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Thread: I'm thinking of taking some time out. (anyone done TEFL?)

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    Seething Cauldron of Hatred TheAnimus's Avatar
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    I'm thinking of taking some time out. (anyone done TEFL?)

    As some of you know I work as a consultant on developing software & systems.

    But lately, I find I'm very bored with it all, troubled by the organisation I'm currently contracted too's take on management (ie, everyone is always resigning.), and I think I need a bit of a break, no matter how tempting the money is.

    So after my next 6 month stint I'm thinking of planning some time off, and I'm considering doing a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), I'd like to learn some basic skills in an oriental language too so it seems like quite a good idea.

    Given the very affordable cost of doing a 10 week stint in Thailand or something, it just seems like a really good idea.

    Anyone done anything like this before?
    also I appreciate that these things are normally done by Guardian Toting hippies, who would burn an evil capitalist like me.
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    Re: I'm thinking of taking some time out. (anyone done TEFL?)

    An ex-girlfriend did this. Left her boring data monkey job at a financial information supplier to teach English in Japan. Absolutely loved it and last I heard was there for years and may still be there for all I know (I intentionally lost contact with her). Can be very rewarding if that’s your thing. Depending on where you go and how affable you are, you can get treated quite well too.

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    Seething Cauldron of Hatred TheAnimus's Avatar
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    Re: I'm thinking of taking some time out. (anyone done TEFL?)

    At the moment, I'm charging enough for my time that in two months I can earn enough for 6 months mortgage + fixed bills + taxes. But just hating every minute of the working day!

    I should have no problems giving my time away for free, I could even teach programming!
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    Herr Doktor Oetker, ja!!! pollaxe's Avatar
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    Re: I'm thinking of taking some time out. (anyone done TEFL?)

    Two friends of mine did TEFL after they graduated. Both are still doing it some 10+ years later so be careful, it can end up as a career, however unwittingly! (I should note they do it because they really enjoy it, rather than having no other options! Neither are Guardian-toting hippies though. Well.. one might be.)

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    mush-mushroom b0redom's Avatar
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    Re: I'm thinking of taking some time out. (anyone done TEFL?)

    I took 18 months out and went travelling. Best thing for me at the time. I was fed up with IT and all the corporate rubbish that goes with it.

    I suspect TEFL might not be a great choice for you, unless you're far more precise IRL than on forums. There's plenty of other volunteer work you can do though if you're that way inclined - working on the Galapagos as a wildlife conservationist etc....

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    Seething Cauldron of Hatred TheAnimus's Avatar
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    Re: I'm thinking of taking some time out. (anyone done TEFL?)

    I actually speak RP, my dyslexia only effects spelling, most of the ones I was looking at would require no writing.

    (if I say so myself, and I'm sure many would agree, I have a very clear, BBC radio 4 grade accent too).
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    Re: I'm thinking of taking some time out. (anyone done TEFL?)

    Oh, why didn't I see this thread sooner?!

    I went to Thailand for 3 weeks in Febuary, my first time 'travelling' and absolutely loved it, it is an amazing country with so many amazing places to see and things to do... if you have been before then I am obviously preaching to the choir, but if this will be your first time then I thoroughly reccomend Thailand!

    TEFL, well, I don't know much about it, so have no idea of what kind of knowledge of Thai you would need, but I promise you it is a difficult language to learn, just pronouncing a word wrong will give your sentance a different meaning as thier language is tonal which is not a concept we are used to, but don't let me put you off, by all means go for it! There is a big enough industry around the subject to prove this is something that people can and do achieve; Just don't get suckered into paying for some scheme which may get you nowhere.

    If you can afford it, maybe it would be a better experience for you to save a few thousand and just go for 10 weeks and tour the surrounding countries, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos... theres plenty within an overnight train/bus ride, or a quick flight if you can afford it. I'm already saving for my next trip, I intend to do all of the above and stay out there for 4 months on a budget of £3000-4000.

