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If not a teacher, then what?

If not a teacher, then what?

Old Aug 16th 2011, 1:55 pm
  #76  
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Default Re: If not a teacher, then what?

Originally Posted by Geordie Lass
Maybe you should move somewhere where there isn't so much snow...
I did that already!
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Old Aug 16th 2011, 1:58 pm
  #77  
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Default Re: If not a teacher, then what?

I think the difference in moving over with an exchange rate of $2.50 to the GBP and the current $1.60 cannot be understated. Moving now, we wouldn't be able to afford what we could back in 04. Which is significant because for all the 'we moved for the children/mountains/countryside/low crime/snow/skiing etc" justifications to move, the buying a significantly bigger house is the real reason.
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Old Aug 16th 2011, 2:50 pm
  #78  
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Default Re: If not a teacher, then what?

Originally Posted by Geordie Lass
I hope that one day you make your fantasy become a reality then
The problem with dreams and fantasies becoming reality is they often don't live up to the hype once normalcy returns. I think this is what people on here try to get at when questioning what often comes across as naivety.

To keep the dream or fantasy alive, i would imagine long holidays are more effective.

That said, i love my life in Canada but equally loved my life in the UK. My situation is probably different to most that allows me to live as i do when compared to the average immigrant.

As for people looking for affirmation of their thoughts, the best advice i could give is to not take advice from people on here and don't pay any attention to 90% of the comments

Last edited by el_richo; Aug 16th 2011 at 2:56 pm.
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Old Aug 16th 2011, 3:33 pm
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Default Re: If not a teacher, then what?

Originally Posted by iaink
There is no one opinion that is correct
Of course there is. Mine, for example.
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Old Aug 16th 2011, 3:49 pm
  #80  
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Default Re: If not a teacher, then what?

Originally Posted by delsol79
Why is it that so many people act all surprised that people want to jack in their job in UK and give Canada a go when they did it themselves and the forum is called British Expats!

I mean highlighting the risks is one thing but pretending you can't understand why someone would want to move to Canada is absolutely ridiculous.
i can understand why people jack their jobs in if they have no career path are stuck in a rut and have nothing to lose...the OP actively state that they love their job and will miss it and and are looking at going a fair way backwards in terms of work...thats the bit i do not understand
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Old Aug 16th 2011, 4:31 pm
  #81  
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Default Re: If not a teacher, then what?

Originally Posted by JonboyE
Of course there is. Mine, for example.
That's correct.

When your opinion is the same as my opinion.
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Old Aug 17th 2011, 2:11 am
  #82  
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Default Re: If not a teacher, then what?

Originally Posted by dbd33
I don't understand choosing Canada. I understand moving to Canada because there was a good job or promising relationship and it happened to be in Canada or choosing the US, finding it too difficult, and settling for Canada but actively choosing Canada seems quite odd, something like actively choosing Belgium. Not that there's anything particularly wrong with Belgium or Canada but they're hardly the places of childhood fantasy.
ha ha true

I was supposed to be in Paris. Oh well.
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Old Aug 17th 2011, 3:21 am
  #83  
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Default Re: If not a teacher, then what?

We loved our teaching/head of department jobs but it wasn't enough to keep us in the UK.

We arrived with no jobs, nowhere to live, no vehicles, 1 suitcase each and a dream.

Fastforward 12 months - jobs we love (permanent), much better paid than in the UK. Obtained a teaching job within 5 weeks, have 2 vehicles, a home, more clothes and are happy.

Yes, it's been a challenge at times, sometimes frustrating and occasionally irritating; however life's been good. We have done more in 12 months here than we did in 7 years in West Yorkshire. Are we glad we risked everything? Definitely. Will we still feel like this in 5 years? Who knows. We love the rockies so even if we didn't stay for ever, it has definitely been worth the risk, stress and financial burden to experience something different.

Not everyone is prepared to take a risk. Not everyone will get their dream job, home, vehicle or lifestyle, I get that. However, some people actually choose Canada as a place to live without obtaining a job first, for some it works for others they're not so fortunate. We've been lucky, I get that, but 12 months ago we had no idea how things would work out but took the risk because Canada was where we wanted to be. So Des and Chris, give it a go, you can get a teaching job if you're prepared to be flexible - if you're good they'll keep you.

Goodluck with where ever/ whatever you decide. For now, we're happy, who knows what the future will hold.

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Old Aug 17th 2011, 8:32 am
  #84  
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Default Re: If not a teacher, then what?

Originally Posted by Des and Chris
I am constantly reading that teaching is almost impossible to rely on as a source of income in Canada.
This worries me somewhat as it's all I know, I went straight from school, straight to uni and straight into teaching.
Twenty years in and I'm the head teacher of a primary school in England and it's a job I love.
I have no worries about having to return to the classroom in Canada but this looks difficult in the current climate.
I'd be interested to hear from other teachers who have made the move as to success stories they have had either within education or where their teaching skills and knowledge have helped them to secure employment elsewhere.
There must be some success stories somewhere?
We intend to move to Canada next summer and Alberta, BC and Ontario are all still in the running, even after this years recce trip.
Thanks for this posting, we have pm you, hope you don't mind! We too from west yorks, looking to settle in Cochrane and hopefully can learn from your success story! My glass remains half full!
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Old Aug 17th 2011, 1:38 pm
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Default Re: If not a teacher, then what?

Hi Des and Chris

Have PM'd you back - you'll love Cochrane.

Keep in touch.



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Old Aug 19th 2011, 2:46 pm
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Smile Re: If not a teacher, then what?

Originally Posted by Poppit
We loved our teaching/head of department jobs but it wasn't enough to keep us in the UK.

We arrived with no jobs, nowhere to live, no vehicles, 1 suitcase each and a dream.

