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My TFLI instructor gave me some great advice: the more you focus on your students and not yourself and how you teach, the more they will learn.

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caitlin

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Unfortunately most classrooms have desks! But at least we won't be spending more time bathing our brains in the soothing rays from computer monitors! --AJ

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Ideally, you end up in a civilized country that has a national healthcare system.
But there are places where that just isn't possible.
*glares at 'Murica*

-AJ

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I'm not altruistic at all!
I've looked at this from the beginning as a skill I can use to support my desire to live overseas.
I've been wanting a reset button on life for a while now, so why not start over in a totally new place where I am by definition an outsider? If I can leverage my language nerd skills as a way to make that happen, all the better for me.
That said, I could have chosen a path in the corporate world and actively left the world a worse place than how I found it, so teaching is probably the neutral-karma option.
I know I'll never get rich doing this, but "rich" is pretty relative and I'd rather have a life rich in experiences than stuff. I want to meet interesting places, visit faraway people, and not hate myself when I'm on my deathbed.

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The end.

Emily

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I'll be your roommate in Hawaii and we can start a language school together - Emily

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I should've been paying you for advice all those years! Thanks, C. Jeff

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Thing is, even though you may not think you are being altruistic, the fact that the "career" you thought of was to help others means something.

Caitlin

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When overseas, you can get insurance through the school you teach or there may be other insurance options that the US doesn't have.  Travel insurance also can be used.  :)  That being said, insurance is always the biggest issue.

Caitlin

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I have no idea!  Honestly, the more I do the classroom teaching, I think I'm more interested in one-on-one lessons and tutoring.  I might want to go back to Japan for a bit or even go to Hawaii and teach English to Japanese people.  That sounds like fun.  I think going through this course has made me realize I don't have to be tethered to a desk (except for needing insurance).
Caitlin

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Jeff's 2nd Comment Emily makes a very serious point:  health insurance and being self-supporting financially.  I couldn't have entertained TESL abroad when I was younger -- too many responsibilities and too many people depending upon me financially.  I'll have Medicare health insurance in 2 years, but I'm curious to learn how you young people will handle this important part of American life.  Jeff

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Jeff's 2nd Comment Emily makes a very serious point:  health insurance and being self-supporting financially.  I couldn't have entertained TESL abroad when I was younger -- too many responsibilities and too many people depending upon me financially.  I'll have Medicare health insurance in 2 years, but I'm curious to learn how you young people will handle this important part of American life.  Jeff

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I've been making a lot of friends internationally through swimming, and in my retirement I want to visit them and swim with their teams as well as compete in more international meets. TESL will provide a framework for me to meet these goals. Plus a little bit of money at the same time.

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Jeff's 1st Comment.                           OK, you guys are making me feel so selfish.  Wait -- only I can make me feel things, right?  So, my reasons for wanting to teach English are not nearly as altruistic. While I like the thought of helping others, I mainly want to help myself find a community and a little money when I retire and live overseas for months at a time. Jeff

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Jeff's 1st Comment.                           OK, you guys are making me feel so selfish.  Wait -- only I can make me feel things, right?  So, my reasons for wanting to teach English are not nearly as altruistic. While I like the thought of helping others, I mainly want to help myself find a community and a little money when I retire and live overseas for months at a time. Jeff

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I agree with Matt and Emily: adventuring is amazing and, cliche as it sounds, helps you to grow in more ways than one. It was such a pleasure to get to know and learn about people who are different from me and enjoy not only our differences but to discover what we had in common. Traveling with people, you create new memories and if you don't make new friends by the end of it, at least you have some stories to tell. Traveling solo is also a surprisingly freeing and confidence building experience as well. 

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I agree with Matt and Emily: adventuring is amazing and, cliche as it sounds, helps you to grow in more ways than one. It was such a pleasure to get to know and learn about people who are different from me and enjoy not only our differences but to discover what we had in common. Traveling with people, you create new memories and if you don't make new friends by the end of it, at least you have some stories to tell. Traveling solo is also a surprisingly freeing and confidence building experience as well. 

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I agree Jenny, a release from a desk job sounds great. It doesn't seem natural, and puts a certain kind of stress on your body to be in the same position for 8 hours a day, and not to move around very much. I've noticed form my own experience that the stress isn't even just physical from a lack of movement, but mental and emotional as well. 

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I agree Jenny, a release from a desk job sounds great. It doesn't seem natural, and puts a certain kind of stress on your body to be in the same position for 8 hours a day, and not to move around very much. I've noticed form my own experience that the stress isn't even just physical from a lack of movement, but mental and emotional as well. 

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You know what they say: “Teaching: Doin’ it for the money!” But all joking aside, while I don’t expect to get wealthy from a TESL position, the position does have other major draws (and as long as I can financially support myself, those other options are possible). What I’m really hoping to get from my TESL career is the opportunity to help others. That’s the core of what I want to do/accomplish, the variety, the travel, and the culture are all the other exciting, interesting parts that come with it, the frosting of the cake. In addition to having an (as of yet) incurable travel itch, I also love learning about and from, and being with, others who are different from me.  

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You know what they say: “Teaching: Doin’ it for the money!” But all joking aside, while I don’t expect to get wealthy from a TESL position, the position does have other major draws (and as long as I can financially support myself, those other options are possible). What I’m really hoping to get from my TESL career is the opportunity to help others. That’s the core of what I want to do/accomplish, the variety, the travel, and the culture are all the other exciting, interesting parts that come with it, the frosting of the cake. In addition to having an (as of yet) incurable travel itch, I also love learning about and from, and being with, others who are different from me.  

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I want the ability to choose when and where I work. At this point everything is open. I want to try online classes and private lessons . I also would like to work for NALC helping volunteers.
Jenny

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I agree with this 100%. I'm so grateful that having a TESL certificate is recognized worldwide. Without it, we might not have the opportunities to make an impact, let alone see, many countries for long periods of time. Where are you thinking of going first?
Matthew

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Being able to bridge cultures is so important. The more we all can learn about each other and understand each other, the better the world will be. I look forward to following your adventures!

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I think you'll excel at this! Your enthusiasm, eagerness to learn, and to help people can only be enhanced by having a solid foundation on how to teach ESL.

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I would to help people and having a certificate will open more doors to do this.  The more I go through the classes, I realize I can take what I learn and go anywhere in the world.  I can see places and earn money while doing this.

Caitlin

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Quite selfishly, I get bored at routine desk jobs. I hope that ESL teaching will put me in touch with a community I care about, with enough routine to keep me sane but enough flexibility to let me get creative and use my talents to help others. I hope to one day combine my teaching with immigrant and refugee advocacy - Emily

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It's an awful lot of fun to go adventuring and remember that there's more than one way to live a life. I hope you get to do it soon!

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I'm 100% in agreement with this: I want to have a flexible, mobile job so I can travel or move with ease. I'm also fearful as crap about being my own boss and all the risks that entails - paying for your own health insurance, preventing burnout because you don't get paid time off, etc. But the ultimate flexibility to move around whenever you want? Solid gold.

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Teaching ESL gives me a skill that is useful around the world. One day, I hope to improve the lives of an overseas student group while immersing myself in  and understanding the difference between our cultures.
Matthew