Korean Job Discussion Forums

ceesgetdegrees · Joined: 12 Jul 2007

HHmmm.... at 33 y.o i'm beginning to wonder if i should stick with this occupation or cram in some more study and do something else. I'm a pretty good teacher, get along well with people of all ages etc.etc.etc. and am contemplating doing a CELTA/DELTA but whats the point really? ultimately i would like to go on to teaching teachers but i think that a lot more qualifications would be required than DELTA which ultimatley leaves me with etching out an existance in public schools/hagwons/universities for what amounts to naff all pay really. I mean, who wants to be 45 and teaching in a public school or hagwon? thats got to be quite embarassing, i'm almost embarassed about it at 33. I have friends teaching in the international school circut, of course, none of this applies to them as they are making good money with all the perks at reputable international schools, i'm really envious of them actually. To think that 1 or 2 more yers at university would have put me in the same position as they are now....ho hum. A lot of what i have read lately has been quite dismissive of DELTA, i'm not really prepared to do a masters degree online so i'm just wondering exactly what my options are now.

ED209 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006

The most obvious consideration would be becoming a teacher back home. There would be far more opportunities to climb the ladder and become qualified to teach teachers. But I guess that really depends where you come from. Half the teachers I know quit after a couple of years. Or if you really are that envious of your friends do the extra two years in uni.

ceesgetdegrees · Joined: 12 Jul 2007

Yeah...i don't really know at this point, all i do know is that i better hurry up and get something rolling otherwise 7 years will have past and i'll still be humming and haaing about it. When i say "teach the teachers", i mean teaching efl courses like CELTA or DELTA or TESOL. Anyone else over 30 EFL'ing get this panicky "better sort my chit out and fast" kinda feeling?

Boodleheimer · Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:21 pm Post subject:

i'm just worried about burn-out.

ceesgetdegrees · Joined: 12 Jul 2007

mole · Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Location: Act III

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

Paji eh Wong · Joined: 03 Jun 2003

tigerbluekitty · Joined: 19 Apr 2007

If you're so worried about being stuck teaching the rest of your life, then why don't you take a few distance learning courses in other career fields you may be interested in?

I currently take computer courses online to keep my skills up to date and find it takes my mind off this whole teaching english abroad situation sometimes.

ceesgetdegrees · Joined: 12 Jul 2007

bosintang · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:55 am Post subject:

ceesgetdegrees · Joined: 12 Jul 2007

Lao Wai · Joined: 01 Aug 2005 Location: East Coast Canada

Hey,

Here's my take on things. A little background info..... I'm 27 and have decided to permanently leave the ESL teaching field. I taught ESL in Korea for two years, did one year at an international school in China, and 1.5 years at a public school in Hong Kong.

My plan was always to eventually come back to Canada to teach in the public school system. I decided that, professionally, teaching ESL in Asia was doing nothing for me. I loved the lifestyle in Hong Kong, and the money, but hated how I'd always be regarded as an outsider in the public school system (no matter how nice the other teachers were). As for the international school circuit, I would constantly be jumping from contract to contract and that didn't sit well with me. I want a bit more stability.

So, I'm now back in Canada...substitute teaching. That's right, all of those years in Asia don't count for a whole lot. I've sent some documentation away to get my experience evaluated for salary purposes, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will count it.

I'm actually fine with substitute teaching because it's the way things are done around here. It doesn't matter that I've taught full-time, for about 4 years, and another candidate has only done substitute work. The schools get to know that individual, so they will hire them over me (who they don't know at all).

It's funny, I filled in for a teacher today at a middle school. There were about 25 kids per class. I had better control over them teaching by myself than I did with a co-teacher in the room with my students in Hong Kong! What a joke! This is when I know I made the right decision to come back. The difference in respect is pretty drastic. I had kids come up to me at the end of class and apologize for their behaviour. I was thinking 'you have no idea what I had to deal with in HK...you guys are a dream class!' And think about how kids act around substitute teachers, not usually the best behaviour.

Anyway, my advice is: If you want to teach back in your home country, go get certified and get into the system. The years you teach overseas might count toward your future salary but you're still probably going to have to do the 'grunt work' when you eventually do decide to teach back home. Unless, of course, if you can teach French or high school Math/Science....then you're set (in Canada, anyway.)

P.S. Once you get a permanent contract, you can take a leave of absence, go teach overseas at international school and rake in the money, and then come back to your job in your home country. I have a few friends who are doing just that. After graduating it took them about 2 years to get a permanent contract (different for everybody, though).