Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - ESL (English as a Second Language) Teaching...

Randerolf · 02-09-2009, 09:41 AM

Here's where I'm coming from: I'm a recent business school graduate who loves to teach, but doesn't think that the US does enough for their teachers. Therefore, I ultimately want to become a corporate trainer, but am teaching oral English in Beijing in the face of one hell of a bad economy back home.

Perhaps, sharing my reasons for teaching here will help inform your own decision. I'm teaching overseas because:

As a first-generation college grad, I worked and paid my own way through college. I never had the opportunity to visit other countries and truly experience other cultures.
My business school eroded the quality of my English. I entered school having been published in a few magazines and newspapers, but left school disappointed how much my grammar, mechanics, spelling, and style have fallen. Thus, I wanted work on my English.
China will play a major part in the world in the near future. I want to know how this story plays out.

One of my colleagues and I were just talking about the tooth and nail nature of academia back in the States. The level of competition is rough and tumble. From obtaining jobs to fellowships, everything seems to be a colosseum today.

Ultimately, if you don't want to worry about getting published and you are sour on the idea of a PhD, consider getting your masters and teaching at a community collage. Ain't no shame in that game especially if you want to teach people who might not have had many opportunities in life.

Often, an ESL job is what you make of it. If you have a good track record and keep up with the CJ literature, I don't see why it would hold you back. Know what you are getting into as far as the country and program are concerned; for example, if you teach in Japan, you might end up as a human tape recorder for your fellow teacher (some posts in the JET program). Some schools will have you teach a rigid curriculum, while others leave it all up to you.

I don't regret my decision a bit. There are a lot of people in ESL who couldn't cut it back home and waste the opportunity (booze, laziness, and women), but opportunity is what you make of it.

Scour the TFP. I talked to a lot of smart people, before I made my choices. There are a lot of people who are expats or know ESL teachers. Go toDave's ESL Cafe; every ESL teach loves Dave and his website that practically groans with information.

Contact schools directly and cut out the middleman/ recruiter. I got lucky, but there are many horror stories.

If you have further questions, feel free to ask away.

02-09-2009, 09:41 AM	#9 (permalink)
Randerolf Fireball Location: ~	Just my opinion. I'm assuming that you mean teaching overseas. Here's where I'm coming from: I'm a recent business school graduate who loves to teach, but doesn't think that the US does enough for their teachers. Therefore, I ultimately want to become a corporate trainer, but am teaching oral English in Beijing in the face of one hell of a bad economy back home. Perhaps, sharing my reasons for teaching here will help inform your own decision. I'm teaching overseas because: As a first-generation college grad, I worked and paid my own way through college. I never had the opportunity to visit other countries and truly experience other cultures. My business school eroded the quality of my English. I entered school having been published in a few magazines and newspapers, but left school disappointed how much my grammar, mechanics, spelling, and style have fallen. Thus, I wanted work on my English. China will play a major part in the world in the near future. I want to know how this story plays out. One of my colleagues and I were just talking about the tooth and nail nature of academia back in the States. The level of competition is rough and tumble. From obtaining jobs to fellowships, everything seems to be a colosseum today. Ultimately, if you don't want to worry about getting published and you are sour on the idea of a PhD, consider getting your masters and teaching at a community collage. Ain't no shame in that game especially if you want to teach people who might not have had many opportunities in life. Often, an ESL job is what you make of it. If you have a good track record and keep up with the CJ literature, I don't see why it would hold you back. Know what you are getting into as far as the country and program are concerned; for example, if you teach in Japan, you might end up as a human tape recorder for your fellow teacher (some posts in the JET program). Some schools will have you teach a rigid curriculum, while others leave it all up to you. I don't regret my decision a bit. There are a lot of people in ESL who couldn't cut it back home and waste the opportunity (booze, laziness, and women), but opportunity is what you make of it. Scour the TFP. I talked to a lot of smart people, before I made my choices. There are a lot of people who are expats or know ESL teachers. Go toDave's ESL Cafe; every ESL teach loves Dave and his website that practically groans with information. Contact schools directly and cut out the middleman/ recruiter. I got lucky, but there are many horror stories. If you have further questions, feel free to ask away.