View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
The Hierophant

Joined: 13 Sep 2005
|
Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 9:06 am Post subject: So, where to from here? |
|
|
I'm curious as to what other foreign teacher's plans are after they have finished their contracts here in Korea. Is TESOL a career choice for you or a means toward saving some money to put toward other things? Do you see yourself staying in Korea long-term? Or are you here on a working holiday?
I really don't know what to do once my contract is up. I've got a few vague ideas, but nothing I'd consider a real action-plan. I'm still waiting on some wave of inspiration to hit me... So, what do you see yourself doing this time next year? |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
FlagWaver
Joined: 12 Apr 2003
|
Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 9:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
You could take a trip to Tierra Del Fuego if you're looking for something special. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
The Hierophant

Joined: 13 Sep 2005
|
Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 9:21 am Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks for the heads up. That archipelago does look nice. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
cruisemonkey

Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
|
Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 9:26 am Post subject: |
|
|
Ushiaia is a pretty little town at 54 degrees 46 min. south... take the little red train to the station at the end of the earth - next stop Antarctica.  |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
rhinocharge64
Joined: 20 Sep 2006
|
Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Do i see esl a career? Are you out of your beeping mind? Never have i met so many wackos than those that are drawn to the world of teaching this beep. Losers, bums, alcoholics and any other social misfit you can think of is by far the biggest rerpresentation of this so called profession.
In short choose another career. Don't get me started on Korea....It's a beep hole. Choose another country, Japan being a far better option.
Oh, before i get slated, i don't mean all, just the bigger proportion.
Peace brothers and sisters...PEACE |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
ChuckECheese

Joined: 20 Jul 2006
|
Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'm semi-retiring in Vietnam. I got myself a nice beach front property in Vietnam and live like a king while sipping on nice cold brew laying on the beach with babes.  |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Hungrypirate
Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Location: Australia
|
Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
We're using this year as a bit of a break from our routines in Oz and so, no, won't be looking at this as a long-term career. The plan at the moment is to take off on an anti-clockwise overland loop across Asia and eastern Europe when we finish - can't wait! |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
The Hierophant

Joined: 13 Sep 2005
|
Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Vietnam, nice...
I'm narrowing down my options, but right now I'm thinking of either:
- Teacher's College (real teaching in an English-speaking country, as opposed to being a human tape recorder/clown with arm-hair ).
- Police Force.
- TESOL in a country other than Korea.
- Soulless corporate work (with an inbuilt alcoholism-and-eventual-suicide plan).
Anyone else have any great ideas?
I'm 24 and feeling like a waste of space... Most people in my university peer group have started their professional careers as Doctors, Lawyers, Professors, Ministry Officials and Corporate Businesspeople.
Have I missed the boat? Are my options really so stunted? Should I make the most of living in a highrise Korean apartment and just take the jump? |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
The Hierophant

Joined: 13 Sep 2005
|
Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hungrypirate wrote: |
We're using this year as a bit of a break from our routines in Oz and so, no, won't be looking at this as a long-term career. The plan at the moment is to take off on an anti-clockwise overland loop across Asia and eastern Europe when we finish - can't wait! |
Ah, sounds nice. A large-scale travel plan would certainly be exciting. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
ChopChaeJoe
Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul
|
Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The Hierophant wrote: |
I'm 24 and feeling like a waste of space... Most people in my university peer group have started their professional careers as Doctors, Lawyers, Professors, Ministry Officials and Corporate Businesspeople.
Have I missed the boat? Are my options really so stunted? Should I make the most of living in a highrise Korean apartment and just take the jump? |
What kind of talk is that? You're at the tart of your adult life. You aren't supposed to know what to do. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
The Hierophant

