Scaffolding Schemata

It's always bothered me that teachers rarely discussed their careers. I didn't know that. I knew I was bothered by the constant complaints and no action, by the lack of professionalism in TEFL (I have to admit I contributed to it), the superficial view of the profession, the lack of self-professional-esteem. Only later, when I started studying things not related to TEFL, past the activities, past the techniques, past the methodologies and into managing people, offering excellence, understanding education (not only teaching), I realized what having a career was. It is more than common to listen to engineers, doctors, administrators, lawyers, project managers discussing their careers. What position they are going to achieve in five, ten years. What company they are going to work for. What salary they are going to receive. (Does the EFL market provides its professionals with such possibilities?) I have started a personal crusade, in 2012. To raise EFL teachers' aware...

Every two years, the Associação Brasileira de Cutluras Inglesas - ABCI  promotes a conference for all Culturas Inglesas. This year's ABCI Conference is going to take place in São Paulo, on July 12-14. I really enjoy doing presentations at conferences and seminars. It is a great way to  systematize  knowledge, organize ideas and help scaffold my schemata. Then, applying the knowledge is a logical consequence. In 2010, the branch managers in Brasilia prepared a great presentation on generation Y clients and we presented at the 9th ABCI Conference. This year, I will fly solo and send a workshop proposal on EFL careers. I have always been profoundly bothered by the fact that some EFL teachers at language courses did not face their jobs professionally. For some teachers it is just a bico . Aslo, very frequently, not very serious schools do not treat teachers professionally, hiring them as trainees and paying lousy wages. Well, my point is that teachers s...