Job Discussion Forums

[jpvanderwerf2001]

Hi all,

Well, after 11 years, 6 jobs, and 5 countries, I'm heading back to the USA in April.
The best (and most amazing) part of the move is that the position I've attained in the US is directly related to English language education: I am the new Center Director of a language school (which is part of a large company) on the campus of a university in the South (as a Yank, it'll be just as foreign as India was ). It is a salaried position with full benefits in what appears to be a solid company; I am very lucky to have been hired from abroad (especially in light of "this economy").
EFL as a career has been great to me. I will most definitely miss the challenges, adventures, and people I have met along the way. However, I have two little kiddos to think about, so my wife and I have decided to make this move (although the immigration process for the US--my wife is Russian--is making us second-guess the move more and more).
I wanted to share my news not because I'm looking for a bunch of pats on the back (I'll take 'em though ) but because I wanted to be living proof that EFL can be a career abroad which then leads to a career "back home" (if that's one's desire). When I started EFL, I had no teaching experience, no TEFL certificate, a BA, and only the clothes on my back (ok, ok, that last one is for dramatic effect; I did only have like $250 after buying a plane ticket, though). I have since attained a CELTA, have been serving as an IELTS examiner, and will complete a Master's degree in a couple of months' time. I hope to eventually start an Ed. D or Phd in educational management (or curriculum?...haven't decided!) sometime in the next few years.
In 2001, I started out as a teacher making $300/month in Ukraine, then took a $700/month job in Mexico, then lived off of cockroaches in Argentina (again, dramatic) before taking a $1200/month job in India. From India, I came to Russia where I have been a senior teacher, then an ADOS, then a Managing Director of what has eventually become a chain of three good-sized English schools.
Again, I'm not posting my life story to brag: I'd like to share how I was able to make "this EFL thing" work as a career (as many others have done, in various ways). There is a clear progression to my career path thus far, and I hope this progression will continue down the road.
Here's to hoping that everyone out there enjoys their time in this industry as much as I have, and that everyone's future will be a bright one.

It would be great if others shared how their careers have progressed!

[naturegirl321]

Congrats! That's great. I've also thought about going back or going somewhere to stay at least. The benefits that you can get are good. Places like DLI are what I'm looking at.

[DebMer]

It's great to read your story and to know you're successful in your work.

I don't have a similar progression... yet. I'm a wee babe in the field, having been an elementary school teacher previously. I'm in my second year of adult ESL instruction, and looking at getting an MA and broadening my options.

[denise]

Congratulations!

I've also made the transition back home into a full-time salaried position at a university. I started at the bottom--got my TEFL certificate in Prague waaaay back in 1999, taught for a couple of years, got my MA, and then country-hopped for 7 or 8 years, working mostly at universities & by the end getting into materials development & program coordination (I was the assistant, not the coordinator--but I am MUCH happier in a classroom than doing any sort of admin work, so it'll be a while before I even consider being an assistant coordinator again!).

Salaries for ESL teachers aren't great, and there are people in the field who compare themselves to professors and then notice our lower salaries, lack of tenure, etc., but I don't look at things that way. I'm not a professor, nor do I want to be one. I'm doing exactly what I want to do, in my home country, with a salary that is livable, with health insurance & benefits, and overall I'm very happy to be home.

d

[Guy Courchesne]

Congrats, and thank you for taking the time to post. Nature of the internet is to hear a lot about failures and not enough about the successes out there.

[nomad soul]

Hear hear! Good for you! You�re an example of why it�s smart to keep upgrading your skills and progressively taking on a variety of responsibilities over your teaching career. Good luck in your new position.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

[Guy Courchesne]

Fair and Balanced as one of my favorite posters might proffer.

The question of career and EFL comes up a fair bit in the Mexico forum, and we divide into two camps on it. I'm of the opinion that hard work, dedication to professional development, and good networking skills will move you forward. Others believe that doesn't matter as ESL/EFL back home is at best a community college night class.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

[nomad soul]

[godmachine12]

[gator07]

Congratulations and thanks for sharing. Very encouraging.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

[artemisia]

Great to read about your achievements Jpvanderwerf2001! Your story is as important as any other kind on this board. Sharing how you got to be where you are is interesting information.

Success can be defined in different ways, but I think in most fields it relies on determination, developing yourself to the best of your ability and making the most of opportunities that come your way in terms of work and further education. Sometimes it's also about being in the right place at the right time - pure luck.

I hope you'll have time to update the thread on how things progress with the new job.


(PS: Do people really have "favourite posters"? I guess there must be an 'in' club on Dave's! : )) )

[Guy Courchesne]