The Instructor Job, Essay Example

Introduction

I am a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Teacher , teaching  children to learn English as a Second Language.  The job is extremely rewarding, and I am passionate about teaching despite the fact it is very poorly paid.  I have now been offered a job as a training instructor in Dubai (Middle East) that is three times my current remuneration.

Analysis

The Instructor job will pay me a higher salary, provide me with a better quality of life, facilitate my ability to save money, provide me with an opportunity to make new friends and provide me with exposure to a large international business in a new skill field. The downside is that I will have to work away from home in a foreign land, I will be away from my existing social circle, the job is not my core skill as a TEFL teacher, the contract is for 3 years minimum and this will provide skill erosion in my core job.  Above all I have a real passion for teaching Children a new language and a strong belief in the value this serves from a social perspective i.e. improving the quality of these children’s lives and enabling them to have an improved career path.  The financial side of the contract is the most potent inducement ” Contractors typically get paid on an hourly basis for actual hours worked with no benefits or holidays paid but depending on the specific job, can often make more money than if they were doing the same job on a fulltime basis. Hence, working on contract – especially if you can find a long-term contract of 1 year or longer – can be quite lucrative. Plus unlike most salaried staff, contract staff get paid overtime.” (Mueller, 2009).

Making the Decision

Despite the desire to earn more money and aspire to a better quality of life, the sacrifices are indeed great.  Giving up the passion and my love of teaching children languages, losing my strong social network of friends for an indefinite time, moving to an Islamic culture, the inherent dangers of living in a troubled part of the world i.e. Middle East, losing my ability to develop my chosen career as a TEFL teacher.

Nevertheless, the balancing arguments are very persuasive. We are currently in a recession and the economy may get worse before it improves.  This might easily be the length of the contract i.e. 3 years.  It is an opportunity to diversify and gain new skills; I could return to TEFL teaching at a later date.  It will allow me a better standard of living, the ability to save some money over the period and provide me with a relatively secure job for the next 3 years. There is also the possibility of getting some local TEFL teaching to children in Dubai and the firm is willing to provide some time in order to accommodate this.  Decisions are also very circumstantial and depend upon personal circumstances, consider.. ” Redundant Qantas New Zealand pilots are being lured overseas by lucrative contracts. The Press understands a group of between 10 and 20 pilots are negotiating work in the Caribbean. Many others are already working in Europe and Asia. Another 30 pilots have been employed by Air New Zealand on fixed contracts of up to one year. Airline Pilots Association president Keith Molloy said about half of the 130 pilots made redundant with the collapse of Qantas NZ in April had found work. ”  (Press, 2001).  Here the pilots considered their remote geographical location and the need to find work, regardless of location and change in personal circumstances.  In my situation the desire purely to earn money,  despite being a strong inducement,  is not sufficient to convince me to make a major career change at this time.

Works Cited

Mueller, C. (2009). Contract Work: The Pros and Cons of Being a Contractor . Retrieved 11 6, 2009, from Ezine Articles: http://ezinearticles.com/?Contract-Work:-The-Pros-and-Cons-of-Being-a-Contractor&id=108599

Press. (2001, 6 20). Lucrative overseas contracts lure pilots . Retrieved 11 6, 2009, from The Press: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-17434876.html