Length of time teaching abroad - ESL Teaching

harold h · Fri 20-Jan-06, 07:13 PM

Have just read an interesting story on English teachers living abroad. It seems that more and more teachers are opting to spend more time teaching abroad than their predecessors.

The internet, cheap phonecalls and job security teaching English are the major reasons for this trend.

I myself, have been teaching now for 18 months. The first 3 months were the toughest, and I didn't think I would survive for a full 12 months. But here I am 18 months later.

Teaching is fun

, and now I have no timeframe for when I give it up.

gfell · Fri 20-Jan-06, 07:21 PM

Am sure many teachers would be lost without the net. Futhermore, ADSL and the outphasing of dial-up has also contributed to some extent.

Hypiereon · Fri 20-Jan-06, 08:02 PM

Not too long ago we were talking about the Industrial Revolution - but now the Technological Revolution is in FULL SWING. Makes you realize what they must have felt like back in the Renaissance Era and the Age of Enlightenment. They really didn't know what parts of their little era would leave a lasting impression on us in the future much the same way we do not yet know how the things of our time will linger to generations 100 or 1,000 years from now.

Every once in a while I'll get on an internet binge just to get around English again. It isn't the same as face-to-face, but it does something to help preserve my sanity. I'm in China with a wife and daughter, and being the only people who speak native English means we canreally get on each other's nerves at times. Not that other foreigners aren't around, but that we rarely get the chance to have a chat.

My wife gets on video conferencing with her mother, and we recently hooked up a LINGO Box here that lets us call anywhere in the USA for a flat fee. (Not supposed to do this according to the website, but we didn't bother to ask their permission. A friend of mine help me set it up and it works great.) My wife can call ANYONE, ANYWHERE, in the USA and talk to her hearts content. It also gives us immediate access to doctors in America to ask about medical problems we're afraid to go to Chinese doctors about.

In all, technology MUST be the factor that is making the difference you mentioned. No more "Slow boats to China" anymore. Just 100 years ago a letter would take six months going from America to China, but these days my wife calls her mom to get her on the video conferencing and it's done. I remember video conferencing being something that was only done form one starship to another on Star Trek!! Kirk's little "communicator" sure looks a lot chessier than my cell-phone that I can use to call anywhere in the world. Makes me wonder how V.R. and the likes of "The Matrix" will play out in the future.

(How would we really know we're not already there?)

"Everything that happens to you takes place first in the mind." - Morpheus
(Not the exact quote, but you get the idea.)

gfell · Fri 20-Jan-06, 08:19 PM

Video conferencing sounds interesting. I did try it a few months ago when talking to friends, but have since discontinued it. I know what my friends look like and it seemed a bit strange to look at them speak when it's really not necessary.

Maybe video conferencing will be the next thing for students of English...

bosslove72 · Mon 18-Jun-07, 10:18 AM

I've been teaching for six months now. I never thought that I would get used it, but it is rather fun. I love most of my students. They are helpful and considerate folks. I will never get used to the stares and some of the behavior of the Chinese, but I just chalk it up to cultural differences. I've found another position after this one is over and I plan to stay here for a while, so I really do enjoy it.

The internet and the speed of getting some packages is also making it better and easier for people to stay as well, but I do miss things from home.

kdavid · Tue 03-Jul-07, 10:15 AM

I didn't plan on staying in the field for this long either. I remember just before I finished my TESOL I said, "I'll never go to China. I'll stay in Europe forever." Alas, here I am in China, finishing my first year in China, and starting my third year teaching.

exported_kiwi · Tue 03-Jul-07, 10:54 AM

I planned on being in China just for a year, but found that I loved the work, loved the people and also got a Fiancee, so it seems I'm staying for an indefinite period.......with trips home annually, I hope! Depends on the missus and how many kids we have, where we live etc.

Boke · Mon 01-Oct-07, 07:24 PM

I taught in Costa Rica for a year and now I'm on my 6th year in Japan

ColoradoMom · Thu 04-Oct-07, 04:03 AM

I see the trend as well, our good friends intended to go to Japan for 1 year and returned 7 years later.

Boke · Thu 04-Oct-07, 12:12 PM

yeah but I think there will be a big change coming in japan soon, NOVA the biggest employer of teachers (around 6000) is about to go under and its not going to be pretty, a lot of people are saying it could be the death of adult english in japan

View Poll Results: How long have you been teaching abroad?
Less than 1 year	5	14.29%
1 to 2 years	13	37.14%
3 to 5 years	12	34.29%
More than 5 years	5	14.29%
Voters: 35. You may not vote on this poll

Fri 20-Jan-06, 07:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
harold h Guru Join Date: Jun 2005 Nationality: Australian Occupation: Teechaaaa Location: Posts: 61	Length of time teaching abroad Have just read an interesting story on English teachers living abroad. It seems that more and more teachers are opting to spend more time teaching abroad than their predecessors. The internet, cheap phonecalls and job security teaching English are the major reasons for this trend. I myself, have been teaching now for 18 months. The first 3 months were the toughest, and I didn't think I would survive for a full 12 months. But here I am 18 months later. Teaching is fun , and now I have no timeframe for when I give it up.

