ESL Jobs Forum

[Tang]

Hi everyone,

I'll graduate, with a BA in linguistics and media, in four weeks time. I'm very excited, and want to use ESL to travel the world and live overseas (I picked up a 100-hour online ESL certificate to boost my employability).

Although I know that I want to have a life filled with travel, I'm not sure if I can see myself doing ESL for the rest of my days. I got a law school offer at the best school in Australia (my home), and the law is a fascinating area that can potentially lead to a diverse range of travel-related careers. The JD is three years.

So, I'm now at a crossroads: should I take my BA overseas, live in a foreign country for 1 or 2 years (probably Japan), then return and do law? Or should I smash out the JD, and then go overseas?

There are a few things to consider, such as how my life will change over the next three years, and whether ESL is still an OK option at 24 years of age (vs. 21). I know there are lots of older people teaching overseas, but is the three years' difference going to put me at a serious disadvantage?

Even though moving into the workforce is the recommended path after law school, I don't want to do that, because I don't want to spend 40 years behind a desk and be filled with regret. If I found that I really loved teaching and wanted to get an MA, would that still be advisable at 26 or so? Even though taking a $35k ESL job isn't that great after a law degree, I'm not living life for the money anyway.

Although I could use the concept of travel as a way to motivate myself through the course, does it make more sense to get my crazy travel ideas out of the way now? I want to do other stuff like working on a cruise ship and skiing the Japanese mountains.

Sorry for all the questions, I'm pretty torn about this situation (two great options, so not a bad position to be in!). Any input on this would be great.

Thanks heaps.

Cheers,
Tang

[St. George]

Hello Tang.

What you are saying, actually, is that you want to have some fun before you settle down.

You will still be young enough to do what you want, after you have had your fun. You can change your career, whenever you get bored.

In my day, one had to be in a career before the age of 30 but that's not the case nowadays.

Go ahead and have some fun travelling the world. When I was 21, I joined the Merchant Navy to see the world, including Australia, and I still ended up doing all the things I wanted to do.

Go for it!!!!

St. G.

[StanD]

Hi Tang,

I'm really curious if you took that chance... I hope you are skiing Japanese mountains right now haha

Look forward!

- Stan

[mfcfan20]

Do it now while you can

[Gilbert_74]

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