to start this thread with this topic for those who have been in EFL and now wish to do a career change for whatever reason and because there seems to be PLENTY of information on how to get STARTED in EFL and what one needs to do to move up in the exciting world of EFL, but there's little to no information for those who may want to do that career change.
The skills one picks up while living and teaching EFL in another country are many and can help those transitioning out in many ways. How? Any ideas are appreciated and welcomed with open arms.
One could stay in education. Get certified to teach in their home country and/or work a part time gig at a community college teaching ESL. I was paid 24 an hr for that and sometimes I would get ten hours or more a week.
An excellent part time income. Work for the State govt? Translator if your Spanish (or whatever language you speak) is good enough.
International Business. The options are endless. Any other thoughts or suggestions on how one could transition OUT of EFL?? Let's not only help the newbies but the oldies as well.
Prof. Gringo...you seem to make excellent money back in the States. Has teaching and living in Mexico City helped you get that gig? Looking forward to mant thought provoking and useful information. |
Hello and thanks again for another informative and timely topic. 
I think that EFL can be put to good use if you're able to use and apply the skills and knowledge learned to another career field in one way or another.
My favorite example (and don't make the mistake of thinking this is my real career, it's not) would be to use my skills in EFL in Mexico back home in the US in the fast-food industry. Why you might ask? Good question!
1. Spanish language skills. While my Spanish is far from perfect, it still beats out the majority of Gringo's with little or no Spanish ability. And the food service industry employs many folks who speak Spanish but no English.
2. Customer service skills: If I can handle kids, parents and the admin of a colegio I can handle being the manager of a fast-food place. 
3. EFL schools and fast-food both have very high turnover and they both use catchy marketing gimmicks to attract customers. 
4. If I can deal with the stress of daily life living in Mexico, I can easily deal with the stress of running a fast-food operation in the US.
5. Fast-food places don't require lots of experience or credentials to get your foot in the door (kinda reminds me of language schools  ).
6. You can start as a shift manager (if you have some food service background and if not you can just learn the ropes as a team-member)and become a restaurant manager within 3 years making a salary of $40-60,000 per year without any formal training (no degree, no chef school etc), which is something EFL won't offer you in Mexico. 
Anyways, Prof. my time in EFL in Mexico has nothing to do whatsoever with my real career back in the US. I had that going before I ever came to Mexico and my time teaching EFL here might as well been spent under a palm tree in Cancun or making Eskimo pies in Alaska. There is no relation between the two and I doubt that anybody else (on this forum anyways) does what I do. I could make even more money if I chose to work more in the US, but I currently don't see the point of working 12 months a year. I like to keep it at 2/3 of a year max. right now
I feel equally at ease in a classroom or using my hands to work.
And that goes a long ways. Too many folks feel that some types of work are below them or that they are too good for this or that.  |
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Professor
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 449
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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| gregd75 wrote: |
How about becoming a Cambridge examiner / IELTS examiner?
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How does one go about becomming an IELTS examiner? Is it possible to study for it here in Mexico?? |
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gregd75
Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 360
Location: Tlaquepaque, Jalisco
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| Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 10:09 pm Post subject: |
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For sure you can study here.... I took the course back on February here in GDL.
Approach either the British Council or International House |
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Professor
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 449
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 10:24 pm Post subject: |
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| gregd75 wrote: |
Approach either the British Council or International House |
Cool. I'll check with IH. |
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mejms
Joined: 04 Jan 2010
Posts: 390
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 6:35 pm Post subject: Re: Transitioning OUT of EFL |
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| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
There is no relation between the two and I doubt that anybody else (on this forum anyways) does what I do. I could make even more money if I chose to work more in the US, but I currently don't see the point of working 12 months a year. I like to keep it at 2/3 of a year max. right now
I feel equally at ease in a classroom or using my hands to work.
And that goes a long ways. Too many folks feel that some types of work are below them or that they are too good for this or that. |
Very mysterious. What did you do in the states? Why do you continue here? You've mentioned the fast-food corporate ladder a few times now. Not knocking it at all. Why don't you do it? |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 7:03 pm Post subject: Re: Transitioning OUT of EFL |
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| mejms wrote: |
| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
There is no relation between the two and I doubt that anybody else (on this forum anyways) does what I do. I could make even more money if I chose to work more in the US, but I currently don't see the point of working 12 months a year. I like to keep it at 2/3 of a year max. right now
I feel equally at ease in a classroom or using my hands to work.
And that goes a long ways. Too many folks feel that some types of work are below them or that they are too good for this or that. |
Very mysterious. What did you do in the states? Why do you continue here? You've mentioned the fast-food corporate ladder a few times now. Not knocking it at all. Why don't you do it? |
Why would I, mejms?
