Dear Canadians,

the cockles of this old heart could never have foreseen the impending arrival of such marvellous fortune prior to having witnessed this effusion of such patriotic support and comfort as you have for each other in times of such obvious linguistic and economic hardship...it seems like such a wonderful place; i really must take a tour there someday...now where are my xanax...my goodness is that the time?...

yours therapeutically,

Miss Tick.

Interesting post! Out of curiousity what do you see as your future here? (Or wherever you are!) Do you have a retirement plan?

In *some* ways I can relate, my situation isn't 100% different, except I left because I was tired of the s*it in the west and I like Asia. I had a good job (well, a well paid job, not quite the same thing)and a fairly 'decent' life there.

Here, well, with an apology to all teachers, I don't consider this to be a 'proper' job. Perhaps it is because I am used to working in large corporates and here even the best companies seem to be totally amateursville. Still, I enjoy the work and the life. Certainly more than back 'home'. Money isn't everything (though I make more than enough to live well here).

Perhaps you should try a different uni or a private school where the students are a little more motivated. It may take a few goes, but you may find somewhere you are quite happy.

Good luck to you anyway!

Dos

> 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?