    Go, travel!

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    Seething Cauldron of Hatred TheAnimus's Avatar
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    Re: I'm thinking of taking some time out. (anyone done TEFL?)

    In 3 weeks in Vietnam, I picked up about 20 words of Vietnamese and could sling together the useful sentences, but the tonal aspect I found very challenging, every 100km the word would change, a great example is the word Ga, depending on the accent on the a, it can mean station or chicken!
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    Re: I'm thinking of taking some time out. (anyone done TEFL?)

    Ahh, so I am preaching to the choir!

    Maybe i'll see you out there, i'll be "in the area" between December and March

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    mutantbass head Lee H's Avatar
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    Re: I'm thinking of taking some time out. (anyone done TEFL?)

    My mate did about 9 months in Thailand doing TEFL and loved it.

    He had a few times where the excrement hit the fan so to speak, but the overall jist of it is he loved the experience and would not shurrup going on about this, that and the other for a good couple of months when he got back

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    Senior Member usxhe190's Avatar
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    Re: I'm thinking of taking some time out. (anyone done TEFL?)

    Good for a break but not good for life unless you like teaching.

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    Seething Cauldron of Hatred TheAnimus's Avatar
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    Re: I'm thinking of taking some time out. (anyone done TEFL?)

    Quote Originally Posted by Lee @ SCAN View Post
    He had a few times where the excrement hit the fan so to speak
    What kinda problems did he have?
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    mutantbass head Lee H's Avatar
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    Re: I'm thinking of taking some time out. (anyone done TEFL?)

    Nothing really major just the usual what you'd expect in a foreign country. Illnesses from dodgy food, language barrier issues and 1 occasion where a motorbike ride up a mountain nearly endangered his life.

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    Re: I'm thinking of taking some time out. (anyone done TEFL?)

    my only advice is that jobs are hard to find to return too...

    I'd ask work if they'd consider letting you go for 6/12 months and then return.

    After 6/12 months you'd be so refreshed you would love going back to the same place.

    having NOTHING to go back too would make it less.... comfortable and hence less enjoyable.

    If, like me, you NEED to work to keep your sanity, may I assure you that being out of work is trhe MOST uncomfortable experience ever....

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    Zzzzzzz sleepyhead's Avatar
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    Re: I'm thinking of taking some time out. (anyone done TEFL?)

    If you really would like to do TEFL, you can do an online course in a few weeks for about $295 with tutor support (120 hour course).

    http://www.teflonline.net/courses/tutor.html

    Personally, I lost my job and in a few weeks time, taking a nice break from it all with or without a job. Not really interested in TEFL but it seems that the way forward to getting a job out there (Japan). The only word of caution I can put out is that some people have gone out there for a break with TEFL and ended up (whether they wanted to or not) as a career out of it; well more like stuck in a rut; however TheAnimus, I doubt you are that kind of person.

    It really depends what you want to get out of this "time out"; earning good money in a foreign country your thing or perhaps you just want to travel and explore? I can only guess, that you are on high earnings so having/needing to work abroad isn't a requirement but it does sound like you feel you need to do some form of work.

    My opinion is, pack your bags, get on out to whichever country you wish to go see (with required visa if needed) and enjoy. Look for volunteer/cheap jobs if you want to teach anything or just to do something slightly different from just being a tourist.

    You could even go from a 10 week stint to 3-4 months or longer - should open up the option of leasing cheap accomodation (apartment/house/whatever) so you'd end up experiencing living there.

    Anyhow, to get back on topic; I did look at doing TEFL and I may still do it but I feel that TEFL is not what I want my Japan expedition to be about.

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    Re: I'm thinking of taking some time out. (anyone done TEFL?)

    I'm doing 2 weeks of WWOOFing starting tomorrow. It's basically just volunteering on organic farms which can be done in lots of countries. You get food and accommodation in exchange for working there.
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