To be nervous about never teaching again

[Ispini]

Good morning all. I have recently been doing a course to get QTS in the UK after teaching for over twenty years in other areas of the world. Unfortunately the stress of studying, working full time and running a home with two teens and a traveling husband resulted in me having chronic panic attacks and depression. I have been signed off work and am starting to feel like myself again.
However, I really don’t want to go back but am petrified as to what to do next. What direction should I go in? Teaching is all I’ve ever known and I don’t know what else to do. Just to clarify I do have qualifications for EAL teaching which took me to several countries around the world with my DH.
I always loved teaching and could never see myself doing anything else but here I got nothing but never ending criticism and just couldn’t handle the paperwork.
Please can we not turn this into a teacher bashing thread, I literally had no life of my own anymore. But what should I do? I’m at a loss and while I won’t go back to work for at least two months I have no idea what other ex teachers do in their next ‘lives’?

You could be a tutor, mentor, trainer in all sorts of other organisations.

I left teaching and went through a similar thing!

These things really helped me:
• If you don’t teach now then it doesn’t take away the fact you were a teacher for twenty years. In the past you were a great teacher, now you’re trying something new.
• You are also a person. Being a teacher is part of who you are but it isn’t all you are.
• Whatever you choose to do next doesn’t have to be life changing - it can just be a stop gap while you get settled into Not Teaching.

You can move on and do something relating to teaching (tutoring etc) or you can have a bit of a break and find your feet and do something completely different (work in a cafe etc).

Thanks for your replies, I just get so anxious thinking about it and seem to have a knot in my stomach all the time. We need me to work too as money is tight.

I teach in a primary school - was EAL lead, but budgets limited EAL support and now am classroom based. Children arrive almost weekly via the centre for refugees and asylum seekers in our town. ( There are very few of these centres in existence.) Children attend there for a few weeks before being admitted to a school that has places which is often miles away from where they have been given housing. The children are almost always lovely.
There are teachers and support workers in the centre, I think mainly part time. It sounds as though you would be perfect for a job like that! Have a look into opportunities in your local/wider area.

If you have taught EAL before you could work from home tutoring online, teaching English to pupils abroad. There are several agencies that you can work for that will support you.

What sort of thing do you think you might enjoy? Teaching will have given you loads of skills, but there is an art to pulling them apart and highlight in them in applications!

123 fushia thank you that’s a great suggestion and I am in the SE so that could be a starter. I think when I am feeling a bit stronger I might see a careers advisor to help me. Thanks all for your help, I know I’m jumping the gun a bit but I literally woke up in such a panic this morning thinking of it all.

Supply is an option. There is no criticism there - schools are glad you turn up on time and can handle a class without needing them to bail you out every 5 minutes. Alternatively, I enjoy the odd day as a TA as it takes the pressure off being at the front all the time but you still get to do the good stuff with the kids.

have a look for language schools in your area as they may be able to help you, at least on an 'odd hour here and there basis'. Don't assume that just 'cos they market as 'foreign language learning' they don't have foreign students wanting English. Also, advertise yourself on all the tutoring websites as it's free and you have nothing to lose.

ohreally thank you for your ideas, will give it more thought over the next few weeks while I get well. It’s great to get an insight as I’ve not been in the UK long so glad to hear there are practical options.

I quit teaching and retrained as an accountant. No regrets.
I used to do EAL too - depending on where you are there are some quite good jobs with the universities but obviously London would be best for this.
Congratulations and good luck! X

I’ve gone back to uni - I did an MA and now I’m doing a PhD in education. After that I might lead CPD sessions/ trainee teacher seminars based on my study.

What about a teaching assistant or 1-1 learning support? That way you get to be in school and doing what you love but without the stress of all the extras that come with teaching

Be relieved, not nervous. Not teaching is great. It took me 18 months after I left teaching to stop waking up at 0500 with my heart thudding, thinking shit, I haven't done my planning.

There is life and opportunity after teaching. take some time to see what you want to do. I am planning when we move back to the UK this year to go back to admin if I can find something. I don't want to spend weekends marking, or having to send evenings planning etc. I want something I can leave at 1730 and not worry about til the next day.

Ds is 23, so no child care issues for me either.