Fastforward 12 months - jobs we love (permanent), much better paid than in the UK. Obtained a teaching job within 5 weeks, have 2 vehicles, a home, more clothes and are happy.

Yes, it's been a challenge at times, sometimes frustrating and occasionally irritating; however life's been good. We have done more in 12 months here than we did in 7 years in West Yorkshire. Are we glad we risked everything? Definitely. Will we still feel like this in 5 years? Who knows. We love the rockies so even if we didn't stay for ever, it has definitely been worth the risk, stress and financial burden to experience something different.

Not everyone is prepared to take a risk. Not everyone will get their dream job, home, vehicle or lifestyle, I get that. However, some people actually choose Canada as a place to live without obtaining a job first, for some it works for others they're not so fortunate. We've been lucky, I get that, but 12 months ago we had no idea how things would work out but took the risk because Canada was where we wanted to be. So Des and Chris, give it a go, you can get a teaching job if you're prepared to be flexible - if you're good they'll keep you.

Goodluck with where ever/ whatever you decide. For now, we're happy, who knows what the future will hold.

Poppit
I am so glad I came across your post!

I have decided to give up my Head of Bus Ed department job in Scotland and move to BC.

As I am new to this I cannot PM you Poppit. I was wondering if you could PM me with some advice about teaching in BC and what the secondary schools are like. I have emailed a Bus Ed teacher in Kitsilano but as they are still on holiday I do not expect a reply until Sept. Are you a Primary or Secondary teacher.

I am obviously nervous about the move but I've had the urge to do it for quite a while now and I feel im ready to make the move! Im in my late twenties so plenty of time to do a U turn if it all goes wrong!

Thanks
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Old Aug 19th 2011, 3:15 pm
  #87  
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Default Re: If not a teacher, then what?

Originally Posted by littlemissbluey
I am so glad I came across your post!

I have decided to give up my Head of Bus Ed department job in Scotland and move to BC.

As I am new to this I cannot PM you Poppit. I was wondering if you could PM me with some advice about teaching in BC

Thanks
Post a couple more times to enable sending / receiving PMs, otherwise the email via forum contacts thing should work, AFAIK.
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Old Aug 19th 2011, 3:17 pm
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Default Re: If not a teacher, then what?

Originally Posted by littlemissbluey
I am so glad I came across your post!

I have decided to give up my Head of Bus Ed department job in Scotland and move to BC.

As I am new to this I cannot PM you Poppit. I was wondering if you could PM me with some advice about teaching in BC and what the secondary schools are like. I have emailed a Bus Ed teacher in Kitsilano but as they are still on holiday I do not expect a reply until Sept. Are you a Primary or Secondary teacher.

I am obviously nervous about the move but I've had the urge to do it for quite a while now and I feel im ready to make the move! Im in my late twenties so plenty of time to do a U turn if it all goes wrong!

Thanks
A couple of things.

You need two more posts before you can read PMs as well as send them. Second is that education is a provincial thing. Poppit is in Alberta and, whilst I am sure she can give you some valuable insight, it does not necessarily follow that her experience will be replicated in BC.

In fact, just yesterday, a teacher in BC corrected me because I extrapolated my experience from one school district to the whole province when many school districts have their own procedures. I am not, for a moment, suggesting that you stop researching and talking to as many teachers as possible. Just keep in mind YMMV.
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Old Aug 20th 2011, 2:08 am
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Default Re: If not a teacher, then what?

Hi littlemissbluey

As JonboyE correctly identified, I am in Alberta and each province has it's own rules. However, the message I was trying to portray to Chris and Des was, that although it can be difficult to get your 'foot in the door', there are teaching jobs available. The thing to remember when starting a new life is to be flexible; you need to build up a network, this is how you will eventually achieve your goal.

I was very fortunate, fresh off a plane (well 5 weeks actually), and the school needed someone, they gave me a chance. My boss was open-minded, liked me, and within a few weeks had decided he wanted to keep me. Hence the permanent position. I've been so lucky, but equally I have been very flexible, taught a range of subjects, and made every effort to fit in with my colleagues.

If you want to teach in Canada, be it BC or AB, it will happen, just be persistent and keep plugging away.

For me, teaching in Canada is much less stressful than in the Uk (just my opinion of course), and I'm so glad I took the risk.

Goodluck, and if I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to PM me.

Poppit

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Old Aug 20th 2011, 3:57 pm
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Default Re: If not a teacher, then what?

Originally Posted by Poppit
We loved our teaching/head of department jobs but it wasn't enough to keep us in the UK.

We arrived with no jobs, nowhere to live, no vehicles, 1 suitcase each and a dream.

Fastforward 12 months - jobs we love (permanent), much better paid than in the UK. Obtained a teaching job within 5 weeks, have 2 vehicles, a home, more clothes and are happy.

Yes, it's been a challenge at times, sometimes frustrating and occasionally irritating; however life's been good. We have done more in 12 months here than we did in 7 years in West Yorkshire. Are we glad we risked everything? Definitely. Will we still feel like this in 5 years? Who knows. We love the rockies so even if we didn't stay for ever, it has definitely been worth the risk, stress and financial burden to experience something different.

Not everyone is prepared to take a risk. Not everyone will get their dream job, home, vehicle or lifestyle, I get that. However, some people actually choose Canada as a place to live without obtaining a job first, for some it works for others they're not so fortunate. We've been lucky, I get that, but 12 months ago we had no idea how things would work out but took the risk because Canada was where we wanted to be. So Des and Chris, give it a go, you can get a teaching job if you're prepared to be flexible - if you're good they'll keep you.

Goodluck with where ever/ whatever you decide. For now, we're happy, who knows what the future will hold.

Poppit
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