English teachers thought of as professional drop outs

Its nice to hear that this bitterness held by some foreigners on here isnt the norm and that its just homesickness/latent culture shock. I’d imagine some people come on here to vent when they are frustrated with certain aspects of living and/or teaching in taiwan, when they are in a bad mood.

To someone that has never lived in Taiwan, some of this pessimism about various subjects could potentially be a little frightening. Im not worried though; I’m sure im gonna love it. :slight_smile: T minus 4 days and counting. :thumbsup:

I really hope you are being sarcastic…

Lets see, the reason that I am moving to Taiwan on Friday to teach English is because I want to live in a different culture, prove to myself I can hack it, do my best to learn Mandarin, try teaching in between undergrad and grad school, I love the food etc. I view this as a great experience and think you are completely full of shit. How is moving to a foreign country for a year/couple years “sacrificing a dental career”?? And maybe not everyone wants to go to lawschool/med school right out of college or at all because they actually want to experience life.

Also, why do some of you seem so cynical? Was that your cause of going to Taiwan or the result of living there??? Kinda freaks me out a bit hearing some of you being so bitter and cynical on here.[/quote]

Keep your optomistic views as long as you can. Eventually, be it a month - a few months - or a year from now, you will need that positive energy to keep you going.

The [color=darkred]reality[/color] is, there are some Taiwanese that do view foreign English teachers in a negative way. There are others who don’t. Knowing this, you need to be prapared to face both ends of this reality. When you are puting in long hours, pouring your heart and energy into your teaching efforts, and taking a genuine interest in your students acadmeic success and then have this reality surface…it is like a kick in the ass and a slap in the face. It can sting, especially when you are a tad bit homesick. (And you will be a tad bit homesick - everyone has those days).

So be prepared my optomistic friend. Keep your head up above the shit that is oh so common on Taiwans sidewalks and remember your reasons for coming here. Good luck and see you around!

I don’t see why we should be concerned about how we are viewed by the citizens of Taiwan. As long as we are seen as “professional dropouts” we are quite safe. If the opposite were the case, we’d be seen as a threat. Rather be seen as dumb than be dumb.

But if we ARE really dumb, how would we know! :astonished: :astonished:

But if we ARE really dumb, how would we know! :astonished: :astonished:[/quote]

I think there is a thread called “How does one know if one is an idiot?” :laughing:

But if we ARE really dumb, how would we know! :astonished: :astonished:[/quote]

I think there is a thread called “How does one know if one is an idiot.” :laughing:[/quote]

Sorry, you lost me…what?

[quote=“derek1978”]…especially when you are a tad bit homesick. (And you will be a tad bit homesick - everyone has those days).
…[/quote]

No Derek, I NEVER get home sick. I dread the thought of going home and miss Asia terribly every time I do. Maybe you are in the wrong place if you miss home?..just kidding with the last bit but don’t assume everyone feels the same as you.

I have been in Taipei 10 months, I find people open and friendly and have only had one fight with a taxi driver which is better than I would have expected in London. The food rocks, the women are gorgeous and Taipei is a pretty sophisticated city 85-90% of the time. Sure the odd person treats you like a trained monkey, or pushes infront of you, or gets pissed that you don’t speak Chinese. Take a good hard look next time you are home 'cos that shit happens there too.

But if we ARE really dumb, how would we know! :astonished: :astonished:[/quote]

I think there is a thread called “How does one know if one is an idiot.” :laughing:[/quote]

Sorry, you lost me…what?[/quote]

I can’t seem to find the thread. Sorry.

Exactly! You have to follow your own dream, and not worry about what others believe you should do.

Remember this little elf named Herbie in the classic story of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer:

One day at the elves toy assembly line in Santa’s workshop it was suddenly discovered with a sense of disbelief and horror, that the protagonist elf, Herbie, didn’t like to make toys. Each elf whispered this unbelievable revelation to the elf sitting beside him:

[quote]Head Elf: Hermey! Aren’t you finished painting that yet? There’s a pile up a mile wide behind you! What’s eating you?

Herbie: Not happy with my work, I guess.

Head Elf: What?

Herbie: I just don’t like to make toys.

Head Elf: Oh well if that’s all - What? You don’t like to make toys?

Herbie: No.

Head Elf: Herbie doesn’t like to make toys.

Elves: Herbie doesn’t like to make toys. Shame on you.

Head Elf: Would you mind telling me what you do wanna do?

Herbie: Well, some day I’d like to be a dentist.

Head Elf: A dentist?