Fri 20-Jan-06, 07:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
gfell Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Nationality: American Occupation: Teacher Location: Posts: 648	Am sure many teachers would be lost without the net. Futhermore, ADSL and the outphasing of dial-up has also contributed to some extent. __________________ English Teacher and Student Site Teach English and Study Abroad! Teaching Community at Teacher Forums ESL Teacher and Student Directory!

Fri 20-Jan-06, 08:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
Hypiereon ESL Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Nationality: American Occupation: General Manager www.MilestoneGC.com Location: Posts: 139	The Technological Revolution Not too long ago we were talking about the Industrial Revolution - but now the Technological Revolution is in FULL SWING. Makes you realize what they must have felt like back in the Renaissance Era and the Age of Enlightenment. They really didn't know what parts of their little era would leave a lasting impression on us in the future much the same way we do not yet know how the things of our time will linger to generations 100 or 1,000 years from now. Every once in a while I'll get on an internet binge just to get around English again. It isn't the same as face-to-face, but it does something to help preserve my sanity. I'm in China with a wife and daughter, and being the only people who speak native English means we canreally get on each other's nerves at times. Not that other foreigners aren't around, but that we rarely get the chance to have a chat. My wife gets on video conferencing with her mother, and we recently hooked up a LINGO Box here that lets us call anywhere in the USA for a flat fee. (Not supposed to do this according to the website, but we didn't bother to ask their permission. A friend of mine help me set it up and it works great.) My wife can call ANYONE, ANYWHERE, in the USA and talk to her hearts content. It also gives us immediate access to doctors in America to ask about medical problems we're afraid to go to Chinese doctors about. In all, technology MUST be the factor that is making the difference you mentioned. No more "Slow boats to China" anymore. Just 100 years ago a letter would take six months going from America to China, but these days my wife calls her mom to get her on the video conferencing and it's done. I remember video conferencing being something that was only done form one starship to another on Star Trek!! Kirk's little "communicator" sure looks a lot chessier than my cell-phone that I can use to call anywhere in the world. Makes me wonder how V.R. and the likes of "The Matrix" will play out in the future. (How would we really know we're not already there?) "Everything that happens to you takes place first in the mind." - Morpheus (Not the exact quote, but you get the idea.) __________________ Hypiereon's Maxim: "The best teacher cannot help a student who absolutely refuses to learn; the worst teacher cannot refuse the one who will not be denied."

Fri 20-Jan-06, 08:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
gfell Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Nationality: American Occupation: Teacher Location: Posts: 648	Video conferencing sounds interesting. I did try it a few months ago when talking to friends, but have since discontinued it. I know what my friends look like and it seemed a bit strange to look at them speak when it's really not necessary. Maybe video conferencing will be the next thing for students of English... __________________ English Teacher and Student Site Teach English and Study Abroad! Teaching Community at Teacher Forums ESL Teacher and Student Directory!

Mon 18-Jun-07, 10:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
bosslove72 ESL Rookie Join Date: Oct 2006 Nationality: American Occupation: English Teacher Location: Posts: 29	Re: Length of time teaching abroad I've been teaching for six months now. I never thought that I would get used it, but it is rather fun. I love most of my students. They are helpful and considerate folks. I will never get used to the stares and some of the behavior of the Chinese, but I just chalk it up to cultural differences. I've found another position after this one is over and I plan to stay here for a while, so I really do enjoy it. The internet and the speed of getting some packages is also making it better and easier for people to stay as well, but I do miss things from home. __________________ I started out with nothing, I pretty much still have it. Last edited by gfell; Mon 18-Jun-07 at 11:21 AM.

Tue 03-Jul-07, 10:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
kdavid Guru Join Date: Jul 2007 Occupation: Will-Excel TESOL Courses China Location: Posts: 72	Re: Length of time teaching abroad I didn't plan on staying in the field for this long either. I remember just before I finished my TESOL I said, "I'll never go to China. I'll stay in Europe forever." Alas, here I am in China, finishing my first year in China, and starting my third year teaching.

Tue 03-Jul-07, 10:54 AM	#7 (permalink)
exported_kiwi Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Nationality: Kiwi who's been exported! Occupation: Beer taster, hehehehehe! Location: Posts: 242	Re: Length of time teaching abroad I planned on being in China just for a year, but found that I loved the work, loved the people and also got a Fiancee, so it seems I'm staying for an indefinite period.......with trips home annually, I hope! Depends on the missus and how many kids we have, where we live etc. __________________ Think only of those things that can be done!

Mon 01-Oct-07, 07:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
Boke Wannabe Guru Join Date: Sep 2007 Occupation: School Owner Location: Posts: 39	Re: Length of time teaching abroad I taught in Costa Rica for a year and now I'm on my 6th year in Japan __________________ Goodwin English Schools , 福山　英会話

Thu 04-Oct-07, 04:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
ColoradoMom Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Occupation: Educator Location: Posts: 5	Re: Length of time teaching abroad I see the trend as well, our good friends intended to go to Japan for 1 year and returned 7 years later.

Thu 04-Oct-07, 12:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
Boke Wannabe Guru Join Date: Sep 2007 Occupation: School Owner Location: Posts: 39	Re: Length of time teaching abroad yeah but I think there will be a big change coming in japan soon, NOVA the biggest employer of teachers (around 6000) is about to go under and its not going to be pretty, a lot of people are saying it could be the death of adult english in japan __________________ Goodwin English Schools , 福山　英会話

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