Arguments for studying IT:
* Increased Job Opportunities: The IT sector is booming, offering a wide array of high-paying jobs. This is a significant advantage compared to the potentially more saturated teaching market.
* Transferable Skills: Your communication and language skills are highly valuable in IT. Strong communication is crucial for collaborating with teams, explaining technical concepts to non-technical audiences, and creating user-friendly interfaces. Your language skills could be beneficial if you work on international projects or with diverse teams.
* Career Change: If you're unhappy with teaching or seeking a higher income, IT provides a pathway to a complete career change.
* Technological Proficiency: In today's world, technological literacy is increasingly important across all professions. An IT degree would significantly enhance your digital skills.
* Teaching Opportunities: You could potentially transition into teaching IT-related subjects, leveraging both your existing teaching experience and new IT skills.
Arguments against studying IT:
* Time Commitment: Pursuing an IT degree requires significant time and effort, particularly if you're balancing it with your current teaching job.
* Financial Investment: Tuition fees and other associated costs can be substantial.
* Steep Learning Curve: IT is a rapidly evolving field, requiring continuous learning and adaptation. The learning curve can be challenging, particularly if you lack a prior background in the field.
* Potential Job Market Saturation (in specific areas): While the IT job market is generally strong, some specific areas might be becoming saturated. Careful research into specific IT specializations is necessary.
* May Not Be Necessary: Depending on your teaching role and aspirations, you might be able to enhance your career prospects without a full IT degree through online courses, workshops, or certifications focused on specific technologies relevant to your teaching.
Recommendation:
Before committing to a full IT degree, I recommend:
1. Self-Assessment: Honestly evaluate your interest in IT. Do you genuinely enjoy learning about technology? Are you willing to dedicate the necessary time and effort?
2. Market Research: Investigate the IT job market in your region. Identify specific areas with high demand and good growth potential. Consider the specific skills needed for those jobs and assess if they align with your strengths and interests.
3. Explore Alternatives: Consider less time-consuming options, such as online courses, boot camps, or certifications in specific areas of IT that might complement your teaching career or open up new opportunities. These can be a less risky way to test the waters before committing to a full degree.
4. Network: Talk to people working in the IT field. Learn about their experiences and gain insights into the realities of the job market.
In conclusion, studying IT could be a beneficial career move, especially given your existing communication skills. However, careful planning, research, and consideration of alternative options are crucial before making such a significant commitment. A less intensive approach may be a better starting point to explore your interest and assess the potential return on investment.