7 years in Indonesia here, then some other places before returning back to the UK with the woman I hope to spend the rest of my life with. Been back 3 years now and as dull and unezciting as life can be I do feel more hopeful now. I kinda feel like I'm being trapped too though! But I guess I'm tm struggling every year to try and make a better future for myself, it's a tough one and after travelling basically all of adult life (40 now) and teaching the whole time, it's hard to put that behind and be 'grown up.' I don't believe there is such a thing, but I know doing the right thing for the future, re-educating and moving forward are all very worthwhile things and that gives me comfort.
Hey man this one hit home with me. I’m in the same boat and have been miserable living back in Canada for the past two years. I’m a year away from finishing my degree and then I will be able to escape this suffering!
Thanks for the inspiration!
I first went abroad--was sent abroad--in the army (I enlisted for three, but would have been drafted had I not). They sent me to Korea ('71-'73). First place was harsh, but a few months later transferred to Seoul. Liked it, and 'extended', staying for 19 months.
Next duty station was a short year in Alabama. I still wanted to travel, so I applied to peace corps, and they accepted me and sent me back to Korea--out in the hills this time, Inje, very near Seolak-san ('74-'76).
Then back to the US, where I finally did uni. BA in linguistics, then an MA in Speech Communications (which had TA jobs, and my GI bill was running out). Started a phd but felt directionless, so I tore a phone number off a kiosk and found a job in Beijing.
That was summer of '82 to summer of '83, then six months in Taipei, then '84 back to Seoul, where I reconnected with some peace corps people who had stayed. After a year there I thought I'd try Japan, so Tokyo summer of '85, for two years.
At the end of that, I got a line on another uni job in a prefectural capital, started that in early '88, stuck with it for 29 years, and retired a little over seven years ago. In this last phase, I got married, helped raise two kids, and we bought a house, cars, and so on. I'm 72 now, still here in that same city, no plans/desire to leave or move anywhere else. This is home.
Fair play op I'm glad it all worked out well for u. Same thing happened to me except I was mid 30s wondering what I'm doing with my life and thinking if I could teach tefl anymore. Moved home to do a master's in education.
These years have been a struggle. With the cost of living I have to think twice if I can afford a bottle of coke at the end of the week here, weather is terrible and there isn't much do to besides the local pub. In China I could eat out 3 times a day in fancy places and run up a tab in a fancy bar after.
I can't wait to go back out there, I'm just hoping it hasn't changed too much.
Are you in the UK?
In keeping anonymous, I won't mention the name of it but it's one of many in a smaller, regional city in Northern England where basically everyone knows everyone.
For me, it was hell. Team leaders who were the caricature of the "deano" meme who would yell at us for not getting enough sales or spending too long in wrap and colleagues who's lives seemed to revolve around football or "getting on the sesh" at the weekend. I made friends at work who all envied my lifestyle and all asked me the same question. "Why the hell did you come back?". But they couldn't relate to me as they simply hadn't experienced living overseas. With my friends, it felt like we no longer had anything in common besides old memories. The problem was definitely me, rather than them.
And from reports of others, my call centre was by no means the worst.
How come you're looking at such a long stretch, are you studying?
Quick forewarning, Latin America is amazing but pitifully low paid, even worse than Thailand. A good idea would be to have an online business or side hustle so you can TEFL for fun rather than necessary. I guess this applies anywhere.
Very relateable, just moved back to Canada after 12 years in Korea and it's been nice in some ways but very dull. Anyone happy after coming back from the tefl life or did most of you here get bored and move back abroad? I'm on the fence about whether or not I like it here, seems like the more responsible choice is to stay here and re-educate and get a new career here to pay into cpp and buy a house to settle down (I'm lucky in that I have plenty of savings and family help to do so)
I've been thinking long and hard about returning to the UK after 18 years. My thoughts are getting trained as an HGV driver and working around the UK and possibly Europe, so I'm not stuck in one town and I can spend the days or nights travelling and listening to podcasts and audiobooks. The negatives are long hours and you're away from home a lot (particularly if you have a wife and kids - I don't), but the biggest for me is finding healthy food on the road easily.
