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johnslat

A thread on the "Newbie Forum inspired this poll. Are most of us short-term EFL/ESLers or are we (or at least plan to be) in it for the long haul?

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

I'm nearing 15 years now, and intend to continue.

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

Excuse me, john, but how are we supposed to tick that survey? It asks 2 completely different questions. Regardless of what people write in their message window, the survey itself is unclear, and the answers will mean nothing.

johnslat · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 9:54 pm Post subject:

Dear Glenski,

Hmm, I don't see the problem (and I think spiral's answer is a good example of how one might reply.)

I ticked Thirty + since I'm now in my thirty-fifth year.

I included "or do you plan to be" since otherwise the poll could be unfairly weighted towards the lower numbers of years. Of course, the future is always uncertain, but by including "do you plan to be", that allows new teachers to indicate that they at least intend to continue.

If you're unable to figure out how to answer, well, I guess the poll will have to manage without your input.

Regards,
John

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

12 years...this is my career

MotherF · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 11:55 pm Post subject:

I've been in the field since 1995.
But I planned to be in TEFL for 5 years.

The best laid schemes o' mice an' men...

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

Ten years, though I'm hoping to get out of the classroom and into admin soon.

Shonai Ben · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 617

......14 years and still going.......no plans to stop.

voltaire · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 4:54 am Post subject:

It's been about 28 years already for me. I'm hoping for parole by the year 2020. Sad

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

I'm in my 15th year with no plans to change (a mix of tefl and high school at various times). Looks like John is the 'godfather' so far...

fluffyhamster · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 5:03 am Post subject:

I like teaching, but I'm developing an allergy to peanuts and monkey fleas. I've been in on a 10-15 stretch so far. Smile

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

I taught non-ESL for 5 years and have been teaching ESL for 11+ years. I plan to continue for at least another 10+years. I like it! I enjoy it!

Sashadroogie · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 7:09 am Post subject:

15 years of centrally-planned education. I plan to keep teaching until world revolution has triumphed, or a counter-revolutionary coup topples me. Whichever comes first.

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

I did my DELTA (or RSA Dip as it was known then) in 1988. I've been teaching off and on ever since, so I went for the 25-30 years option in the poll. For me, three fabulous things about ESL / ELT are that you can dip in and out, use it as a portable skill to see somewhere else in the world, and have some variety in your working life. It's an evolving profession, and that makes it interesting and rewarding.

The downside is that it can be repetitive. "Oh good, another lesson on the present perfect" sort of thing. I know teachers who happily sit with bored teenagers helping them prepare for a remedial exam, but I'd rather do almost anything else.

Perilla · Joined: 09 Jul 2010 Posts: 792 Location: Hong Kong

Unsurprisingly there's no category for those who no longer teach, but somehow still feel attached. I know I'm a rarity in admitting that I never particularly enjoyed TEFL, yet the whole dirty business still fascinates me. Not so much the job itself (not!) but the sector's amazing variety, breadth and depth, the surprises and adventures - and the dead ends. Not to mention the interesting characters and the crooks, oddballs, lost souls and loose ends. You can find it all in TEFL's bag of allsorts. I also have a feeling that my days as a TEFLer aren't finished. I took the Trinity certificate in Prague in '96 and worked as a TEFLer for 10 years - longer than any other job I've had to date.