Irish Translation Forum

Well, it's the time of everyone's life when the end of High School approaches, and Uni applications are made. I'm applying to do a degree in Languages and Applied Linguistics, and I want to do another degree, but haven't figured out what I really want to be.

I want to return to Ireland, I'd love a job to do with Irish. I have kind of contemplated being a teacher But every time I try entertaining the idea, someone rings up the horrible pay. Is it the same in Ireland, with the horrible pay? Because, I have thought of working in maybe some kind of business aspect.

Ideas? thoughts? Opinions?

Although they plead poverty teachers are very well paid in Ireland compared to international standards, they were talking on the radio the other week and they said that the average wage was €54'000, im not sure if thats before or after tax. But one of my friends qualified a few years ago and is now on €28800 p/a takehome (after tax). This is under the average irish wage, but compared to people I know in England who are teachers (i think one of my friends started on about £17'000 (approx €18700) - dnt quote me on that it may have been more) I think this is great here.

It might start off below the average Irish wage (i think thats about €33'000) but she leaves the house at half 8 in the morning and school finishes at 2:45 and gets 2 months off in the summer, and loads of breaks during the year. Now teachers are mad at the moment because they have had pay cuts (like everyone else) but I think they should quieten down because I dont get paid that and I work 7am-6pm and get only 3 weeks off a year.

Also, they are not hiring teachers at the moment and there is a massive pool of people qualifying with no jobs to go into so many people are emigrating or choosing other careers, and once they do start hiring again - id say 2011/ 2012 you will have to get in line!

The one advantage you could bring is Irish, if you had Irish you will be at advantage, but I think in Ireland you have to go to teacher collage, or something, im not 100% but look at what the prerequisites are to employment in teaching here. you might wanna consider studying here too, thatll put u at an advantage, again im not 100%, but people at college who are becoming teachers do placements in schools and a school might want someone whos done their placements in an Irish school

I should also say to further slag teachers is that they moan that they have to prepare lessons and thats why they have to finish at 2:45 - I have never seen my friend prepare anything other than an optional afterschool maths class she runs - and gets paid this additionally directly from the parents as its not school work - she calls it drink money -and she gets home by 3 watching neighbours

not that all teachers are like that, im sure shes great at her jobs like, i just think they get paid very well for a lot less work than the average job - which is grand, but dont moan and go on strike about it!

Haha, theresa few teachers on here MacFear, get ready for the backlash

When in grad school I got high school teaching credentials for German and French, and did a semester of student teaching. I did not end up as a teacher (no positions open at the time in this area - foreign languages are being cut all over in the US - so typical - but in all honesty I found a great other job). However, from just those few months of conducting classes, I can tell you the lesson preparation is hard work. It's difficult enough to stand up before a group of teenagers well prepared and get things done. If you haven't planned things out (spending lots of that "free" time teachers are supposedly loafing around with), they will eat you alive! It's like going on stage in a new play each hour with a new audience, without learning your lines.

And I had kids who wanted to be there (no one here takes German unless they really want to) - some of the Spanish classes I observed were like zoos (in the US, if a kid "has" to take a language, it is inevitably Spanish, and most of them learn next to nothing).

My hat is definitely off to teachers - bad pay (generally) and exhausting work.

yeh sorry for slagging teachers but in ireland they do get paid well, and im not saying its not hard work, but they got loads of time off compared to other jobs and then threaten strike because they had to conduct teacher-parent meetings after school hours - they now have to do them in school time because the government caved. My friend is a bunscoil teacher though, suppose the teaching wouldnt be as advanced as meanscoileanna, I suppose youd have to know the subjects well and I know my secondary teachers generally stayed until 5 (i got detention a lot), and you cant really bluff cocky teens, but with kids? if your just giving lessons from a book? The teachers I know finish at 2;45, and my friend is infront of neighbours by 3, every day, no lie. Every jobs hard in different ways, I couldnt be a teacher, but I dont think every teacher could be an accountant, dont know why they get 2 months off though in the summer, and another 8 weeks off through the year, just because kids cant handle a 9-5!!! Lazy gobsites

Yeah I think im bitter and twisted lol

I work frm home and my friend gets in at 3 and I hear the Neighbours themetune go on (Tenebre will know what im on about) and im stuck in the study working my ass off for less pay until 6pm. When I hear the talking Simpsons bottle opener go I really get mad knowing shes enjoying a beer lol

MacFear wrote:id say 2011/ 2012 you will have to get in line!

That's good to know but I don't start Uni until 2012, and it's going to be around a 5 year degree.

I haven't really considered teaching exclusively, because I'm going a degree in Business as well.

But thanks for the help

Tenebre wrote:Well, it's the time of everyone's life when the end of High School approaches, and Uni applications are made. I'm applying to do a degree in Languages and Applied Linguistics, and I want to do another degree, but haven't figured out what I really want to be.

I want to return to Ireland, I'd love a job to do with Irish. I have kind of contemplated being a teacher But every time I try entertaining the idea, someone rings up the horrible pay. Is it the same in Ireland, with the horrible pay? Because, I have thought of working in maybe some kind of business aspect.

Ideas? thoughts? Opinions?

Contrary to popular belief , a teachers' job IS tough. However, when that one (or group) student(s) *Get It* it's an amazing feeling. If you love teaching that is what you should do. If you love business that is what you should do. Maybe you could combine the two....

What is it you love to do? Do they offer any internships or volunteer positions where you are? I know schools Always love volunteers. How 'bout that company 'over there'? Spend a couple months working in different environments (I say a couple cause the first month you're just learning the ropes)

Yes, I know you must be busy. But,not only will volunteering give you a chance to try different things, you might find some jobs you hadn't thought of.

There's my 2 cents!