Teaching ESL - Career? Travel? Unsure? - A poll, just for fun!

Hey everyone,

Just curious.....

7 years ago I was a computer engineer for the biggest computer company in the world. I made the choice to leave a 60K a year job to teach English in China for 4000rmb (600 canadian a month....) From 60K to 7.2K.... Crazy right?

I had planned to see China for 6 months to 1 year and then come home and go back into computers....

Yet here I am 7 years later and I am proud to say ESL has become my career and I have never looked back!

So I was curious..... As the economy seems to be getting weaker and weaker back home, but stronger in other parts of the world, what is your story?

You are here on the Global TESOL forum, so teaching is a possibility at very least. But which teacher are you???

A: A career teacher looking to make a new life teaching English in other countries?

B: Looking for a temporary experience where teaching allows you to travel, learn new cultures and meet people then return home?

C: Looking for a way to either get teaching experience for jobs back home or pay off student loans?

D: Taking it as it comes! Open to adventure but no set plans?

Again, this info is not for any surveys or statistical data, I am just curious after so many years of personal experience what people are doing these days....

All for fun, answer or don't......

Regardless, put that training to use, even if just for a 6 month contract. You did Global TESOL's great course, make sure you use it!

As of right now, I'd have to say D.

I haven't taught yet, so I'm not sure if I'd like to do it as a career. I do, however, want to do something worthwhile while seeing and experiencing other parts of the world.

same as you, i had a professional career, good salary, professional designations, owned my own place. but got tired of the workloads, lack of recognition, politics, needed a change and something more meaningful in my life.

i love to travel and experience new cultures so i am seeing this as a one year paid vacation. been teaching in korea for two weeks now and love being able to immerse yourself in the culture and meet the locals which i couldnt do in my regular vacations which were just rushed sightseeing.

i would say i'm B trying to become A with this as my new lifestyle/career changing contracts from country to country
i really enjoy teaching and love kids, was doing a lot of corporate training before so its been an easy switch so far. i do not want to go back to my old profession if it can be helped! :)

I'm a nurse and I thought that it would be fufilling
I want to 'help people' and all that jazz..but I found out at the end of the day its just another job, politics, paper work.
I love love travelling and experiencing new cultures so I'm like what the heck. Let me try this for six months or so. I'm looking for a job now so we will see how it goes. It's scary but exciting

Oooohhh..... Arlene you are in luck!

not only are English teachers highly sought after here, but also apparently those of you with medical knowledge, specifically medical language!

There are many private training facilities here that teach medical English to doctors and nurses being sent overseas to work. Apparently it is in high demand!

Once you have your feet wet and decide which direction you want to go, you may well have opportunities that the average teacher will not.

Excellent!