In an effort to get myself out of debt and my tush off the couch, I have decided to try to get into even deeper debt. (This may be one of those confusing Willy Wonka "backwards is forwards" moments for you, Mrs. Gloop!) I applied to go to university. I want to become a translator. As a step towards fulfilling that dream, I wrote an entrance exam today at the Université du Québec en Outaouais.
It was so much fun! I know: I'm nuts, but I found writing a minimum 250-word opinion and translating a 300-word text from English to French to be a blast! Granted, I was pretty relaxed about it. The UQO diploma takes three years, whereas the one at the University of Ottawa only takes two. Given the choice, I would much rather do my Bachelor at U of O so this test didn't really phase me. It actually made me look forward to the next one, which will be on March 24th. (That's a Saturday. I must remember to confirm with my sitter.)
It was a big decision to go back to school and right now it is still pretty daunting. I have so much debt already, but I have faith that with a diploma in translation I can get a good job that pays well and that I like. That last bit is very important, since I have lost interest in what I have been doing, which is working in the French as a Second Language trade of teaching federal public servants French. As much as I loved all our students - I really did meet some amazingly intelligent and nice people - the conditions suck.
Ten years ago, I earned 21 dollars an hour teaching a group of about six students. Today, there are schools hiring experienced teachers for fifteen. It's really an insult, but the schools can do it because they know full well that the market is saturated. There are more teachers than students to teach.
I'm not the only one who wants to get out. I would need extra fingers and toes to count the number of my teachers who have asked me for reference letters. (I have climbed the ranks to Teaching Advisor.) I don't blame them. Pretty nearly everyone working in a private school in the Ottawa area wants to get into the government. Most of my teachers are paid hourly through contracts, meaning they have to put money aside for taxes at the end of the year and, most importantly, meaning that they have no benefits. No sick days, no Employment Insurance if they lose their position. A lucky few have landed dream jobs as French as a Second Language teachers directly for federal governmental departments. They have become casual and in some cases term public employees. But all that is about to end. The government announced that all the teaching positions are getting the ax as part of its cuts as of March 31st. Which means more teachers looking for jobs in private schools. Good for the schools. Bad for the teachers.
Another reason I wanted to change fields is because I really didn't like my job any more. It got really tedious fighting with upper management for teachers' rights, fighting with teachers for them to respect deadlines and protocols and for students' rights (like the right to have a teacher IN the classroom instead of on their way to work at the time class is scheduled to start.) Then there is "fighting" with students. (I put that in quotes because they aren't "students", but "clients" and I have to keep them "happy.") I "fought" with students who did't show up on time, disrupting class when they arrived and noisily got settled 30 minutes late every day. I "fought" with students who didn't want or need to be bilingual and who made no effort whatsoever to learn French, because their boss was going to reclassify their position as unilingual English if they didn't get their B's. Etc. Etc.
I have discovered through volunteering that I LIKE translating and I think that is the key factor in my future success. I have friends and acquaintances who are translators both in the public and private sectors and they all tell me the same thing: conditions are good. So I have decided I will do what I like and be recognized (i.e. receive a fair salary) for it. I know you can't get anywhere unless you know where you want to go. Where I want to go is a place where I have financial security and I can give my children the things they need and deserve. Starting with hot meals every night.
I'm looking forward to getting the results. In the meantime, I am looking forward to my weekend. You all have a good one! :o)
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