| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you teach your source/target language(s)? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you teach your source/target language(s)?".
This poll was originally submitted by Brita Kotrasch
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more informati... See more This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you teach your source/target language(s)?".
This poll was originally submitted by Brita Kotrasch
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629 ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jocelyne S 
France
Local time: 19:23
French to English
+ ...
| Not professionally | Oct 15, 2009 |
Up until September, I would have answered a resolute "No" to this question; as it is, I answered "Other".
In September, my partner and I started taking violin lessons and our teacher and his partner (who have a folk music band) asked if I would be willing to trade our violin lessons for conversational English "classes".
Now, after each lesson, we eat together whilst speaking English. Their main ambition is to be able to understand people and be understood when their ba... See more Up until September, I would have answered a resolute "No" to this question; as it is, I answered "Other".
In September, my partner and I started taking violin lessons and our teacher and his partner (who have a folk music band) asked if I would be willing to trade our violin lessons for conversational English "classes".
Now, after each lesson, we eat together whilst speaking English. Their main ambition is to be able to understand people and be understood when their band goes to Ireland. (I've warned them that I don't have an Irish accent...)
Otherwise, no: I am a translator, not an English teacher. I spent a summer teaching English to Polish children when I was student, but that was enough for me.
Best,
Jocelyne ▲ Collapse
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Actually, I've done it a couple of times in the past, when I was a student, but I always found it boring.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 19:23
Spanish to English
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| I used to, but not anymore... | Oct 15, 2009 |
... unless they pay me BIG bucks, or if it is a prestigious job, for example a high-ranking politician or media personality.
Years of working in TEFL in Spain often brought me disllusionment on many levels. I am now much happier translating for a living, as I see results and improvements from my efforts, don't a have a money-grubbing boss or stroppy, recalcitrant pupils and occasionally get feedback.
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Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 19:23
English to French
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I taught 3 of my source languages full time, during 23 years all in all, to secondary school students.
Undoing the puzzle of a foreign language now helps me a lot in translation, especially for "poorly written" source texts.
NB: I earned more teaching but translation is so much more gratifying
[Modifié le 2009-10-15 18:05 GMT]
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I teach English every day for a couple of hours in a school of English. I love teaching, and it is useful for keeping my English "up to date".
| | | | diana bb
Lithuania
Local time: 20:23
English to Lithuanian
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I teach English to adult learners and enjoy doing it.
Diana
| | | | | French/Italian | Oct 15, 2009 |
I taught in Further Education colleges for nearly 20 years and would rather chew my own leg off than teach again. I'm always being asked to give private lessons, easy money and I can name my own price because of my experience but just can't bear the thought. I take my hat off though to all the foreign language teachers struggling to keep their passion going just like I used to do, placed as they are in grids against the 'soft' options. And I don't give a flying f........ what we''re told, M... See more I taught in Further Education colleges for nearly 20 years and would rather chew my own leg off than teach again. I'm always being asked to give private lessons, easy money and I can name my own price because of my experience but just can't bear the thought. I take my hat off though to all the foreign language teachers struggling to keep their passion going just like I used to do, placed as they are in grids against the 'soft' options. And I don't give a flying f........ what we''re told, Media Studies and Film Studies A-levels are not as demanding as a language.
Suzi ▲ Collapse
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Jenn Mercer
United States
Local time: 13:23
Member (2009)
French to English
In some ways, I chose translation as an alternative to a teaching track. I have problems with repetition and teaching the same subject over and over would bore me to tears. I have considered doing tutoring, but this would conflict directly with taking care of my daughter after school or family time in the evening.
| | | | Amy Duncan (X)
Brazil
Local time: 14:23
Portuguese to English
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I gave private English classes in my home to a few students for awhile. Sometimes it was fun, but I had no desire to expand it and get more students because I didn't like the idea of people traipsing in and out of my apartment all the time. To me, privacy is sacred, and this is one of the reasons I prefer translating.
| | | | Gina W
United States
Local time: 13:23
Member (2003)
French to English
| I used to, but not anymore | Oct 15, 2009 |
I have taught both my source and target languages. I prefer translation, so I will probably not teach either language again.
| | | | R. Alex Jenkins
Brazil
Local time: 14:23
Member (2006)
Portuguese to English
+ ...
| I used to... | Oct 15, 2009 |
...but not any more because it's not financially viable.
I can't support my wife and children on the salary of an English teacher - I've tried and it's not feasible. There's too much time wasted on travelling, sitting around between classes, preparing lessons, marking exercises, doing administrative tasks, etc - none of which are paid for. I only used to get paid for the actual lesson itself.
Put it this way; I have to work a lot harder for a living as a translator, the... See more ...but not any more because it's not financially viable.
I can't support my wife and children on the salary of an English teacher - I've tried and it's not feasible. There's too much time wasted on travelling, sitting around between classes, preparing lessons, marking exercises, doing administrative tasks, etc - none of which are paid for. I only used to get paid for the actual lesson itself.
Put it this way; I have to work a lot harder for a living as a translator, there's no doubt about that. Not only that, it's more stressful and demanding (and no one ever says "that was really interesting, thanks" or "I really enjoyed that translation", lol), but at least this means I can work for a consecutive block of X hours or X days, getting paid for it, with no hanging around for an hour here, twiddling your thumbs for an hour over there. Of course, translation pays better because it's technically much more difficult and demanding and the client's expectations are much higher.
I used to like giving English classes. It got a bit repetitive at times, but it used to get me out and about a lot more... I felt life was easier and freer back then ▲ Collapse
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Latin_Hellas (X)
United States
Local time: 19:23
Italian to English
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neilmac wrote:
... unless they pay me BIG bucks ... I am now much happier translating for a living ...
Richard Jenkins wrote:
...but not any more because it's not financially viable.
Prices, distorted or not, are powerful resource allocation signals. Prices signal to those who can do both that, on balance, translating for businesses is more valuable than teaching students.
Having said that, there may be other factors than price signals that lead one to teach, like a passion for teaching, as mentioned in other posts, overriding the price signal.
[Edited at 2009-10-15 14:28 GMT]
[Edited at 2009-10-15 14:30 GMT]
[Edited at 2009-10-15 14:30 GMT]
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I do enjoy teaching under certain circumstances, and in the right ones I think it can be a wonderful job. I don't understand those who say it's boring; it can be as creative as you make it. I also got much more feedback from my students than I ever have from my translation clients!
I do teach occasionally but would never go back to doing it full-time, because as others have said, it's just not financially viable.
| | | | A. Petrunova
Bulgaria
Local time: 20:23
Swedish to English
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I teach Swedish. In fact I have been teaching for 8 years now and find the job extremely stimulating and rewarding. It helps me stay in good linguistic shape (I teach both beginners and pretty advanced learners). And it gives me the satisfaction of passing on my knowledge to others and helping them achieve their goals.
Of course, I could not support myself by teaching only, it is extremely underpaid in my country. But I regard teaching as an extra job and as something of a charitabl... See more I teach Swedish. In fact I have been teaching for 8 years now and find the job extremely stimulating and rewarding. It helps me stay in good linguistic shape (I teach both beginners and pretty advanced learners). And it gives me the satisfaction of passing on my knowledge to others and helping them achieve their goals.
Of course, I could not support myself by teaching only, it is extremely underpaid in my country. But I regard teaching as an extra job and as something of a charitable project - my fee is lousy, but I donate some of my time and efforts to a good (I hope!) cause.
So I have a selfish and an selfless motive for teaching and so far I have found it very useful and very rewarding. ▲ Collapse
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