Herbie: Well we need one up here. I’ve been studying molars and bicuspids and incisors…

Head Elf: Now listen, you, you’re an elf and elves make toys. Now get to work. [/quote]

Well, Herbie didn’t want to make toys, like all the other elves. No. Herbie wanted to be a dentist.

Remember this poignant exchange:

And Herbie followed his dream, despite the protestations of all the other elves, and he was successful. He became a dentist because that’s what he wanted to do.

Be like Herbie!

[quote]Why am I such a misfit? I am not just a nit-wit. You can’t fire me, I quit. Seems I don’t fit in.
[/quote]

Good advice.

This just feeds people’s prejudice, but it’s really a big, “So what!”[/quote]

So what? Look, go out and shag as many girls as you like, drink as much beer as you can manage but don’t then complain about ‘prejudice’. I’m telling it like it is - if the average English teacher is seen living from one bar to the next then English teachers as a whole get a bad rep. It ain’t prejudice if it’s real. If you’re an English teacher who works with young kids and does have some consience and self-control then I really don’t know why you’re not annoyed at the ones who spend every waking hour boozing and making you look bad by association.

[quote]I don’t think you can use your criteria to judge the reponsibility or otherwise of a teacher in the classroom to their job. It is the sort of judgemental attitude that makes sense to Mormans living in Salt Lake City, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me and it doesn’t mean that a teacher is irresponsible, ill prepared or incapable.

“It doesn’t put one in the right frame of mind to teach children.” How would you know that?[/quote]

I think I can and I’m not really getting your point. The gist of my post was that every non-expat teacher I know takes their job very seriously and adjusts their lifestyle accordingly. They’re not your judgemental Morman prudes but they have a deep sense of responsibility in working with young children that carries through to their private lives. If you’re in a foreign country does that mean all bets are off and you can do what you like? It’s interesting (and worrying) that rather than say ‘I disagree - I hardly know any boozie foreigners’ you jump right on the defensive and say that there’s nothing wrong with being a boozie foreign English teacher!

[quote=“Edgar Allen”][quote=“derek1978”]…especially when you are a tad bit homesick. (And you will be a tad bit homesick - everyone has those days).
…[/quote]

No Derek, [color=red]I NEVER get home sick[/color]. I dread the thought of going home and miss Asia terribly every time I do. Maybe you are in the wrong place if you miss home?..just kidding with the last bit but don’t assume everyone feels the same as you.

I have been in Taipei 10 months, I find people open and friendly and have only had one fight with a taxi driver which is better than I would have expected in London. The food rocks, the women are gorgeous and Taipei is a pretty sophisticated city 85-90% of the time. Sure the odd person treats you like a trained monkey, or pushes infront of you, or gets pissed that you don’t speak Chinese. Take a good hard look next time you are home 'cos that shit happens there too.[/quote]

Can you honestly tell me that in the 10 months you have been here, you have NEVER craved anything from back home, never had a dream about home and woke up wondering how things were back home, never had the hankering for any food from home, never - even for just a split second - felt like you were an outsider here? I find that VERY hard to believe. If so, then your home must have been a pretty dreadful place not to miss it even a tad bit. You tend to miss the good things in life that are passed. So perhaps Taiwan is better for you than your home…but for the vast majority of people who travel abroad - even a smidgen of homesickness is normal and natural, nothing to be ashamed of. [/b]

You see that little flag thingee under his monicker? That’s the flag of England, that’s where he comes from. 'Nuff said.

HG

This just feeds people’s prejudice, but it’s really a big, “So what!”[/quote]

So what? Look, go out and shag as many girls as you like, drink as much beer as you can manage but don’t then complain about ‘prejudice’. I’m telling it like it is - if the average English teacher is seen living from one bar to the next then English teachers as a whole get a bad rep. It ain’t prejudice if it’s real. If you’re an English teacher who works with young kids and does have some consience and self-control then I really don’t know why you’re not annoyed at the ones who spend every waking hour boozing and making you look bad by association.

[quote]I don’t think you can use your criteria to judge the reponsibility or otherwise of a teacher in the classroom to their job. It is the sort of judgemental attitude that makes sense to Mormans living in Salt Lake City, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me and it doesn’t mean that a teacher is irresponsible, ill prepared or incapable.

