Charles in Charge

Well, I may have lost a job, but it looks as though I've picked up a client.

Today, I had lunch with my former student, who goes by the English name of Charles. Charles is just shy of fifty and recently divorced, but he has great plans not only to get his master's degree but to improve his English and, ultimately, to open an English school of his own.

In the course of our conversation, Charles told me that he has now left Shane altogether, because of the replacement Eve and Ruby found for me. Apparently, they found someone quite a bit older than me who has taught longer, but who dropped out of school at sixteen and has little knowledge of formal English grammar. I can only imagine Ruby going up to him constantly and telling him "you must improve immediately or our school will go under, because you are losing us so many students." And I take a certain satisfaction that they are finding life beyond me to be more difficult than they expected.

Charles said he had enjoyed talking with me during my stay here and urged me to stay in touch. I told him my plans about coming back to Taiwan were indefinite. But we have struck a deal whereby I will offer him critique of his writing work over the internet and some conversation practice via Skype. We have not hammered out exactly how much he can or will pay for my services, but he will definitely pay me something, and we can figure out the details later.

This might be another path in ESL/EFL teaching. Distance learning of English is definitely a growing thing. I see ads on Dave's ESL Cafe periodically for people wanted to teach English over the internet. Maybe this is a good way to get a little extra cash and to have a little more flexibility so that I never have to work for a Ruby or an Eve again.

Ah...the wondrous possibilities of life.