My Parents don't approve of my career choice?

Question

I'm in my second year of university, after much thought, I decided I want to pursue a career teaching English abroad. There are many reasons why I want to do this career, for one thing, I want to do something positive in the world and I feel teaching people a new language and helping them learn it is a great experience in itself. I've always enjoyed traveling to other countries as well and learning more about their cultures in general.

However, my parents especially my father, don't like my career choice. My Dad wants me to pursue a career in Journalism, but he doesn't seem to understand I have absolutely zero interest in that field. My parents say that they want me to teach in the United States, but I'm not looking forward to doing that either. I'm not nationalistic, but due to my past experiences in High School and education period, I don't think I'll be happy in that type of environment. My Father also keeps telling me that inhabitants from other countries aren't too keen on foreigners in their country, with this, I agree with him.

My parents aren't forcing me to change my career choice, but its getting annoying having to deal with their constant pestering, its gotten to the point where I have literally moved out of the house and into an apartment. I want to travel the world and teach English, because I know its something I can do and be happy.

How can I stop my parents from bothering me?

Answer 1

Find out what the requirements are to go abroad and teach the English language. You might find that a Journalism degree might get you there. I did a quick search on journalism at:



http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?OPMControl=2092849&caller=ftva.asp



and found an education job in Wiesbaden, Germany. I'll bet there are lots of different college degrees that will give you great opportunities to teach abroad (and maybe even satisfy your parents).

Answer 2

You are only in your second year of college. The chances are that any choice you make now won't be permanent. Let me suggest a few reasons why you may eventually change your direction. First of all, teaching English abroad generally pays very little. Most people who do it do so for a couple of years, then come back so that they can earn a living which will allow them to support a family. Secondly, As more people in all countries speak English, there is less need for Americans to teach it. Just as we don't import language teachers to the U.S. to teach Spanish and French, they don't need to bring in Americans. Thirdly, you probably won't be going to enjoyable, tourist destinations where there is a lot to do and you can hang out with other Americans. Everyone I know of who has done this lately has been sent to remote villages where they were the only American there. It can be very lonely and the conditions are primitive. If you are a picky eater, forget it! Fourthly, as you become older and want to have a family, this career choice will leave you only a few choices. You marry a girl (or find a partner, if that isn't illegal in the country in which you are living) in the country in which you are teaching, and spend the rest of your life as kind of an outside guest of her family, you find one of the rare Americans who is willing to follow their spouse around, while doing nothing themselves, or you come back to the U.S. Since it is unlikely that they would need two English teachers in your location, it is highly unlikely that someone you meet here would be able to work there.



I'm not saying you have to do something else, but rather than adamantly committing to a career for which everyone but you sees serious drawbacks, why don't you wait until you are nearing graduation, find a job, and see it as something you are exploring for now. By insisting on doing this, you have set yourself up for at least two more years of arguing with your parents. If you are studying English, or Education, you could just as easily be preparing for a teaching job here, and no one would have said a thing. Stop arguing about it, stop acting so set in your ways, and you will stop most of the arguments. If they ask you what you plan to do when you graduate, you can always say, "Well, jobs are very hard to come by everywhere right now, so I'm considering a lot of possibilities."

Answer 3

I went through the same thing...what worked was finally having a talk with them, explaining that I very much appreciate and value their advice, but in the end I'm an adult. The choice is mine, and it needs to be mine. I needed for them to accept that they had done a good enough job raising me to allow me to be able to make responsible decisions - even if they were decisions my parents didn't approve of. (And trust me, I've made plenty.)



One thing to understand - your parents realize on some level that they need to let go, but it's difficult. I'm now a mother of a teenager, and when he came to me a few weeks ago to tell me he wanted to go on an international humanitarian/missions trip, I just about had a panic attack. I recovered, and am letting him go, but it was a shock. Now, at 13 I'm not about to let him go live in Nicaragua and teach English or anything, but it took me a bit to really get it through my head that he's not a little kid anymore - and I've got to allow him to set his own goals and work toward them. If he proposes something that truly is in the "stupid" range I'll veto it, but have come to the point where I understand that he'll have several decisions that fall in the "outside my comfort zone" range from here on out. My job isn't to run his life for him - it's to equip him to be able to do so himself.



Seriously - just have an honest conversation with your folks. Understand where they're coming from - you've chosen a career that has very little of what they probably consider stability - but if it's what you're passionate about doing, they'll see that. And eventually, they'll realize that you're not just making this decision because you think it sounds "cool" or "fun" - but because you've thought it out and it's what you feel you're truly supposed to do.

Answer 4

Your parents cannot live vicariously through you. You have no interest in journalism, and you are an adult, so you can make those decisions for yourself. I wanted to do the same, but I had a life changing event occur before I could do it. The only thing I think you can do is educate them about how safe & effective it is. Best of Luck.

Answer 5

FYI, TEFLing often pays pretty low. BUt you could just get your BA in whatever your parents want, then teach and go for an MA. That's what most people do.

http://www.tefltips.blogspot.com

Answer 6

you can do what i do, which is just being snide, condescending and sarcastic about it all the time....but i imagine you'd want a higher road than that :-p. your just gonna have to stand up to them in a polite but forceful way and say "look this is my life, i appreciate your help and support, but not your pestering and control, and im gonna do what i need to in order to make myself happy. this is your career we're talking about man. what your gonna be doing for the rest of your life most likely. they should know that it's a decision they can't make for u

Answer 7

Just tell your parents that you've decided this career and your going to stick with it until the end. I'm sure they'll understand.

Answer 8

If I were you, I'd tell them how you were feeling about how they push their wishes on you. They should respect your wishes, and you've made the decision and it's not their decision to make, so if you would just let them know I think it would be easier for you.