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  #1  
Old 01-24-2022, 11:54 AM
Banter Shack Banter Shack is offline
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Default Any ESL teachers here?

Hey folks,

I'm working on some satirical songs and for my next one, I'm writing from the POV of an ESL teacher. If you've ever done a stint in this profession, was there anything you disliked about it?

This mostly applies to anyone who has taught English abroad, albeit, anyone with teaching experience may have something to complain about. Any opinions and anecdotes much appreciated.

Thanks!
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  #2  
Old 01-25-2022, 09:56 AM
ewalling ewalling is offline
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I worked as an ESL teacher for 18 years before switching to a mixture of college composition and EAP - English for academic Purposes. I worked in Finland, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Peru, and Turkey.

Some 'gripes':
- people in 'foreign' countries who refuse to behave like English people!
- students who make the same mistakes despite being corrected a million times
- students who speak in their own language when you put them together in pairs to practise something
- students who talk too much
- students who talk too little
- students who think the purpose of a speaking exercise is to finish it
- students with the attention span of a small rodent
- students who expect the teacher to keep them 'entertained' at the level of a professional stand-up entertainer
- students who don't listen to instructions
- technical devices that refuse to work properly and screw up your class
- antisocial working times - you often have to work at night after students have finished work
- managers whose job it is to hold meetings and who waste your time with them instead of communicating what little important information they have in writing
- other teachers who are always 'sick' so you have you substitute for them
- other teachers who constantly brag about how wonderful their classes are and how much their students love them

I had great time with it all, but those were some recurring challenges!
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Old 01-25-2022, 10:08 AM
imwjl imwjl is offline
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I'm not sure my wife would participate but she's taught ESL for 12 or more of 30+ as a language teacher and specialist.

It's very stressful these days. Teachers get attacked in many ways, and in the past week 4/9 in her department are gone sick or attending to family members and quarantine. Lots of inappropriate stereotypes get thrown at the teachers and some take it better than others.

She finds working with the kids very rewarding. The part and all virtual in recent times really helps with a lot of the kids. More one on one time. Teachers in different districts and even countries collaborate to make sure kids who get moved around get educated.

What's really interesting is my wife is competent in several languages and certified to teach three. Even when there are languages she or the kids don't know they make a lot of progress.

The demographics mix is fascinating and not what many would think. She gets kids who have parents that are recent refugees, visiting professors, and migrant workers. She'll likely be getting far more Afghan kids soon because of proximity to an Army base here.
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  #4  
Old 01-26-2022, 10:55 AM
tbeltrans tbeltrans is offline
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There are probably many of us who teach ESL as volunteers through local organizations such as (in my case) the local library system. The OP didn't include us, and probably for good reason, but I just wanted to throw this information in.

The reason I say "probably for good reason" is that this form of teaching is semi-formal in that both the teachers and students (most commonly adults) are there voluntarily. We typically don't have any gripes and largely enjoy the work. Also, this work is done in our local neighborhoods rather than overseas, though I have certainly my share of travelling throughout Europe and the "far East" over the course of my various careers.

Unfortunately, COVID put a stop to these programs and just when we think things will loosen up, yet another round of COVID comes barreling through.

For us who volunteer, the learning is a two-way street because we learn more about the cultures (and if the teacher is willing, about the languages) of the people we are teaching and they learn more about our culture and language. It is a win-win situation.

Tony
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  #5  
Old 01-31-2022, 09:02 AM
Banter Shack Banter Shack is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ewalling View Post
Some 'gripes':
- people in 'foreign' countries who refuse to behave like English people!
- students who make the same mistakes despite being corrected a million times
- students who speak in their own language when you put them together in pairs to practise something
- students who talk too much
- students who talk too little
- students who think the purpose of a speaking exercise is to finish it
- students with the attention span of a small rodent
- students who expect the teacher to keep them 'entertained' at the level of a professional stand-up entertainer
- students who don't listen to instructions
- technical devices that refuse to work properly and screw up your class
- antisocial working times - you often have to work at night after students have finished work
- managers whose job it is to hold meetings and who waste your time with them instead of communicating what little important information they have in writing
- other teachers who are always 'sick' so you have you substitute for them
- other teachers who constantly brag about how wonderful their classes are and how much their students love them

I had great time with it all, but those were some recurring challenges!
Definitely plenty of stuff in here I can use. Thanks a lot!
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