Twice a week we publish problems that will feature in a forthcoming Dear Jeremy advice column in the Saturday Guardian so that readers can offer their own advice and suggestions. We then print the best of your comments alongside Jeremy’s own insights. Here is the latest dilemma – what are your thoughts?
I’ve been living in China for nearly two years working as an English teacher. I have enjoyed it here, but I’m now completely sick of Tefl and want to do something else.
I will turn 25 later this year and I’m worried I’m getting too old now to go into graduate-level jobs.
I was quite naive when I first started and didn’t realise what a bad reputation Tefl teachers seem to have as being lazy failures. I have really tried to make my time in China productive. I put a lot of effort into planning my lessons and have built a good relationship with my students and colleagues. I’ve engaged with local culture, rather than spending all my time in expat bars. I’ve learned Mandarin, started martial arts classes and write a blog.
I’m desperate to go back to the UK, but terrified of job hunting and getting repeated rejections again. I don’t know how to make my time in China seem like an asset. I have thought about writing something in cover letters along the lines of “I am aware that ESL teachers have a bad reputation, but I feel that my time as a Tefl teacher has actually been beneficial because … ”
Do you think that’s a good idea? I also have little experience of interviews.
The idea of working as a Chinese teacher or translator appeals to me, but I think both those choices will require a postgraduate qualification. I really like the idea of going into ESL or educational publishing and I think I’d be good at it, but without any experience of publishing I don’t know how I can convince employers to take a chance on me.
Do you need advice on a work issue? For Jeremy’s and readers’ help, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or to reply personally.