I can make far more money than that, easily $36,000 (at that payrate, I would be getting underpaid) without a problem and usually much closer to $48,000 or even $60,000 in 6 months or even more if I really wanted to work year round... Easily $80,000. I know guys that make a $120,000 a year in my career. Oh, yeah, that is with a HS diploma
My real career is far better than fast-food.
Last edited by Prof.Gringo on Fri Dec 17, 2010 7:10 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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mejms
Joined: 04 Jan 2010
Posts: 390
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 7:08 pm Post subject: Re: Transitioning OUT of EFL |
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| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
| mejms wrote: |
| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
There is no relation between the two and I doubt that anybody else (on this forum anyways) does what I do. I could make even more money if I chose to work more in the US, but I currently don't see the point of working 12 months a year. I like to keep it at 2/3 of a year max. right now
I feel equally at ease in a classroom or using my hands to work.
And that goes a long ways. Too many folks feel that some types of work are below them or that they are too good for this or that. |
Very mysterious. What did you do in the states? Why do you continue here? You've mentioned the fast-food corporate ladder a few times now. Not knocking it at all. Why don't you do it? |
Why would I, mejms?
I can make far more money than that, about $60,000 in 6 months or even more I really wanted to work year round... My real career is far better than fast-food.
Oh, yeah, that is with a HS diploma |
There you go again. All that's great for you. Cheers. But once again you're saying what you could do, when most of the time on this forum we talk about what we actually do. Why don't you actually say what it is you do, why you don't do it now, and why you choose to teach in crumby conditions? I'm a little taken aback when someone has so much to say about a country and it's poor working conditions, but so little to say about himself. |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 7:14 pm Post subject: Re: Transitioning OUT of EFL |
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| mejms wrote: |
| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
| mejms wrote: |
| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
There is no relation between the two and I doubt that anybody else (on this forum anyways) does what I do. I could make even more money if I chose to work more in the US, but I currently don't see the point of working 12 months a year. I like to keep it at 2/3 of a year max. right now
I feel equally at ease in a classroom or using my hands to work.
And that goes a long ways. Too many folks feel that some types of work are below them or that they are too good for this or that. |
Very mysterious. What did you do in the states? Why do you continue here? You've mentioned the fast-food corporate ladder a few times now. Not knocking it at all. Why don't you do it? |
Why would I, mejms?
I can make far more money than that, about $60,000 in 6 months or even more I really wanted to work year round... My real career is far better than fast-food.
Oh, yeah, that is with a HS diploma |
There you go again. All that's great for you. Cheers. But once again you're saying what you could do, when most of the time on this forum we talk about what we actually do. Why don't you actually say what it is you do, why you don't do it now, and why you choose to teach in crumby conditions? I'm a little taken aback when someone has so much to say about a country and it's poor working conditions, but so little to say about himself. |
Happy Holidays to you too mejms!
Peace on Earth and good will towards men!
Feliz Navidad  |
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mejms
Joined: 04 Jan 2010
Posts: 390
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 7:19 pm Post subject: Re: Transitioning OUT of EFL |
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| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
| mejms wrote: |
| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
| mejms wrote: |
| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
There is no relation between the two and I doubt that anybody else (on this forum anyways) does what I do. I could make even more money if I chose to work more in the US, but I currently don't see the point of working 12 months a year. I like to keep it at 2/3 of a year max. right now
I feel equally at ease in a classroom or using my hands to work.
And that goes a long ways. Too many folks feel that some types of work are below them or that they are too good for this or that. |
Very mysterious. What did you do in the states? Why do you continue here? You've mentioned the fast-food corporate ladder a few times now. Not knocking it at all. Why don't you do it? |
Why would I, mejms?
I can make far more money than that, about $60,000 in 6 months or even more I really wanted to work year round... My real career is far better than fast-food.
Oh, yeah, that is with a HS diploma |
There you go again. All that's great for you. Cheers. But once again you're saying what you could do, when most of the time on this forum we talk about what we actually do. Why don't you actually say what it is you do, why you don't do it now, and why you choose to teach in crumby conditions? I'm a little taken aback when someone has so much to say about a country and it's poor working conditions, but so little to say about himself. |
Happy Holidays to you too mejms!
Peace on Earth and good will towards men!
Feliz Navidad |
Cheers, bud. Good luck. |
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Professor
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 449
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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Go ahead Prof. Gringo, tell mejms what it is you do in the States and why you stay in Mexico teaching for peanuts. Perhaps others will get trained to do what you're doing in the States so they can make some serious cash.
Tell us!  |
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