Cool, redtext. Mmm.

Hi T.A.O. I think your concerns are quite quite genuine and real, but I also think that they are simply not limited to the ESL or any other profession these days. There is no such thing as a job for life anymore.

For smaller schools and universities an ESL career in another country (especially ones like China, Korea etc)there is likely no advancement possibilities.
Other choices?

1. Some people I know have got married and started their own businesses here (China), which is one way of doing it.

2. You could join a larger chain of schools as a senior teacher or head teacher and then try moving up into management from there.

3. Start your own school! (Okay, I guess this is the same as option 1 really!)

4. Save up some cash and start your own business back home. This may take some time!

5. Learn the language and then try to find a job with a western company but in the country you are in, with your local knowledge to back you up.

Good luck in whatever you do. No one can tell what will happen in this ride we call life, sometimes we can only hang on and hope we don't fall off going over a bump!

Blimey, I am waxing lyrical today. Too many classes, I better go and lie down.