| a retired engineer the other day and she told me she | | | | mature teachers have lots to offer. Their experience |
| was half way through a TEFL training course. She | | | | of life in its broader sense gives them additional |
| wanted to know what I thought her chances were of | | | | "weight" in the classroom: in discussion, for example, or |
| finding a teaching job when she has completed the | | | | in that strange, unquantifiable quality called wisdom. |
| course. Well, I can't disguise the fact that there is a lot | | | | Many cultures respect older people and students may |
| of age prejudice in the world of ELT. I think all sorts of | | | | have greater confidence in a mature teacher for that |
| reasons combine to make this a profession dominated | | | | reason. |
| by young teachers. | | | | The older teacher can also have a calming and |
| First, it appeals to those who want to be able to see | | | | stabilizing influence on younger colleagues, who may |
| the world and gain experience: inevitably it's the young | | | | find many aspects of their new career overwhelming. |
| who fit this profile. Second, if we're honest, pay is often | | | | Where the more mature teacher has a background in |
| unattractive in comparison to other professions and | | | | another professional area, the school may well be able |
| young people will tolerate that in a trade-off with their | | | | to make use of that expertise to offer ESP classes in |
| travel ambitions. Then schools themselves often | | | | that field. The engineer I mentioned would surely be an |
| appreciate the enthusiasm and energy that is | | | | asset in a school where students were preparing to |
| associated with youth, not to mention that the young | | | | apply for a university place in a technical subject. |
| are more tractable. | | | | But having said all this, I think the age of the teacher |
| Having said all this, I also know lots of young retirees | | | | should not really be an issue. The main point is, can the |
| who have found rewarding second careers in this field. | | | | teacher do the job well? If so, surely that's what |
| If schools took a moment to think about it, these | | | | matters. |