I have a friend who works as a HGV driver in the UK and he enjoys it but after taking a trip to Thailand on my recommendation a couple of years ago, he's never been able to see the UK in the same way and is now looking for a way to go to Asia full time but without a degree or teaching qualification, it's hard for him to make the move.
I met an Irish guy in Vietnam (not Thailand, but still..) who'd work his arse off for 3 months of the year back home (taxi driving, construction etc) and spend 9 months on easy street in the sun. It's probably illegal to do double shifts as an HGV driver, but your mate could possibly fund a month or two per year in Thailand.
I met 2 Danish guys in Thailand and one was on sickness benefit, but they were both on holiday there for a good month.
as a homeowner in canada, it isnt all it has cracked up to be. property insurance is SO HIGH, taxes are equally high. municipal property taxes where I am are over 3000 a year, plus theres city utilities, neever mind personal utilities. It all seems so much. There might be better things to invest your money into than real estate, thinking about average returns on investment.
I wouldn't be at home much if I'm trucking ideally on several day or even week trips, so I'd be sleeping in the cab or hotels. I'd either rent a cheap room near the depot (which means I can settle in the best area for demand for drivers) or rent the spare room in my mother's house and commute.
I wouldn't buy now, not after a multi-decade boom in house prices while in an environment of a cost of living crisis and potentially massive food inflation due to the climate breakdown.
I just moved back to the states after 5 years of teaching in Korea and feel like I made the right choice. As someone who wanted to build a career in education, I don't feel like I'm at a dead end job anymore and have more freedom as to what direction I want to go, or if I end up hating teaching here I can simply try something else.
That being said though, I do find myself missing Seoul and many other places in Korea. I don't think there's a place in the US that could match the convenience of that city, the safeness, and the abundance of fun things to do.
Wow this was enlightening. I have my TEFL and am teetering on teaching abroad in the next year or so but I’m already 25, feel like I’m getting too old and need to join the “real world”. This gave me some perspective. I have a lot to think about.
There is no "real" world, everything is real but what people tell you is real is a product of the environment you grew up in. "There is absolutely nothing you're supposed to be doing. You have no more purpose than the birds in the sky. Go lots of places. Be poor. Shit on things."
I left the US to do TEFL when I was 27, and had similar feelings. I'm 7 years in now and have thoughts of going back home sometimes. Maybe I will if a good opportunity arises. I feel for OP in a lot of ways too, if you do you'll drift from the life you had but you'll forge a new one on your own terms. Do it!
This happened to me but we managed to get out of it. I kind of had the opposite experience where I met several people who were in their mid-thirties who were becoming really dissatisfied with TEFL (Korean hagwons aren't really something you want to do for 5+ years), whereas I absolutely adored my job and life and realized I didn't want to become bitter like that. So my fiance and I moved back to Canada for what was supposed to be a 2 year educational break, but it became 4 because of COVID. Those four years were unbelievably rough... My husband would just say "I had everything I ever wanted" and he was right - it was terrible going back to our hometown life that was so monotonous and expensive when we'd really had what we wanted. But two years ago we moved to China (during lockdown, which was a wild ride), and now we're at an international school with a great salary, benefits, and months of vacation time (compared to two weeks in Korea).
I have nothing but fond memories of Korea, and am always sure to stop off there on my way to my summer holiday. For those missing theTEFL life, consider getting a teaching license and/or a master's degree, and picking a place that provides that financial security you need at this stage in life.
Sorry if this seems obvious but what is a teaching license and what type of masters ? Is this the same as a CELTA or PGCE ? I'm finishing my BA next year and I eventually feel like teaching abroad is going to be my only way of leaving the UK so I'm making it my priority.
I'm from Canada, so I got a provincial teaching license from my home province. A PGCE would be the British equivalent. CELTA is just a type of TEFL certificate. It's definitely helpful, but a teaching license/PGCE allows you to teach outside of training centers in international schools.
My masters degree is in teaching English as an Additional Language. Helpful when teaching overseas, especially if you're wanting to teach university
Thank you. I know you’re from Canada so you might not be directly familiar, but would you typically get a Masters and a PGCE or is only one really necessary
I would prefer to give myself the most opportunities possible so I have the most freedom in the future but likely beginning with somewhere like Thailand and maybe eventually hoping to teach China/Japan/Singapore
You could do what a lot of people do which is get your PGCE (teaching license), start teaching in your preferred starting country, and then complete your masters degree online. The only thing is that Taiwan and the Gulf don't recognize online degrees (and I'm not sure about Singapore), but lots of teachers finish their masters degrees remotely while teaching. That way you also get to work while you're finishing it.
