Life after TEFL

[english grammar man]

Well, the time comes for most when we are considering our move back to our home country. Whether it's been 1 year of teaching English or a decade, the majority of us come to a decision it's time to hang up the boots and call it a day.

So what lies ahead for us globetrotters in regards to job prospects? Well, the news isn't all that unfavourable, with many employers looking at overseas teachers with respect, rather than someone who has just taken an extended overseas holiday.

Continuing your career as a teacher
Perhaps you want to consider teaching at a language school back home? Or even teach English in the public school system. You can be sure of a lot of holidays and still very good pay. Checkout what qualifications you need to pursue your career here.

Using your newly acquired language in business
Many companies do business overseas, so you may be able to use your newly acquired language skills in international business.

Recruitment
As a teacher, you have experience in dealing with people of different backgrounds. Use your people skills to become a headhunter / recruiter; be it in the Education industry or not.

Proofreading / Translation
In fact, you can start to do this now. Many proofreaders are not restricted to working in the one location. Build up your contacts now, and by the time you head back, it could become your full-time job from the convenience of your own home.

[kdavid]

I think one of the best opportunities that the TEFL career creates is that of language learning. 1 - 2 years in any given country is long enough to provide a solid foundation in a language.

[waixingren]

Staying in China to teach EFL doesn't help my employment situation back home too much. I already had a solid foundation in writing and editing, and I can always return to that line of work. My new job might give me a slight edge if I decide to take the route... I figure with a master's and two years' experience teaching at university here, I might be able to get a university job back home. But again, that won't pay well unless I'm offered a full-time position (I can hope for that, but it's just wishful thinking).

[skydolphin]

Can you readjust to your home culture?
Perhaps you never felt at home in your
native country. How about coming back to the US for example. It is very materialistic and competive. If you dont
have that grit you are failure in that society. In a global world perhaps you could live a more meaningful life elsewhere.

[abeu]

My plan was actually to see how things go, naive as it sounds, I personally can't see a better way to look at it. There's no true failures in societies, only failure to one's self. If you got what it takes to go o/s and survive as a foreigner, you got what it takes to do anything, anywhere.

[Ayla]

I think that teaching becomes old after so many years. It is exciting at first and after 5 years, you feel as though it is time to change.
The best thing to do is explore your options and decide where your heart really belongs. Let's face it, most of us globe trotters do not want to give up globe trotting. It is simply in our blood.

You can do so many things with your background. Write and publish your own textbooks, write a book about your travels or go home and teach or return to school.

Teaching has been the best and no matter what, I would never have traded in any of the countries I have taught in.