English Teacher and Jess: THANKS SOOOOOO MUCH for taking the time to reply.
It seems there is nothing appealing about going over there though, other than fulfilling a dream to live and teach abroad and to have new experiences and opportunities---things which are incredibly important to me. So I MUST find a way to make this work for me, and get over my anxieties.
From what I am reading, it seems like the UK schools have the same behavioral/disciplinary issues as the schools here in NY, and honestly I was looking to get away from the degree of foolishness. I for some reason, thought students were more civilized and attitudes towards education we better abroad, even if SLIGHTLY better. I was hopeful.
The demands seem unrealistic as well.
I think what will make ALL OF THE difference for me is if I wind up in a school that is a good fit. That is, supportive, organized, and experienced dealing with OTTs.
I am very worried about what I can potentially be getting myself into. I need be be successful and happy in whatever I chose to do, and wherever I wind up.
One other thing: Did you guys go over there alone? If so, how did you cope with feeling alone and isolated? Did you find support within your schools?
THANKSSSSSS!!!! |
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| Oops, pardon the typos! I am exhausted. |
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Hi,
Yes, you should try to just get over your anxieties and do it -- that's my personal opinion. If it's the worst year of your life (not likely!!) you'll travel, have some fun, and go back. But you may stay on, like many of us. I also think it looks great on a resume to say you take risks and challenges, have experienced other systems of education, etc. People will admire that more than the fact that you didn't stay on permanently.
If not now, when? If you don't try it, you'll never know how it would have been. You'll wonder your whole life. What would you tell a student thinking of taking a chance on something challenging?
When you say that "the demands seem unrealistic as well," I can only say that everyone recognises this. When I took over the English department, I told my deputy I didn't think I could do everything expected of me. She said that if we all did what the job required, we'd never go home -- we just prioritise things, do what we can every day, and go home . . . and the next day, we pick up where we left off. Schools are getting to be more realistic about the balance -- I was reading in the union magazine (NUT) recently about a school that locks the doors at 5:30 every day and tells teachers to take nothing home. If it can't be done between 8 and 5:30, it waits. (Are they hiring?!?)
It takes time to find a good fit. I thought my first school wasn't, but found out after I went to a new school 2 years later that the first was far better for me. Live and learn.
I came here on my own, as most do. At first you do feel lost, alone, and wonder why on earth you ever did this, but as you make friends at work, meet other OTTs, get busy with work, start travelling, etc, life fills back up as it did at home. Now when people ask if I'm going 'home' at the holidays, I tell them I AM at home -- the UK has become home now.
I'd be happy to email with you -- drop a line to this one that I don't use ( patsy_gee at yahoo dot co dot uk ), and I'll reply from my 'real' email . . .
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I did move on my own, which really surprised just about everyone I knew. The great thing about my first school was that they all knew I was a brand new teacher and new to the country so were really supportive. There were two other NQT English teachers in my department who were my age so we got together often and we had a young mentor in our department who was very social. I also had a built in friend who was also from abroad, she was Australian and we met up because the same agency placed us.
It was very lonely at times, like on American holidays, but I did a Thanksgiving dinner the first year and it was a big hit, as well as a 4th of July BBQ. If you live in one of the bigger cities chances are there will be events you can go to for those holidays. The hardest parts were breaks when I wasn't travelling and the down time made it sad. Sometimes it would be something small, like if I'd turn on a country music radio station through the computer to clean, that was always a trigger!
Work is a good place for making friends, many times even the younger British teachers have moved away from their hometowns and so want to have friends locally, and many schools have at least some things planned by the social committee.
There is a site www.meetup.com where you can search by city in a load of countries and find events you can participate in.
Good luck! |
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