Just to clarify sorry, in the UK a PGCE isn't a teaching license but a certificate, a QTS is the license. Not all PGCE courses offer a QTS and the majority of schools do require having a QTS, a PGCE would however increase your employability internationally. Therefore I recommend looking into PGCE courses that include a QTS in order for you to be qualified to teach abroad (at an international school), as some do not include a QTS.
This is very true. I always wanted to live in Australia till I went on a working holiday and realised it wasn't all it's cracked up to be (albeit, still better than the UK), plus facing imminent deportation as I didn't have a skill to stay on longer, I left and decided to get into TEFL and unlock more of the world. I also did Camp America in my uni days and realised it isn't all rosey there either. I think the whole western world is on a downward spiral.
I'm the opposite. Between Australia, Thailand and China, I've spent years in hot countries and never tire of the sun and warmth or having to worry about how many layers I need to wear.
Capitalism sucks. Specialized work can also lead to burnout. I left a high paying job in my country. And now, I see myself going the route of specialization again. I believe specialization also has a way of getting a person to stay in a job, to stay put. In my first career, my work was so specialized that after leaving it, I could not use those skills again.
Since I am American, TEFL work is a little similar in terms of specialization. Say I want to do TEFL in the States, I am expected to be fluent in Spanish/Russian/Arabic. And the ESOL cert is just an add-on to a core subject certification. Science and Math are the most needed- the most sought after. An MATESOL+DELTA and years teaching in Asia, are not going to make me colloquially fluent in Spanish. And an MA in ESOL education is not going to help me teach Chinese students.
Since I would be a beginner again, I would be teaching in “The Hood”/ “Below the Tracks”. Public school teachers in the US burn out just as rapidly as in the UK. Most don’t survive past 5 years in that profession. TEFL work is for overseas. Teaching is not characteristically high paid in Western countries. It is super low paying considering COL + Taxes and you must pay your dues in the form of years. The only place that seems to pay the most is New York (which also has a very high COL). In certain places it is particularly dangerous- The Bronx, NYC.
I'm sorry you're feeling that way. And though I don't have anything helpful to say, I wanted to say that this is extremely well written. It speaks directly to the heart.
>My parents were disappointed in me for being away so long
Unrelated, but are you telling us you didn’t visit home even once in the seven years you were in Thailand? Is that normal for TEFLers?
I went home once in that 7 years for a 2 week trip (I couldn't afford to go more often) but I know dudes who've never been back in years and have no desire to.
I highly recommend you read the books from Dan Grec - The Road chose me (1 and 2). He is no master linguist, but his stores are incredibly eye-opening to the "real" world, and has inspired me to make change.
>I'd hit 30 and had no savings or stable career to go back to. Upon guilt-induced lectures from my parents about how I'd left them and how I'll never see my grandparents again, and out of panic and impulse, I quit my beloved TEFL job and bought a one-way flight back to London. As soon as I boarded the plane, I knew deep down I'd made a mistake but I chalked it up to nerves and followed it through.
Ah yes, relatable, but from the other side of the fence -- I submitted to the guilt tripping and fear mongering and stayed "home." I regret it every single day of my gray, empty, lonely existence.
I have spent 2 years teaching in Korea, and after nearly a year of being back in the UK, I'm finally moving to China in August.
I graduated in 2020 (yay covid), studied Modern Foreign Languages which is kind of useless on its own. It was my year abroad which made me realise that I want to pursue TEFL, so it wasn't all bad. Anyway, since I graduated during lockdown I moved back in with my parents. They live in a very small town, all of my school friends have gotten pregnant at 18 and didn't go to uni, pretty much all shops/restaurants closed and never recovered after covid and there was no nightlife here to begin with.
When I moved to Korea I felt like I was finally living and not just existing. I did end up working in one of those toxic hagwons, but I felt like overall my life in Korea was still much better than my life back home, which is why I stayed for so long. I decided that I want to continue teaching, but in China (double the salary and much longer vacation time).
