Anyone Taught in Africa?
Discussion
I am a teacher who is becoming increasingly disillusioned with teaching in the U.K for many reasons. I left a job in the 'City to 'make a difference' and give something back.
Basically I am not a happy teacher really and it saddens me. The principle being that so many children in this country just see school as a chore and think they don't need to bother to learn because they are going to be professional footballers or win the X factor or some other 'pie in the sky' delusional dream.
Failing that the state will look after them and provide them with a roof over their head and enough money to by s
t food, ciggies and booze. These type of people don't give a toss about running an Aston Martin or a Ferrari or any aspect of quality of life. They have no aspiration for success unless it is presented on a plate. Yes this is a stereotype to an extent but the sense of entitlement in this country amongst many makes me sick.
I have seen a number of documentaries where they have been into schools in parts of Africa where the children are desperate to learn to try and improve their lot in life. They are well turned out and just want to learn. I am seriously considering going out there to try and help children who want to learn, learn.
Has anyone done this and if so how do I go about it? I've posted this in the lounge area hoping for maximum exposure but accept it will probably end up in the 'Jobs and Employment' section.
Basically I am not a happy teacher really and it saddens me. The principle being that so many children in this country just see school as a chore and think they don't need to bother to learn because they are going to be professional footballers or win the X factor or some other 'pie in the sky' delusional dream.
Failing that the state will look after them and provide them with a roof over their head and enough money to by s
t food, ciggies and booze. These type of people don't give a toss about running an Aston Martin or a Ferrari or any aspect of quality of life. They have no aspiration for success unless it is presented on a plate. Yes this is a stereotype to an extent but the sense of entitlement in this country amongst many makes me sick.I have seen a number of documentaries where they have been into schools in parts of Africa where the children are desperate to learn to try and improve their lot in life. They are well turned out and just want to learn. I am seriously considering going out there to try and help children who want to learn, learn.
Has anyone done this and if so how do I go about it? I've posted this in the lounge area hoping for maximum exposure but accept it will probably end up in the 'Jobs and Employment' section.
Me and the Mrs. taught in Mombasa for a year nearly 20 years ago now. It was a private school, so maybe not the sort of thing you're looking for. The kids were all extremely well behaved and motivated, failure was not an option, there is no-where to go if you leave school having failed. Add to that extremely supportive parents and there's a totally different ethos. The teaching experience was great. The school however was profit making and it rankled a lot that we couldn't do anything as simple as photocopying for instance as it came off the profits. Add to that we had a family, one toddler and one school age child and we all apart from the toddler were in hospital with malaria at some time and that we didn't have much money to do things outside of school (cars were very expensive, especially on our salaries). We felt we were conned to some degree as we had less disposeable income (in terms of what it bought as well as absolute terms) with both of us working there than we did before we went with the Mrs. not working.
Other teachers at the school were single and so had much more freedom and generally enjoyed it more, though everyone worried re. medical cover which didn't add up to much.
I know others who have done similar things, these are the things I've learned:
You need to caerfully find out about the lifestyle you will have before you go. Comparing salary and costs are difficult for the uninitiated (i.e. us before we went and you now). If you have dependents the former is particularly important. The teaching is probably what you assume it will be, generally very well behaved motivated kids, limited and quite primitive resources. Coming back will probably be more difficult than you think, chances are you'll arrive back home jobless and regarded as a bit of an oddity, at the very least you'll be out of the loop and regarded with some suspicion by prospective employers (you probably will also be a bit odd).
If you're single and want an adventure, then go for it, you'll never regret it (unless you die I suppose, which at times did seem a real possibility).
Other teachers at the school were single and so had much more freedom and generally enjoyed it more, though everyone worried re. medical cover which didn't add up to much.
I know others who have done similar things, these are the things I've learned:
You need to caerfully find out about the lifestyle you will have before you go. Comparing salary and costs are difficult for the uninitiated (i.e. us before we went and you now). If you have dependents the former is particularly important. The teaching is probably what you assume it will be, generally very well behaved motivated kids, limited and quite primitive resources. Coming back will probably be more difficult than you think, chances are you'll arrive back home jobless and regarded as a bit of an oddity, at the very least you'll be out of the loop and regarded with some suspicion by prospective employers (you probably will also be a bit odd).
If you're single and want an adventure, then go for it, you'll never regret it (unless you die I suppose, which at times did seem a real possibility).
Edited by Shaolin on Sunday 3rd March 19:05
Honest advice don't go. They have serious problems out there. One of my friends has just come back after 7 years because he couldn't stand it any longer. You need to seriously talk to people who live there or have lived there. Getting money out is virtually impossible...crime...etc etc.
I taught English in Vietnam for half a year.
The kids were eager to learn (although they were still relatively Westernised, in Ho Chi Minh City at least - going into the countryside would be much different)
Basic wage was US$15 an hour so it was pretty easy to live like a king (in backpacker terms) out there as everything was so cheap. I wouldn't have done it long term though. If I was a proper teacher in a proper school it might be different, but I was a bit of a novelty being shipped between schools as a backpacker.
There were Western teachers working full time jobs in proper schools, but from what I gathered they found it difficult to get a well paid job.
Its not Africa, but its still a poorish place with kids who want to learn. And its very safe!
