What a great text! You write extremely well.

Your story is moving. I wish you all the best.

Sincerely,

Corinne

> Yes, its quit a conundrum: should I stay in America under Bushs
> great economic plan or should I take a low paying ESL position with
> all inherent problems? This is not so trivial because ESL is probably
> the only way most of us can support ourselves out of Hitlerssorry I
> mean Bushs regime.

> In the last throes of the glory days in America, I was a software
> engineer with a masters degree and over 8 years experience at some
> good firms. I was a contractor and made enough to save for retirement
> and have a family. However, my opportunities went to India
> (outsourced) and my choices, after being in a technical field for so
> long in an economy sold out from under me, were few. I tried to get
> jobs just to put food on the table, ie: flipping hamburgers. Sadly, I
> couldnt even get those because the illegal Mexicans will do it
> cheaper and dont complain about any abuse, since their fear of
> retribution by the authorities. So, fortunately, I sold my stuff and
> took the CELTA in Central Europe and started my NEW career as an
> English teacher.oh joy.

> I dont want to demean this field in any way, as I respect the
> teaching profession. However, the ESL schools are out to make money
> on a slim profit margin, since everybody and their mothers brother
> can open a school with little investment. The risk must be great,
> however. Having said that, it really doesnt feel like teaching to
> me, though Im not degreed as a teacher but as an engineer. I like
> most of my students but some have no motivation whatsoever. This irks
> me to no end since I studied my bum off in university through some
> science courses that made you lose hair (I faired pretty wellmy hair
> that is). But, in private ESL schools, the student is not just a
> student but a customer; hence, you have to hold their hand and
> entertain them.

> I teach in Asia, Ill withhold where, though I dont think it
> matters. But, a white face that entertains is the norm here. And,
> Ill be the first to admit that if I had my druthers, Id be teaching
> science or engineering. However, if the US is outsourcing and off
> shoring to Asia for their technical expertise, Im sure Im not
> needed in that capacity. That leaves me teaching English, which I
> hated with a passion in high school, and the enduring pain of
> unmotivated students that are just passing time in a school that
> needs to maximize profits.

> Now, I must make the disclaimer that I WANT my students to do well,
> if they show effort. I make the effort of activities, role play and
> conversation as fun as I can with minimal TTT and maximum STT. But, I
> feel I sux at teaching and would like to get out. Unfortunately,
> approaching middle age and from a country that can easily be compared
> to the National Socialist party of Nazi Germany, I have few options.
> I have to EAT!!!

> Yes, the situation is bad in North America, in Canada the bread lines
> are even worse (Im also Canadian). Expect to see many more teachers
> in a mass exodus over the ensuing years. Im sure that in keeping
> with capitalism, this will lower the wages more and make English
> schools give even less respectits all about supply and demand.

> In this Free Market society, we have to expect no financial
> security, family stability or national security. We are constantly
> told to go back to school, on our dime of course and at an older age,
> as many times as the industrialists want to maximize profits. My last
> peace of toiletI mean university paper cost me 60,000 USD at 8
> percent interest. Simply a cost most students in other countries
> neednt pay. And now, I must look at being an expat to make a
> living..somewhereanywhere.

> I think some of the young kids out there are nave and dont realize
> that this may very well happen to them. So teaching English for them
> is just a kind of a Bohemian experience before they get their
> real job. Yeh, better talk to Greenspan. Better yet, better give
> your ESL a career boost and put more effort in. So teach or flip
> burgers is accurate

> Hey, would you like fries with that?