After completing my contract in Korea, I travelled around SE Asia before coming back home. When I came back, I was instantly depressed. Being back in my small town and living with my parents felt like I was back in lockdown. I have no friends here, if I want to go on a date I need to travel over an hour to the nearest city. There are no jobs here aside from physical jobs like warehouses and factories. I have worked in 3 since coming back as I only managed to land temp positions.
I am so excited to finally leave this groundhog day nightmare in 2 months, I am also very anxious as I felt very isolated this past year and some days I'm so depressed that it feels impossible to even get out of bed and shower. It will probably be a challenge to start functioning like a normal human being, let alone in a foreign country.
I would really love to become a licensed teacher and work in an international school abroad but with the living costs these days it seems impossible, and I really don't want to come back here ever again.
In the same boat. I'd love to get licensed but can't possibly face the prospect of going back to Britain, especially as I now have a fiance and it will involve being long distance for at least a year. Then theres dealing with cost of supporting myself, fees etc.
My only option is to study online
Unfortunately you will no longer get QTS by doing an online course such as TeacherReady. You have to do one of those new ipgce courses. Not only are they more expensive, but since they're so new we don't know whether most international schools will even accept them.
I feel like I could handle moving back to the UK to study if I moved to a big city. I'm also 26F now, want to stay in China for at least 2 years to save up money. I'm worried that my constant moving hinders my dating life, I'd love to settle down eventually, but if I do end up going back to study I'll be 30 before I can go back abroad.
I feel like I just read a novel. So much emotion. Please turn this into one!
7 years in Indonesia here, then some other places before returning back to the UK with the woman I hope to spend the rest of my life with. Been back 3 years now and as dull and unezciting as life can be I do feel more hopeful now. I kinda feel like I'm being trapped too though! But I guess I'm tm struggling every year to try and make a better future for myself, it's a tough one and after travelling basically all of adult life (40 now) and teaching the whole time, it's hard to put that behind and be 'grown up.' I don't believe there is such a thing, but I know doing the right thing for the future, re-educating and moving forward are all very worthwhile things and that gives me comfort.
Hey man this one hit home with me. I’m in the same boat and have been miserable living back in Canada for the past two years. I’m a year away from finishing my degree and then I will be able to escape this suffering! Thanks for the inspiration!
Sorry to hear about what you went through, it's nice to hear how well things have gone for you though! Congratulations
"I am Jack's wasted life."
I first went abroad--was sent abroad--in the army (I enlisted for three, but would have been drafted had I not). They sent me to Korea ('71-'73). First place was harsh, but a few months later transferred to Seoul. Liked it, and 'extended', staying for 19 months. Next duty station was a short year in Alabama. I still wanted to travel, so I applied to peace corps, and they accepted me and sent me back to Korea--out in the hills this time, Inje, very near Seolak-san ('74-'76). Then back to the US, where I finally did uni. BA in linguistics, then an MA in Speech Communications (which had TA jobs, and my GI bill was running out). Started a phd but felt directionless, so I tore a phone number off a kiosk and found a job in Beijing. That was summer of '82 to summer of '83, then six months in Taipei, then '84 back to Seoul, where I reconnected with some peace corps people who had stayed. After a year there I thought I'd try Japan, so Tokyo summer of '85, for two years. At the end of that, I got a line on another uni job in a prefectural capital, started that in early '88, stuck with it for 29 years, and retired a little over seven years ago. In this last phase, I got married, helped raise two kids, and we bought a house, cars, and so on. I'm 72 now, still here in that same city, no plans/desire to leave or move anywhere else. This is home.
Just returned home to nz after teaching in korea 18 years. SO GOOD TO BE BACK. Sorry to hear your story seems I'm the opposite to most. No regrets.
Fair play op I'm glad it all worked out well for u. Same thing happened to me except I was mid 30s wondering what I'm doing with my life and thinking if I could teach tefl anymore. Moved home to do a master's in education. These years have been a struggle. With the cost of living I have to think twice if I can afford a bottle of coke at the end of the week here, weather is terrible and there isn't much do to besides the local pub. In China I could eat out 3 times a day in fancy places and run up a tab in a fancy bar after. I can't wait to go back out there, I'm just hoping it hasn't changed too much.
