Career Considerations

My career in ELT could probably be described as pretty “plain sailing.”  I arrived in Korea just over seven years ago, have been employed at two great schools, with two very supportive and encouraging bosses, and I’ve met and made a lot of great friends.

My ‘career moves’ have mostly started as a result of me not knowing how to put up boundaries.   When I resigned at my job in CT – I did a CELTA, and while I was looking for a job, I started chatting to a friend - and within an hour - I was employed. Within a month, I boarded a plane and flew to what would become ‘my real life.’ I knew very early on in my first job here, that I loved the classroom interaction.  I loved the challenge of living away from my parents, and I loved the idea of being slightly ‘anonymous.’   I’ve come to realise I value independence (maybe a little too much?)

While I’ve been teaching, I’ve been made Head Teacher twice (not really my choice on either occasion – darn those boundaries of mine) and am now working as a “Program Co-ordinator” which – from this course, I have seemingly been approaching all wrong!  ‘Stepping down’ from being HT was a decision I made because I felt like my time at school was consumed by ‘other peoples’ problems.’  My day was 90% “putting out fires” and 10% teaching – which felt wrong – so I changed my role.

At my current school, I believe my boss respects my opinion, and far from being marginalized, she often brings me into discussions around curriculum, teachers or issues involving parent complaints etc.  There are certain situations I don’t have ‘access’ to –the bilingual teachers’ meetings, or conversations that are spoken in Korean.  The bilingual teachers know I speak ‘enough Korean’ to guess what they’re talking about, so they often include me, but it would be naïve to think they don’t avoid me at times. I suppose if I am marginalized in any way – it may be from a cultural viewpoint.  There are decisions that I have no say in – often the ones that come from ‘In Korea we do this…’ or ‘Well – the mother has complained so…’

In the last two years, I’ve begun to question whether teaching is ‘all’ I want to do.  I’ve been in my current job for just over five years, and as much as I value stability,  have started to feel ‘disinterested’ at work. So even though, I value the fact that I am respected, and my opinion is taken into account, I have become bored…apathetic even.

This has been the major driving force that led me to joining the TESOL course.  I know that I want to stay within the ELT field, and by combining my other interest of training, I came to the ‘logical’ conclusion that doing teacher training would, for me, be rewarding, and something I could easily see myself doing.  Studying suddenly became an urgent priority, and I can say that I never expected to feel as motivated, or as driven to challenge myself, as I do right now.  The whole experience has pushed me to further examine what I want.  It’s been interesting that as much as I have felt motivated and “invigorated” on this course – I also had some really low points (the funeral – the week in hospital) where I seriously considered quitting.  In those moments, the value of family and being present in their lives seemed at odds with most of the values that drive me to stay here.  I can relate to Johnston’s challenge of moving across the globe – but in a strangely converse way – I struggle to know if going back home is the right thing.

So while I am still in a ‘personal vs. professional life conundrum’ I am realising how much I value the process of up-skilling, and developing myself professionally.  For this reason, I am quite confident that whatever is next, it will involve further study, and hopefully a few more risks…