Job Discussion Forums

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I've been around Dave's for quite a long time now and I've never seen a thread on this simple theme.

I think it could be very interesting to have a rough idea of the nationality mix of teachers on the boards. It's directly related to teaching matters, of course, as one's country of origin affects the countries where 'you' can legally teach, 'your' accent and preferred grammatical patterns to some degree, and possibly some of 'your' views on effective approaches and methods in the classroom.

Creating the poll options here has been challenging: if your country of origin is lumped into an 'other' category and you want to wave your flag, please feel very free to do so. I didn't intend to minimise or disrespect anyone's country of origin, but I was also trying to avoid a very long list of Anglophone countries for the sake of simplicity.

contented · Joined: 17 Oct 2011 Posts: 136 Location: اسطنبول

This doesn't have to do with Dave's ESL Cafe, but I have noticed in the places where I have worked; my coworkers have been from the following countries: USA, Canada and the U.K.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I voted, but I wonder about the whole point of the survey. Age, credentials, years of teaching (and where) would also seem related to "teaching matters".

Can you shed more light on this, spiral?

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Glenski:

contented · Joined: 17 Oct 2011 Posts: 136 Location: اسطنبول

Hey Spiral78,
I think it would be interesting to see where the majority of TEFLers head to teach. Just to see if a large number are drawn to a particular geographic location. Do the majority of Australian TEFLers head to Southeast Asia? Do most American TEFLers favor East Asia over other locations and so on?

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Well, spiral, with about 30 people having votes so far, the fast majority are showing up as Americans. I think in the end the majority of people who choose to vote will be in that category, too.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 7:52 am Post subject:

Pah! Nation states are a passe bourgeois concept which will be swept away by historical inevitability and we shall all live as one in a global brotherhood of man ☭

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Jbhughes · Joined: 01 Jul 2010 Posts: 254

I find this an interesting topic and will be intrigued by the final results.

The only potential problem is one that I think Dave's and maybe forums in general have - too many voyeurs! While it's true that forums are used by many as a resource - especially so when they are very new to a subject and as such may not have a lot of experience or knowledge to share - I feel that Dave's and other forums could do with people being a little more forthright and sharing when they know about something. What tends to happen is that they are a core of -very helpful- longer lasting members who will help out with most inquiries. This very thread is a good example - Glenski and Sashadroogie already posting (it's likely that spiral78 would have posted too I'm sure?)

9 replies - 230odd views!

This leads me to wonder if this will be more of a 'out of the regular posters on Dave's, what are their nationalities?' rather than a 'What are the nationalities of users in general on Daves?'

This is a question we all can answer, so come on it only takes a minute or two to log in or register and click that radio button! (Especially Brits - surely we can topple this supposed strength in numbers of the yanks!?)

By the way - what are the other Anglophone countries? It would be nice of those that select this option could say where they are from?

I suppose Ireland is obvious, but my ignorance seems to limit me of thinking of any other countries?

Good luck spiral78 - let's hope even some tiny % of the 193717 registered users vote!

Opiate · Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 630 Location: Qingdao

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

artemisia · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 875 Location: the world

No, no, no. It all depends on how you look at it! There are other important aspects to be factored in here:

Firstly, there's roughly 50% US and 50% mixed varieties.
Secondly, the views and postings also have to be considered in the light of the 39 that have, thus far, voted. And some of those views are most likely second looks etc.

This means the US ians are currently ahead by 1% only. C'mon other posters - can't let them Yanks win!

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 2:47 pm Post subject:

Dear Artemisia

Please be advised that this poll is not a baseball match with the New England team Very Happy

Sasha

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own