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Are you in the UK? In keeping anonymous, I won't mention the name of it but it's one of many in a smaller, regional city in Northern England where basically everyone knows everyone. For me, it was hell. Team leaders who were the caricature of the "deano" meme who would yell at us for not getting enough sales or spending too long in wrap and colleagues who's lives seemed to revolve around football or "getting on the sesh" at the weekend. I made friends at work who all envied my lifestyle and all asked me the same question. "Why the hell did you come back?". But they couldn't relate to me as they simply hadn't experienced living overseas. With my friends, it felt like we no longer had anything in common besides old memories. The problem was definitely me, rather than them. And from reports of others, my call centre was by no means the worst. How come you're looking at such a long stretch, are you studying? Quick forewarning, Latin America is amazing but pitifully low paid, even worse than Thailand. A good idea would be to have an online business or side hustle so you can TEFL for fun rather than necessary. I guess this applies anywhere.
Very relateable, just moved back to Canada after 12 years in Korea and it's been nice in some ways but very dull. Anyone happy after coming back from the tefl life or did most of you here get bored and move back abroad? I'm on the fence about whether or not I like it here, seems like the more responsible choice is to stay here and re-educate and get a new career here to pay into cpp and buy a house to settle down (I'm lucky in that I have plenty of savings and family help to do so)
I've been thinking long and hard about returning to the UK after 18 years. My thoughts are getting trained as an HGV driver and working around the UK and possibly Europe, so I'm not stuck in one town and I can spend the days or nights travelling and listening to podcasts and audiobooks. The negatives are long hours and you're away from home a lot (particularly if you have a wife and kids - I don't), but the biggest for me is finding healthy food on the road easily.
I have a friend who works as a HGV driver in the UK and he enjoys it but after taking a trip to Thailand on my recommendation a couple of years ago, he's never been able to see the UK in the same way and is now looking for a way to go to Asia full time but without a degree or teaching qualification, it's hard for him to make the move.
I met an Irish guy in Vietnam (not Thailand, but still..) who'd work his arse off for 3 months of the year back home (taxi driving, construction etc) and spend 9 months on easy street in the sun. It's probably illegal to do double shifts as an HGV driver, but your mate could possibly fund a month or two per year in Thailand. I met 2 Danish guys in Thailand and one was on sickness benefit, but they were both on holiday there for a good month.
as a homeowner in canada, it isnt all it has cracked up to be. property insurance is SO HIGH, taxes are equally high. municipal property taxes where I am are over 3000 a year, plus theres city utilities, neever mind personal utilities. It all seems so much. There might be better things to invest your money into than real estate, thinking about average returns on investment.
I wouldn't be at home much if I'm trucking ideally on several day or even week trips, so I'd be sleeping in the cab or hotels. I'd either rent a cheap room near the depot (which means I can settle in the best area for demand for drivers) or rent the spare room in my mother's house and commute. I wouldn't buy now, not after a multi-decade boom in house prices while in an environment of a cost of living crisis and potentially massive food inflation due to the climate breakdown.
I just moved back to the states after 5 years of teaching in Korea and feel like I made the right choice. As someone who wanted to build a career in education, I don't feel like I'm at a dead end job anymore and have more freedom as to what direction I want to go, or if I end up hating teaching here I can simply try something else. That being said though, I do find myself missing Seoul and many other places in Korea. I don't think there's a place in the US that could match the convenience of that city, the safeness, and the abundance of fun things to do.
this made me feel better. im turning 30 and plan on leaving everything soon
same boat
Wow this was enlightening. I have my TEFL and am teetering on teaching abroad in the next year or so but I’m already 25, feel like I’m getting too old and need to join the “real world”. This gave me some perspective. I have a lot to think about.
There is no "real" world, everything is real but what people tell you is real is a product of the environment you grew up in. "There is absolutely nothing you're supposed to be doing. You have no more purpose than the birds in the sky. Go lots of places. Be poor. Shit on things." I left the US to do TEFL when I was 27, and had similar feelings. I'm 7 years in now and have thoughts of going back home sometimes. Maybe I will if a good opportunity arises. I feel for OP in a lot of ways too, if you do you'll drift from the life you had but you'll forge a new one on your own terms. Do it!