Joined: 13 Sep 2005
|
Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
ChopChaeJoe wrote: |
The Hierophant wrote: |
I'm 24 and feeling like a waste of space... Most people in my university peer group have started their professional careers as Doctors, Lawyers, Professors, Ministry Officials and Corporate Businesspeople.
Have I missed the boat? Are my options really so stunted? Should I make the most of living in a highrise Korean apartment and just take the jump? |
What kind of talk is that? You're at the tart of your adult life. You aren't supposed to know what to do. |
I appreciate what you're saying.
Cheers for your input! |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Novernae
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
|
Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 12:58 am Post subject: |
|
|
cruisemonkey wrote: |
Ushiaia is a pretty little town at 54 degrees 46 min. south... take the little red train to the station at the end of the earth - next stop Antarctica.  |
Ushuaia is a beautiful city, as is all of southern Argentina.
Our plan is to build (physically/by hand) a log home on a large acreage we will buy with out savings and basically retire without ever having to have bosses again, unless we choose to. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
soviet_man

Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul
|
Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 2:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
Quote: |
I'm curious as to what other foreign teacher's plans are after they have finished their contracts here in Korea. Is TESOL a career choice for you or a means toward saving some money to put toward other things? Do you see yourself staying in Korea long-term? Or are you here on a working holiday? |
I have a rough 5 year plan.
I'm currently halfway through my second contract in Korea (been here for over 1 and a half years) and I plan to stay for a 3rd and final year next year. But after 3 years here, I'm reasonably sure that I would be finished with Korea. After that my plan is:
1 year teaching in Japan - in Hokkaido - the north island (I like the idea of a peaceful, quiet place with a cold climate).
1 year teaching in Dubai/UAE - (I think I'd enjoy the blurring of cultures in the Arabian Gulf and I can see myself spending a year there).
6 months in India - I often think about volunteering in a humanitarian project in India. I think it would be good to understand the culture, language and people on a deeper level and to also take a long-term break from teaching.
1 year of postgrad study - Something I keep putting off, but also something I want to have.
Beyond that:
Russia (again) always looms as a possibility for me.
Similarly I also look to Mauritius, Seychelles and Morocco - as being *potential* future ESL possibilities down the track. On the surface they all look like semi-interesting places to live and teach. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
The Hierophant

Joined: 13 Sep 2005
|
Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 3:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
soviet_man wrote: |
I have a rough 5 year plan.
I'm currently halfway through my second contract in Korea (been here for over 1 and a half years) and I plan to stay for a 3rd and final year next year. But after 3 years here, I'm reasonably sure that I would be finished with Korea. After that my plan is:
1 year teaching in Japan - in Hokkaido - the north island (I like the idea of a peaceful, quiet place with a cold climate).
1 year teaching in Dubai/UAE - (I think I'd enjoy the blurring of cultures in the Arabian Gulf and I can see myself spending a year there).
6 months in India - I often think about volunteering in a humanitarian project in India. I think it would be good to understand the culture, language and people on a deeper level and to also take a long-term break from teaching.
1 year of postgrad study - Something I keep putting off, but also something I want to have.
Beyond that:
Russia (again) always looms as a possibility for me.
Similarly I also look to Mauritius, Seychelles and Morocco - as being *potential* future ESL possibilities down the track. On the surface they all look like semi-interesting places to live and teach. |
Sounds good. If you don't mind my asking, what teaching qualifications do you currently have?
I wouldn't mind a short-to-medium-term career in TESOL, but I'm wondering what sort of qualifications I should obtain for it. All I have is a first-class-honours BA, so I'm essentially chained to Korea. I'm thinking of doing a CELTA once my contract is up. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
The Lemon

Joined: 11 Jan 2003
|
Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 3:47 am Post subject: |
|
|
If you're thinking of a "medium-term" career in ESL, and want to hit the Middle East or other similarly lucrative places, the CELTA's a help but a Masters, even done through distance, will open up the range of places you can go.
Check out the job ads and you'll see how the qualifications that are wanted vary from region to region. For example, you're already overqualified for China, but you'd have a hard time getting decent work in Singapore or the UAE. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|