Job Discussion Forums

misterkodak · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 1:39 pm Post subject: Teach ESL Vs. Truck Driving

With apologies to a certain poster on the forum, I thought I would write a few things I have observed. No, I have never driven a truck but I think that some people would be better off going to the 1-800 "no highschool diploma.. no problem" truck driving school as opposed to teaching ESL.
Teaching ESL in Turkey is interesting compared to driving a truck. ESL teaching involves interacting with various people and cultures on a daily basis. It pays ok but sometimes not as steady as this poster would like sometimes. Truck driving always pays and involves limited truck driving.
ESL teachers have to make lesson plans, attend teacher meetings and trainings, as well as act professional. Sometimes there is even a dress code. Truck drivers may have to wear the company ballcap but very seldom have a dress code. Truck drivers only have to meet freight deadlines, stop at weigh stations, and "keep the pedal to the metal". Truckers interact very little with live people and pretty much confine their conversations to the CB. "Ten-four good buddy".
Truck drivers live in a truck sometimes. ESL teachers sometimes don't know where they are going to live. ESL teachers in Turkey can eat lahmacun, doner, pide, and other Turkish etc. Truck drivers in North America can eat Macdonalds, BK, and whatever their hearts desire.
ESL teachers usually have to bathe on a regular basis. Truck drivers have the option of stinking. Then again, if you teach in Turkey chances are you can get away with not bathing for a few days if you have the right cologne.
This poster thinks that truck driving probably pays better than teaching ESL in some places. Truck drivers are probably lazy and illiterate and don't care about other people. They usually only travel within the same states or provinces in North America. ESL teachers probably dont make so much money but can travel anywhere they wish, as long as they are qualified.

yaramaz · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 2:31 pm Post subject:

.... ah, but what is a qualified EFL teacher anyway? Most of us are just lowly uneducated, unqualified backpackers who should probably stick to driving a truck since we all know that a BEd in math or a Masters in Philosophy etc are the only true signs that one can do the job. Experience and TEFL be damned.

O, and hey, hos geldin back to the land of Ataboy!