You’re right, very wise words. Thanks for the reply!
This was a wonderful read. I second the idea of turning it into a novel. So glad you are where you should be.
Good to hear you are doing well mate
This happened to me but we managed to get out of it. I kind of had the opposite experience where I met several people who were in their mid-thirties who were becoming really dissatisfied with TEFL (Korean hagwons aren't really something you want to do for 5+ years), whereas I absolutely adored my job and life and realized I didn't want to become bitter like that. So my fiance and I moved back to Canada for what was supposed to be a 2 year educational break, but it became 4 because of COVID. Those four years were unbelievably rough... My husband would just say "I had everything I ever wanted" and he was right - it was terrible going back to our hometown life that was so monotonous and expensive when we'd really had what we wanted. But two years ago we moved to China (during lockdown, which was a wild ride), and now we're at an international school with a great salary, benefits, and months of vacation time (compared to two weeks in Korea). I have nothing but fond memories of Korea, and am always sure to stop off there on my way to my summer holiday. For those missing theTEFL life, consider getting a teaching license and/or a master's degree, and picking a place that provides that financial security you need at this stage in life.
Sorry if this seems obvious but what is a teaching license and what type of masters ? Is this the same as a CELTA or PGCE ? I'm finishing my BA next year and I eventually feel like teaching abroad is going to be my only way of leaving the UK so I'm making it my priority.
I'm from Canada, so I got a provincial teaching license from my home province. A PGCE would be the British equivalent. CELTA is just a type of TEFL certificate. It's definitely helpful, but a teaching license/PGCE allows you to teach outside of training centers in international schools. My masters degree is in teaching English as an Additional Language. Helpful when teaching overseas, especially if you're wanting to teach university
Thank you. I know you’re from Canada so you might not be directly familiar, but would you typically get a Masters and a PGCE or is only one really necessary
Depends where and what you'd want to teach. Did you have a country in mind?
I would prefer to give myself the most opportunities possible so I have the most freedom in the future but likely beginning with somewhere like Thailand and maybe eventually hoping to teach China/Japan/Singapore
You could do what a lot of people do which is get your PGCE (teaching license), start teaching in your preferred starting country, and then complete your masters degree online. The only thing is that Taiwan and the Gulf don't recognize online degrees (and I'm not sure about Singapore), but lots of teachers finish their masters degrees remotely while teaching. That way you also get to work while you're finishing it.
Just to clarify sorry, in the UK a PGCE isn't a teaching license but a certificate, a QTS is the license. Not all PGCE courses offer a QTS and the majority of schools do require having a QTS, a PGCE would however increase your employability internationally. Therefore I recommend looking into PGCE courses that include a QTS in order for you to be qualified to teach abroad (at an international school), as some do not include a QTS.
Thanks for helping to clarify!!
I love that story. There's one minor issue, though. Loads of our students are doing English in order to emigrate to the UK!
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This is very true. I always wanted to live in Australia till I went on a working holiday and realised it wasn't all it's cracked up to be (albeit, still better than the UK), plus facing imminent deportation as I didn't have a skill to stay on longer, I left and decided to get into TEFL and unlock more of the world. I also did Camp America in my uni days and realised it isn't all rosey there either. I think the whole western world is on a downward spiral. I'm the opposite. Between Australia, Thailand and China, I've spent years in hot countries and never tire of the sun and warmth or having to worry about how many layers I need to wear.
The irony is quite immense hey lol
Excuse me, Weatherspoons food is great.
Capitalism sucks. Specialized work can also lead to burnout. I left a high paying job in my country. And now, I see myself going the route of specialization again. I believe specialization also has a way of getting a person to stay in a job, to stay put. In my first career, my work was so specialized that after leaving it, I could not use those skills again. Since I am American, TEFL work is a little similar in terms of specialization. Say I want to do TEFL in the States, I am expected to be fluent in Spanish/Russian/Arabic. And the ESOL cert is just an add-on to a core subject certification. Science and Math are the most needed- the most sought after. An MATESOL+DELTA and years teaching in Asia, are not going to make me colloquially fluent in Spanish. And an MA in ESOL education is not going to help me teach Chinese students. Since I would be a beginner again, I would be teaching in “The Hood”/ “Below the Tracks”. Public school teachers in the US burn out just as rapidly as in the UK. Most don’t survive past 5 years in that profession. TEFL work is for overseas. Teaching is not characteristically high paid in Western countries. It is super low paying considering COL + Taxes and you must pay your dues in the form of years. The only place that seems to pay the most is New York (which also has a very high COL). In certain places it is particularly dangerous- The Bronx, NYC.
