Saturday, July 14, 2012

English Teaching - Why Do We Do It?

As I have had a lot of contact with teachers who have been living in such far-flung places such as: Bolivia, Mexico, Kazakhstan etc, I have been trying to figure out what it is that makes an TEFL teacher.

The title of this post is a question I often ask myself. What is it that makes English teachers leave the countries of their birth to seek new challenges and experiences elsewhere? Most of the teachers I have met over the years have some sort of interest in the arts. I have met many musicians, photographers, writers and so on. It has given me reason to ask myself - are they looking for inspiration for their art?

I guess there are also the teachers who want to escape from something from the past, perhaps a dark secret, a break up, boredom and so on. Leaving gives them a chance to wipe the slate clean and start over in a location where they are unknown and have no baggage or past to taint their reputations. New people, new challenges, and perhaps a new leaf to turn over.

People often say to me 'You are so lucky. You can travel anywhere in the world.' While this is very true, do I really want to do this? Loneliness and a lack of belonging to anyone location is another aspect of the TEFL teacher that seems to be a challenge to deal with. You go 'home' and you don't feel good there, you go to another place and once again you have to try to find a way to feel connected to the society there. Some people I have met want to put a stop to this restlessness but find it impossible to do so. Language is a big barrier but culture can be equally so.

So 'why do we do it'? I don't know. Perhaps it is a form of escape, the desire for new experiences, the need to learn something new, the lack of other options available or a mixture of all of these factors. Are we fortunate to be able to use something given to us from birth as the means to travel and have new experiences? I think so, but there are also negatives that balance this good fortune and give cause for complaint and even frustration.


Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Summer Lessons

If, like me, you have to leave to teach abroad in another country during the summer, how do you feel about it? By 'abroad' I mean, in another country than the one where you have worked during the school year or the one that you have made your home in some ways or in the true sense of the word.

For me teaching gives you the freedom to work and live in another country and the time to keep your interests alive. Do I complain about my job? I won't answer that but the fact is that I do appreciate having time off when others are working and being able to do things like going to the post office when it is necessary or going running or on bike rides when others are only halfway through a working day.

One thing I must moan about when it comes to my job is the fact that when the summer comes I have three options:

  • If I have been disciplined enough I can live off the savings I've accumulated and bask in the summer without worrying about how to pay the bills. Perhaps I can even take off for a bit and backpack to other places.
  • I can get some work and cut down on costs to somehow survive until October.
  • I can leave and do a summer course abroad.

The latter is the option I chose for this year and last year. Maybe 'chose' is not the right word. Circumstances dictated it. Being on a summer camp is not easy at times. It involves making a lot of personal sacrifices when it comes to personal freedom. On the other hand, there are benefits to it. I get to see new places, meet new people, get fed, get a bed etc. I also get to earn abroad so when I return to Poland my pounds can get me a lot more złoty. Still, it means putting things on hold such as music, hobbies in some ways and I guess life in general. Is this a good or a bad thing? I suppose it is neither entirely one or the other. It simply is as it is.

One thing I will earn from this is experience, appreciation for what I have when I return and or course a well-earned break when I plan to do very little.