Job Discussion Forums

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

What are planning for after EFL? Or do you plan to do it until you retire? I am curious as to what people's plans are.

Do you think that most people eventually go back to their home countries? How do they get reestablished?

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 11:30 pm Post subject:

After I finish my PhD, I'm planning of getting a post-graduate teaching qualification so that I can teach in international secondary schools. Subjects will be history and English (English as a subject - not as a foreign language). However, if a university position teaching history comes up that would be preferable. See what happens - things often don't turn out as you plan.

I love Australia but have no real desire to work there. Might go back when I retire.

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

Only one response? (A good response it was; thanks, Sgt. Welsh!)

I take it not many people have a plan for life after ESL?

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

I don't know what other people plan on doing, but I'd like to open a business.

I'm already involved in one online education business and eventually would like to go to Europe and open a hostel. But I'll be in TEFL for a while yet.

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

Evanzinho · Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 28 Location: Seoul, South Korea

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

Going back home scares me. Plus, I really like the fact that I don't have to pay taxes Smile

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

OP, what's your plan?

Denizen · Joined: 13 Nov 2009 Posts: 110 Location: Tohoku

One of the reasons I left ESL in Japan after some concern that technology was passing me by. I returned to the States, bought a PC and wore my fingertips raw. Opened a business as a web designer with some success, but the market became saturated. Opened another business as a certified real estate appraiser, and the market collapsed in 2008. Then, I finished my middle school teaching certificate only to discover huge layoffs anticipated in all the states I was interested in teaching for. So...

life after ESL ain't so grand. Rather than chase another carrot, you may want to stick around a bit longer while the various economies recover in earnest.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

I am going to be a Speech Language Pathologist. After that I am going to try to get a job in Oikanawa or in the United Arab Emirates. If my plan doesn't work out, I will probably move back to Taiwan.

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

fladude · Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 432

I plan to move up the chain and become a principal at an International School. I have a legal background and am teacher certified. I just need to work on some master's degrees in education (as much as I loathe degrees in education). One day I may return to Alaska to establish a Charter School or private school for Native American students who wish to preserve their own culture. I believe that the current public school system here in Alaska does not meet their needs. Realistically only a private school which does not follow a Federal mandate can offer the sort of dual American/Native education which they require in order to preserve their own cultural identity, while also providing them with a skill set which would allow them to attend college.

Ariadne · Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 960

Flatdude... how would you fund the charter school? Sounds like a good idea, but I can't see how you would be able to get the money to run it, especially if you didn't have any federal funding. Some tribes are doing well financially these days due to the casinos... are there any in your neck of the woods?

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fladude · Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 432

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

Zero - I have no real plans. And I kinda like it that way!

I could get Qualifed Teacher Status and teach in the UK or try for International Schools, but you know what? I have zero interest in teaching subjects to native speakers.

My plan is to do whatever I can to juggle my various life commitments and stay within TEFL. After working for nearly 20 years at jobs I hated, and wasnt always very good at, I found something that a) I like, and b) am moderately OK at. I have a choice, do something I dont want to do and live a regular life......or continue to do something I love, and have a highly irregular life. For me, its a no-brainer!