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March 18, 2005
Do You Love What You Do?
Last time, I talked about whether or not it was wise to speak the mother tongue in a classroom setting, and that got me thinking about something else: if I go to all of the trouble to make my students work hard to learn English, rather than just doing it the easy way and telling them how to do the exercises in Spanish, I must actually love what I’m doing!
I guess I’ve never really thought about whether I love teaching ESL or just simply do it, because I’ve been working in this profession for so long. But this week, I finally came to realize that I truly do enjoy my job. (Why else would I work for so little pay, right?)
But then I started to wonder just how much that would change if I didn’t get to experience the many things that I do because I live in another country.
What about you? Are you in this career because of the satisfaction that comes from teaching and watching your students learn English, or do you do it for the cultural experiences and adventures that oftentimes go with the territory? While I do enjoy the profession, I wonder how much I would enjoy it if I was teaching in the United States. In other words, if I didn’t get the chance to experience another culture, country and the wacky experiences that go with it, would I still be an ESL teacher? Honestly, I don’t think that I would.
Does that make me any less of a teacher? I don’t think so. Instead, I think that it takes a special blend of character traits to be a good teacher, and in order to be a good teacher in another country, it takes those, plus an entirely different set of them. (patience, a willingness to try new things, and a laid-back attitude, for starters.)
Now, I’m not saying that teaching English as a second language isn’t an experience in itself—it only takes one visit to an ESL classroom to discover that! But there is something about stopping at the local market on your way home from class and seeing, tasting and smelling those foreign “things”, or spending your free time in a whole new cultural setting that adds another dimension to this work.
Am I the only one who feels like this?
I would love to hear from some ESL teachers working in the states to get your point of view. Are you satisfied where you are, or do you dream of relocating somewhere else? Does the idea of living your life outside of your current experiences thrill you or make you want to run in the other direction?
And what about those teachers living in a foreign country? If you were forced to leave your current country and teach in the U.S., would you continue teaching ESL, or would you look for another career? (Perhaps one loaded with adventure and new experiences.)
I have to say that, for me, the added dimension of another culture and different ways of doing things is what makes my job worthwhile. And if I were to lose that aspect of my life, I probably wouldn’t be content in this profession.
But that’s just me.
Write to me and tell me your thoughts on this subject. (Use the comment button below).
Next time, I’d like to talk about the idea of making friends with your students—is it a good idea or not? Drop me a line, and let’s talk about it!
Until next time,
Michelle
Posted by msimmons at March 18, 2005 02:35 AM
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Comments
Hi Michelle,
It's so refreshing to hear a teacher comment on how she loves teaching ESL, in your case, in a foreign country. I imagine it would be an experience of a lifetime. I teach ESL at a college in the U.S. and I get so much joy out of teaching my students English. Even though I'm not teaching in their native countries, I still experience their culture and learn new things every day.
I've taught different grades and subjects over the years and for me, teaching adults is exhilerating. Again, even though I'm not teaching in a foreign country, I still feel the benefits and satisfaction in the fact that I'm playing such an important role in these students' lives. It's helping students have upward mobility in their jobs, their personal lives are positively affected, and the greatest part is that they actually want to be there in the classroom!!
Someday, however, I would like to experience teaching ESL temporarily in southern Spain. I've been looking on several different websites, particularly eslemployment.com, and I have not seen many positions in southern Spain. Got any ideas? :)
A last note, in regards to your upcoming article mentioned above, as an experienced teacher of 20 years, I've always believed that there should be that separation between being a teacher and their friend. Thank you for your article and I look forward to your next one.
Posted by: Briana at March 18, 2005 01:42 PM
Hi Michelle,
I think a lot of people get into the foreign language teaching profession abroad because of the reasons you mentioned in your blog entry--the adventure and excitment of being in a new place with a different native language and culture from your own. The interest in teaching is usually secondary for these individuals.
I came to this field from the other direction--I discovered my love for working with adults in a learning environment and then got the idea that I might like to try it in another country. I have been teaching ESL to immigrants and refugees in the US for 7 years now and during that time I got my TESOL Certificate and my MA degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in adult ESL. I also have gotten to know many amazing, courageous people who have opened the door to a new world for me.
I'm applying for a graduate teaching fellowship in Africa or Southeast Asia for three reasons. I want to explore other languages and cultures. I hope this experience will help me relate better to the challenges of learning a second language and a new culture as an adult. Additionally, I would like to have the experience of teaching English in NNES country.
When I return from overseas in one, two, three, four or more years, I plan to return to adult ESL teaching in the US. It has been an amazing experience. The learners are so motivated and driven. They risked a lot to come here with no guarantee whatsoever that it would work out. That's so amazing to me.
I know I will discover so much to love about my overseas learners too, but I suspect it will be a much different experience in many ways and similar in others.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and allowing me to share mine.
Jessie
Posted by: Jessie at March 22, 2005 01:25 AM
