Job Discussion Forums

[demitrescou]

This may seem a bit of an immature topic and I guess it kind of is. But anyways...

When you reflect on the status quo of your life, how many of you expected more success/achievements? Whether in adolescence or beyond, how many of you fellow TEFLers out there expected a degree of success that just hasn't come to fruition?

Who perhaps thought they would or hoped to have been a novelist, a playwright, an actor, an athlete etc etc? Or perhaps not even something exotic/glamorous. Maybe a doctor/nurse working in some poverty stricken place, an NGO development worker, a known well-known human rights activist perhaps? So on and so forth.

For even those who sincerely enjoy teaching and can no longer see themselves doing anything else, do you ever reflect and ask yourself if you could have made more of your life? That you had the talent and the smarts to do it but didn't.

I appreciate that this isn't something everyone will find it easy to be totally honest about. Just thought I'd put it out there.

[spiral78]

I actually think that teaching language (at its best moments) helps to empower students to maximise their potential - if I contribute something to that, what grander outcome could I hope for?

After all, I've had students who are leading coalitions of countries in sustainable manufacturing, are involved in progressive governments, are involved in energy exploration (and exploitation, I admit), who are doctors and nurses and international attorneys - every grand job/purpose I can think of.

I'm honoured to contribute to their success.

[Jbhughes]

Surely the answer is 'everyone'.

Maybe you're looking for this answer - but I doubt anyone when they were a kid ever dreamt of being an ESOL teacher or a teacher of any sort. I remember vowing to the headmaster of my primary school that I would never be a teacher.

How many people ever manage to get that childhood dream job in late 20th century / 21st century job markets anyway?

MY bro wanted to be a pilot - he's a labourer, I wanted to 'earn a lot of money' - say no more?

My dad's generation was slightly different (I am aware there are posters of his generation - 60s - here and perhaps they can share). At 13, he wanted to be a vet. He was a vet.


On 2nd read, I note the phrase - 'adolescence and above'. However, much of the above still applies I believe.

[johnslat]

Dear demitrescou,

I love to teach, and I've been doing it for thirty-four years now. But my secret ambition is to write a great novel.

Will I ever do so? Your guess is as good as mine. But I have no regrets at all about how I've spent my life so far.

The Choice

"The intellect of man is forced to choose
Perfection of the life, or of the work,
And if it take the second must refuse
A heavenly mansion, raging in the dark.
When all that story's finished, what's the news?
In luck or out the toil has left its mark:
That old perplexity an empty purse,
Or the day's vanity, the night's remorse."

W.B. Yeats

Regards,
John

[basiltherat]

[demitrescou]

[demitrescou]

[spiral78]

[Glenski]

[naturegirl321]

I'm not so far from what I thought when I was younger. I wanted to be an English teacher, Brit Lit specifically, but in uni I studied Art, my idea and Business, my father's.

I graduated and went into TEFL right away. 9 years later, I'd like to move on somehow in the future. Get into management or admin more. I'm happy where I am now, but think it's important to have goals for the future.

[Chuckie O]

hah! I've got it backwards. I started out doing the "job" thing. Making money, accumulating products, etc, etc. It's only now at nearly 40 thats I've decided to do something meaningful. Which is to explore the world and teach english. So I guess it's all in how you look at it.

[demitrescou]

[Teacher in Rome]

This is a very interesting topic! Timely, too - I was only just talking about it with my OH last night.

I grew up with some interesting - and relatively famous - characters in my family. I imagined (as a child) that everyone had someone famous in their family and that it was also my duty to achieve fame... delusions of grandeur indeed!

But now I realise that what impressed me most was that these people had done it their way. No boring time-card stamping, no needing to make compromises, just complete dedication to the passions in their lives. Here was work with meaning, a needing to do that work because that was what you were.

I think that the ability to become famous, to achieve in some way, or to turn adversity into triumph comes from refusing to let others call the shots on what you do. You go your own way and do what you have to do - whether that's to be an artist, a writer, or a scientist.

I think I'm finally beginning to achieve more of what I admired in some of my family - the ability to make money without working for a boss. To have a life where I'm in control - not an organisation that pays me. But I'm still working on the fame thing - not quite got there yet!

[Sashadroogie]

My dreams of world communism are almost realised. Just one more push, forcing a few benighted to be free, and we'll be there. Despite some adversity, it is a historical inevitability. Ura!

Can't make much more of a life than that, can ya?!

[santi84]

We can't all be Britney Spears or Arnold.