The summer days are winding down and for many of you, summer vacations are a thing of a distant past.
Perhaps you have been working as an ESL teacher for the last several years or maybe the grueling schedule that you have been working for the past year is finally taking its toll?! Whatever the case may be taking time off from teaching English is often the best way to help rejuvenate yourself.
Vacations are more than just opportunities for going out and living recklessly. They are an important time for you to reflect on the past year and what it is you have enjoyed and disliked about it. You may find that teaching ESL may not be for you at all or maybe you will find that the school you're working for isn't the right one for you.
Albeit not easily obtained, taking time off isn't as tricky an affair as it may seem to be. Many schools pride themselves on managing to keep their teachers for more than one year. In South Korea it is in fact a sign of a good school. Thus, negotiating time off can usually be a straightforward process if both you and your employer are ready to be reasonable.
One acquaintance I worked with negotiated that she have one week off in November for her to return home to the United States. Although a rare situation to say the least she successfully obtained this time off to return home and attend her sister's wedding. A more feasible option is also to take a month or two vacation at the end of your contract. Often this can be facilitated by larger schools giving you the chance to travel abroad for a month whilst having the security of a new job waiting for you upon your inevitable return.
Some people who decide to simply change schools altogether often decide to take up to three months off after their initial contract is over. With job opportunities in abundance, sometimes bypassing the unenviable task of negotiating time off with employers who are difficult to work for is a more feasible option.
Nevertheless, as most schools expect nothing less than two hundred percent from their employees, putting yourself first is a must at some point in your career. Time off is an excellent way to help you continue forward. After all, if you're feeling at your best than you will inevitably be able to give your best.
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