The kids were eager to learn (although they were still relatively Westernised, in Ho Chi Minh City at least - going into the countryside would be much different)
Basic wage was US$15 an hour so it was pretty easy to live like a king (in backpacker terms) out there as everything was so cheap. I wouldn't have done it long term though. If I was a proper teacher in a proper school it might be different, but I was a bit of a novelty being shipped between schools as a backpacker.
There were Western teachers working full time jobs in proper schools, but from what I gathered they found it difficult to get a well paid job.
Its not Africa, but its still a poorish place with kids who want to learn. And its very safe!
How about a sabbatical? This site is on my favourites and I look at it often......
http://www.workaway.info/information-for-traveller...
Or V15Ben has been away teaching quite recently, maybe drop him a line, he's always happy to chat
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...
http://www.workaway.info/information-for-traveller...
Or V15Ben has been away teaching quite recently, maybe drop him a line, he's always happy to chat
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...
Something slightly left field for you here OP.
I am a "Privatenglisch" teacher in Sunny Austria, inspired by the PH £100 Business thread. I LOVE IT!
I teach all ages from 3-62 (yes, really!).
Because I am a private teacher the students WANT to learn, they WANT to improve themselves and WANT a language skill. It helps that the German Education Minister (or whatever the title is)recently said "every European child should learn English!"
Perhaps that could be a route you could go down in the UK- look at targeting (and moving to?) an affluent area and offering private tuition in your subject-field?
I am a "Privatenglisch" teacher in Sunny Austria, inspired by the PH £100 Business thread. I LOVE IT!
I teach all ages from 3-62 (yes, really!).
Because I am a private teacher the students WANT to learn, they WANT to improve themselves and WANT a language skill. It helps that the German Education Minister (or whatever the title is)recently said "every European child should learn English!"
Perhaps that could be a route you could go down in the UK- look at targeting (and moving to?) an affluent area and offering private tuition in your subject-field?
nosubstitute said:
I am a teacher who is becoming increasingly disillusioned with teaching in the U.K for many reasons. I left a job in the 'City to 'make a difference' and give something back.
Basically I am not a happy teacher really and it saddens me. The principle being that so many children in this country just see school as a chore and think they don't need to bother to learn because they are going to be professional footballers or win the X factor or some other 'pie in the sky' delusional dream.
Failing that the state will look after them and provide them with a roof over their head and enough money to by st food, ciggies and booze. These type of people don't give a toss about running an Aston Martin or a Ferrari or any aspect of quality of life. They have no aspiration for success unless it is presented on a plate. Yes this is a stereotype to an extent but the sense of entitlement in this country amongst many makes me sick.
I can understand why you might feel this way, but I think it would be a good idea to pick another career if it's not just a passing phase.Basically I am not a happy teacher really and it saddens me. The principle being that so many children in this country just see school as a chore and think they don't need to bother to learn because they are going to be professional footballers or win the X factor or some other 'pie in the sky' delusional dream.
Failing that the state will look after them and provide them with a roof over their head and enough money to by s
t food, ciggies and booze. These type of people don't give a toss about running an Aston Martin or a Ferrari or any aspect of quality of life. They have no aspiration for success unless it is presented on a plate. Yes this is a stereotype to an extent but the sense of entitlement in this country amongst many makes me sick.Teaching whilst feeling the way you say you feel is very difficult: you won't feel good about your work and you may not do a good job. I have to say, I think you might find similar problems / feelings wherever you teach. I may be wrong: I have only my own experiences to go on.
It doesn't sound like teaching has provided the job satisfaction you wanted. Are there any other careers which might offer the satisfaction you would like, without the aspects of teaching which you find frustrating?
N Dentressangle said:
I can understand why you might feel this way, but I think it would be a good idea to pick another career if it's not just a passing phase.
Teaching whilst feeling the way you say you feel is very difficult: you won't feel good about your work and you may not do a good job. I have to say, I think you might find similar problems / feelings wherever you teach. I may be wrong: I have only my own experiences to go on.
It doesn't sound like teaching has provided the job satisfaction you wanted. Are there any other careers which might offer the satisfaction you would like, without the aspects of teaching which you find frustrating?
This may be about the sum of it from what you've said in your post. If you re-examine what drove you to teach in the first place; would you do it again or would you choose another path? If the latter, then a change of careers may be the best solution. If however you still believe passionately that every child matters, then why not stick at it but maybe move schools, move to a new area or change role within teaching. Do you have a senior teacher as a mentor? If not, why not seek one out for some support and guidance? Are you an aspiring Head? If so, why not apply for a fast track programme to add some new impetus? Good luck!Teaching whilst feeling the way you say you feel is very difficult: you won't feel good about your work and you may not do a good job. I have to say, I think you might find similar problems / feelings wherever you teach. I may be wrong: I have only my own experiences to go on.
It doesn't sound like teaching has provided the job satisfaction you wanted. Are there any other careers which might offer the satisfaction you would like, without the aspects of teaching which you find frustrating?
My girlfriend was teaching in an English-speaking International School in Siena when I met her. It's an excellent private option which essentially lets the kids grow up in a native-English environment. A number of companies run schools of this type all over Europe. This could be a good taster of teaching in English, overseas, before you have to learn how to maintain an AK-47 and eat malaria pills to regain health. Actually ignore that last bit, I think that was Far Cry 2
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