Job Discussion Forums

[Tigerstyleone]

She's not qualified to teach in Korea. No school would risk hiring her. They have more than enough young & qualified applicants these days not to need under qualified, inexperienced middle aged applicants, and they are sure as hell not going to pay for her and her child's round trip airfare.

[smiller1968]

Hi again, thanks for your comments. I had researched different countries and I would not get a look in at Sth Korea, China is iffy too, Europe I'd need a euro passport and uni degree and I believe Sth America is hard too if you only speak English and don't hold a uni degree.
As for the visa's I'm sure a lot of people only have tourist visas and the tesol and leave the country quarterly to renew.
What you guys say and what a few Tesol colleges say here in Australia are 2 different things. Some colleges say Vietnam some say Thailand and China?
Are any of you aware if it is better to apply for teaching positions from your home country, or in the country itself, and what is the average time once a position is secured to begin work?
It sounds like the home schooling with other expats may work, if there is time to organise.
Luke I look at your experience in Mexico as a gift, look where you are now. Do you remember much of it? and how old were you?
I would love to give my daughter an opportunity like that. They can learn so much more from an experience like that.
I wonder if 6 months may be better to commit to.

[kurtz]

Sue, don't take an 8 year old to Vietnam. You will be earning peanuts, probably working evenings and possibly Saturday or Sunday and you'll disrupt your child's education. Save up some money and take her on a holiday. You'll be in struggle town with none of the benefits Australia provides.

[smiller1968]

Thanks Kurtz you may be right, Im not getting much positive feedback at all. , maybe an interstate move in Australia would be better

[mark_in_saigon]

I would say you got mostly honest and polite feedback, people were sincerely trying to help you avoid a disaster. I consider that very positive. Posters here mostly want to help, holding back one person here or there is not going to make any difference to our incomes or lives. You will see where posters do on occasion think a person seems to be a very good fit for the job scene here. Mostly, the environment here is so tough that unless you are really right for it, you would be a lot better off not pulling up any stakes to try your hand. I would say to anyone though, if you if you can come over without any financial problem, and you will have no problem jumping back to whatever you left behind (knowing that it may end up being a net financial loss), come on over. Just understand, we have loads of native speakers traipsing around, in addition to nominal native speakers who will work for low wages. If you have income streams and can live without an income generated here, it is a lot of fun. If you really need the income once you get over, you are on much shakier ground. If you have strikes against you (age, lack of qualifications, minimal skills, encumbrances, student loans, booze habit, etc.), you are setting yourself up for the possibility of a very rough time. Western income overcomes all that though, but it also means you do not have to work, and so you may find that there is nothing worth doing. Many of the jobs are not worth doing, to be honest, but there are still a few good ones out there.

[Tigerstyleone]

[smiller1968]

Tigerstyleone, I dont have to move at all, however I want to. Im not sure why Im explaining my reasons yet I will lol. I have lived in a country town for 21 yrs raised my other 2 children, they are now both doing further study and starting their next chapter in life. My 8yrs father is not actively involved so not hanging around for his occasion interaction with her. Now is the time to do this stuff before she begins high school. I do not believe she will be scarred from moving in fact I believe she will grow and become more resiliant, she will learn about different culture, learn a different language, appreciate and value what she has got, broaden her thinking and the list goes on. Maybe Vietnam isnt the place to go, who knows, there is always barriers.
What I dont get is they seem to be screaming out for teachers, Do these positions usually get filled. I also understand what your all saying about less experience means Id be down the bottom of the barrel, and putting my girl in these positions, are there part time options? I dont even have to do teaching however Id want be doing some type of paid work So how much cash would you suggest to bring to supplement the income. I would also have to have different living arrangements because of my girl so with accomodation and living. In your opinion what would it cost to live each week in Vietnam.
I rarely drink, ive stopped smoking I live fairly simply, the only luxuries we would require are a nearby pool and air con lol
Sue

[smiller1968]

Mark your right I dont mean people have been negative, Im just not hearing what I want lol. As I said I have asked for honest feedback, and I have got that. I did have a few more questions on my last post.

[mark_in_saigon]

I think I see part of the problem now. "They" seem to be screaming out for teachers. Who is "they"? I am thinking you have been reading advertisements or promotions from TESOL providers or schools. You have to understand, it is ALWAYS in their best interests to generate more prospects, the providers do not care, to them it is just an income source. The schools you may be reading ads for, they may be these scam deals that make it seem so great when in reality their situation is so dreadful that people over here who know the truth will not apply with them. Or new folks here may apply and then find out the truth and then leave. Actually, these "schools" are middlemen, their job is to find native speakers for various public schools who will work in bad locations for low pay. If you look on Craigslist, you will see these same "schools" advertising over and over and over. If you send them an intelligent inquiry, they may not even reply. They are seeking gullible victims, not real teachers.

New posters, I would suggest a few different approaches when posting here. For one thing, find a thread that mostly answers your questions, then add to it. That way it is a lot more efficient for everyone; the people who respond and the countless people who never post but do read and need this info.

Additionally, always include your true motivations in your first post. We constantly see these new posters asking these questions about moving over here without the necessary background information. Especially silly is when they speak of the desire to be a positive influence on poor young natives, or experience an exotic native culture. There is just a bit of that involved, but for folks who honestly are seeking that, it is likely to be a big disappointment. Just understand you are anonymous, no one can figure out who you are, and so be honest about what you are up to (in your first post). Then responses can be A LOT more relevant and on target. You are asking people who are experts in this field to give free advice. Do not waste their time because you do not want to be honest about your situation. We also see folks fail to clearly state their qualifications and work history. Come on, if you do not have a degree, say so up front. If you have a Master's in basket weaving, post it. Same with work history and with financial situation. Help the people who are trying to help you.

[smiller1968]

Thanks Mark, I get what your saying now about the TESOL providers and all these jobs and Ive just realised they do the same here with job agencies for factory workers etc.
Im not here to waste any ones time including my own, and feel I have been totally honest I just want some infomation, I will definatley take your advice on board and look through the archives.
You were my guinea pigs to start the ball rolling, Thanks.
Sue

[VietCanada]

You can't teach legally in Vietnam without a bachelors degree or 5 years prior experience teaching in Vietnam. You also need a TEFL or equivalent. It's also very, very difficult to get work here if you're in your 40's or look it and equally difficult with no prior experience working here.

Please be mindful that hiring managers and recruiters monitor these boards.

IMHO bringing along a child is a huge risk that I would strongly advocate against.

Contrary to popular political commentary in NA, socialist countries do not have social programs, wealthy countries do.

There are homeless foreigners here.

I hope I haven't come off too strong. If so I apologize.

[smiller1968]

Tbanks Vietcanada, its all good. I'm. surprised I only had male responses. Seems in the opinion of those on her I may have missed the boat. Do you need all those quals mentioned to volunteer in schools?

[Tigerstyleone]

[smiller1968]

lol why am I again explaining myself to you lol. If you read back you Mark was talking about new posters....and thats me.....Sorry you took it the wrong way, its difficult to know how things come across.

[LettersAthruZ]

Kurtz and Mark are 150% correct on this - honestly, Sue: Don't subject your 8-year-old daughter to living in Viet Nam.

The education that she is no doubt receiving in Australia would not even begin to be be approached in quality by an artificially-overpriced International School here in Viet Nam.....much less by a hastily slapped-together home-schooling study-group with a few other Tay!

Again, seriously: We're just trying to help you avert a disaster.

95% of the Western Teachers that I know and knew here who got married and had a child or children took off the hell out of here by the time the oldest child reached schooling age.