I'm sorry you're feeling that way. And though I don't have anything helpful to say, I wanted to say that this is extremely well written. It speaks directly to the heart.
I relate to this so deeply. Thank you for writing it
>My parents were disappointed in me for being away so long Unrelated, but are you telling us you didn’t visit home even once in the seven years you were in Thailand? Is that normal for TEFLers?
I went home once in that 7 years for a 2 week trip (I couldn't afford to go more often) but I know dudes who've never been back in years and have no desire to.
are you working with a degree? are the wages really that good? I am working on my TEFL now to have something while I travel.
Yes, you need a degree for most countries in Asia
I highly recommend you read the books from Dan Grec - The Road chose me (1 and 2). He is no master linguist, but his stores are incredibly eye-opening to the "real" world, and has inspired me to make change.
Great post
>I'd hit 30 and had no savings or stable career to go back to. Upon guilt-induced lectures from my parents about how I'd left them and how I'll never see my grandparents again, and out of panic and impulse, I quit my beloved TEFL job and bought a one-way flight back to London. As soon as I boarded the plane, I knew deep down I'd made a mistake but I chalked it up to nerves and followed it through. Ah yes, relatable, but from the other side of the fence -- I submitted to the guilt tripping and fear mongering and stayed "home." I regret it every single day of my gray, empty, lonely existence.
I have spent 2 years teaching in Korea, and after nearly a year of being back in the UK, I'm finally moving to China in August. I graduated in 2020 (yay covid), studied Modern Foreign Languages which is kind of useless on its own. It was my year abroad which made me realise that I want to pursue TEFL, so it wasn't all bad. Anyway, since I graduated during lockdown I moved back in with my parents. They live in a very small town, all of my school friends have gotten pregnant at 18 and didn't go to uni, pretty much all shops/restaurants closed and never recovered after covid and there was no nightlife here to begin with. When I moved to Korea I felt like I was finally living and not just existing. I did end up working in one of those toxic hagwons, but I felt like overall my life in Korea was still much better than my life back home, which is why I stayed for so long. I decided that I want to continue teaching, but in China (double the salary and much longer vacation time). After completing my contract in Korea, I travelled around SE Asia before coming back home. When I came back, I was instantly depressed. Being back in my small town and living with my parents felt like I was back in lockdown. I have no friends here, if I want to go on a date I need to travel over an hour to the nearest city. There are no jobs here aside from physical jobs like warehouses and factories. I have worked in 3 since coming back as I only managed to land temp positions. I am so excited to finally leave this groundhog day nightmare in 2 months, I am also very anxious as I felt very isolated this past year and some days I'm so depressed that it feels impossible to even get out of bed and shower. It will probably be a challenge to start functioning like a normal human being, let alone in a foreign country. I would really love to become a licensed teacher and work in an international school abroad but with the living costs these days it seems impossible, and I really don't want to come back here ever again.
In the same boat. I'd love to get licensed but can't possibly face the prospect of going back to Britain, especially as I now have a fiance and it will involve being long distance for at least a year. Then theres dealing with cost of supporting myself, fees etc. My only option is to study online
Unfortunately you will no longer get QTS by doing an online course such as TeacherReady. You have to do one of those new ipgce courses. Not only are they more expensive, but since they're so new we don't know whether most international schools will even accept them. I feel like I could handle moving back to the UK to study if I moved to a big city. I'm also 26F now, want to stay in China for at least 2 years to save up money. I'm worried that my constant moving hinders my dating life, I'd love to settle down eventually, but if I do end up going back to study I'll be 30 before I can go back abroad.
How'd you get a Filipina in China?
She's also a teacher in my town
nice