“It doesn’t put one in the right frame of mind to teach children.” How would you know that?[/quote]

I think I can and I’m not really getting your point. The gist of my post was that every non-expat teacher I know takes their job very seriously and adjusts their lifestyle accordingly. They’re not your judgemental Morman prudes but they have a deep sense of responsibility in working with young children that carries through to their private lives. If you’re in a foreign country does that mean all bets are off and you can do what you like? It’s interesting (and worrying) that rather than say ‘I disagree - I hardly know any boozie foreigners’ you jump right on the defensive and say that there’s nothing wrong with being a boozie foreign English teacher![/quote]

If you are going to start spouting intolerance, prejudice, and bigotry then at least get your spelling right, or hence you will be a moronic intolerant, prejudiced, bigot…

its Mormon not Morman…geesh, get it right!

And not all are prudes and judgemental. If I never saw hypocrisy before I definately see it now, you are judging Mormons who you claim are judgemental. :loco: And what do they have to do with the original topic anyways? This was about Taiwanese and Teachers.

That should be “a moronic intolerant, prejudice[color=red]d[/color], bigot”…

That should be “a moronic intolerant, prejudice[color=red]d[/color], bigot”…[/quote]

really? Thanks, I didn’t catch that. Fixed now :slight_smile:

Derek

I think the key difference is that I left the UK 6 years ago, whilst you have just left home. The homesickness thing faded very fast for me because I really do not believe that the UK has much to offer. HGC summed it up really.

[quote="derek1978
Can you honestly tell me that in the 10 months you have been here, you have NEVER craved anything from back home, never had a dream about home and woke up wondering how things were back home, never had the hankering for any food from home, never - even for just a split second - felt like you were an outsider here? I find that VERY hard to believe. If so, then your home must have been a pretty dreadful place not to miss it even a tad bit. You tend to miss the good things in life that are passed. So perhaps Taiwan is better for you than your home…but for the vast majority of people who travel abroad - even a smidgen of homesickness is normal and natural, nothing to be ashamed of. [/b][/quote]

Hand on heart not once! My sister lives in NZ and mum in Portugal now and we often compare notes. Mum doesn’t miss anything from the UK or Canada (her borthplace) but my sis has cravings for certain foods she can’t get.

I think it is possible to feel like an outsider at home. My ex wife was a Mandarin speaker and much of our socialising was done in non-English circles.

Honestly my life here in Taiwan is better than it has been in many places and keeps improving so what’s to miss…oh and in all honestly an 18 month stint in Vietnam before here makes this place look VERY civilised.

Maybe the fundamental differemce between us Derek is that I wanted to live here since I first visisted in 1998, and Ihave spent 6 years out of the UK (which is a truly dreadful place) prior to being here. Everyone’s experience is different, and they are all valid (I hope).

peace.

[quote=“derek1978”]
at least get your spelling right, or hence you will be a moronic intolerant, prejudiced, bigot…

If I never saw hypocrisy before I definately see it now.[/quote]

[quote=“dictionary.com”]
definite adj.

  1. Having distinct limits: definite restrictions on the sale of alcohol.
  2. Indisputable; certain: a definite victory.
  3. Clearly defined; explicitly precise: a definite statement of the terms of the will. See Synonyms at explicit.
  4. Grammar. Limiting or particularizing.

definitely adv.[/quote]

What’s that saying about people who live in glass houses?

[quote=“Taichung Social Club”][quote=“derek1978”]
at least get your spelling right, or hence you will be a moronic intolerant, prejudiced, bigot…

If I never saw hypocrisy before I definately see it now.[/quote]

[quote=“dictionary.com”]
definite adj.

  1. Having distinct limits: definite restrictions on the sale of alcohol.
  2. Indisputable; certain: a definite victory.
  3. Clearly defined; explicitly precise: a definite statement of the terms of the will. See Synonyms at explicit.
  4. Grammar. Limiting or particularizing.

definitely adv.[/quote]

What’s that saying about people who live in glass houses?[/quote]

The spelling critique was facetious. The point was to draw attention to the bigotry and intolerance that was going on. Forumosa should be a haven for all people no matter their denomination, beliefs, or preferences.

Im done with this rant.

Moving on…

Edgar:

I apologize if i offended, it was not intended. I can relate to what you wrote in a way. I used to live in Chicago for a brief portion of my life. I hated it. I Absolutely loathed the place. No fond memories and nothing worth going back for. So, I see where you are coming from. There are other places in my life of which I have fond memories of and would love to return to someday, perhaps for a visit or perhaps for longer.

For now, I am in Taiwan. I enjoy it here, even amongst small mindedness - the topic of this post (which can be found anywhere and everywhere in the world). I do miss things from home now and then, but I also look forward to making Taiwan my new home and eventually, someday when I leave Taiwan, I will feel the same fond emotions for Taiwan as I do for past places I have lived.