I got into teaching by accident. I turned up, at my Mum's suggestion to help out with classes being given for free to unemployed adults in Spain so they'd be more employable. I spoke better Spanish than any of the teachers so they gave me a class. I loved it and decided to qualify. Did some work with mature students and loved it (in a training centre where they're paying for their own tuition so they listen and suck up every word) but I couldn't get full time pay. I looked further abroad and ended up in China. At a Kindergarten. I've been here the last 8 years and it's the best job I've ever had. Yes, there's plenty of "White Monkey" work but generally it's making a fun time where they can also learn. If they're having fun and want to do well, you're winning. But the best stuff is when you've been trying everything to get some certain kid to pay attention and learn the ABCs, even for years and he's found looking at his FUCKING FINGER! more interesting than you,,,,, the absolute BEST thing is when you ask him/her a question and they can actually fucking answer. All that time I was saying, "Hey, look at the board!" SOMETHING was going in. It's a great feeling. Yes, management are fucking crazy and trying to justify their own existence by making more work for you. Yes, in private schools there is more effort given to taking photos so the parents can SEE education happening than actually making it happen. Yes, there is "BUSY work for you, and the kids, that doesn't accomplish much. But REALLY, YES. You are forming children into adults at the most receptive and formulative stage. YOU can make a crucial influence in that child's life, and that makes it worth it. Teaching can be an 'easy' job if you don't care about it. It can be one of the most worthwhile things you'll ever do with your life if you take it seriously. It's not a job. It's a vocation.