Stuck in TEFL: Is it a Dead-End Job?

From Simon Free

Although some people make a career out of TEFLing, many people only teach for a year or two and then move on. For those who do stay in TEFL, it can be hard to move up the TEFL ladder. Many people just teach. Salaries aren't getting better and the bubble has burst in places like Korea.

People continue to teach English abroad for many reasons. For some it's because of the lifestyle. You may only have to teach 15 hours a week and get 20 weeks vacation if you get a university job in Korea.

For those teachers who marry locals and have kids it can get harder and harder to leave, especially due to visa restrictions on bringing your family back home. People say they'll stay for a year or two and that can quickly become five or ten. The prospect of moving back home with a spouse and kids in tow can be extremely daunting. Middle Kingdom Life has an article about a man who has been teaching in China since 1999. It's an interesting read, especially for those who have lived abroad for a while.

All I know is that it's good to have a back-up plan. Nowadays it's easy to supplement your teaching salary or even make money online. There are a number of good books out there about saving money and retirement.

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