Job Discussion Forums

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

I know that this is subjective. If money was of no concern, what country would you teach English as a Second Language in? I am currently working to put myself in a financial position where salary will not be a key factor.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Croatia (outside of the parts that have become seriously touristy recently). Lovely clean sea, nice food, unpretentious genuine people. Proximity to alps. Or Ljubljana

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

That’s a reasonable point. I speak a related language, so it doesn’t seem so tough to me to become functional in Croat ( or Slovenian). It could feel like a greater barrier to others, I guess.
But I would also note that Croats (and Slovenians) are generally pleasant and patient with the relatively few foreigners who make an effort with the language. Their uncritical attitude helps, I think.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Knowledge of any of the South Slavonic languages will help. Travelling in that part of the world I found that an ability to speak one of the languages was a great help in communicating !

My choice would be Serbia rather than Croatia, but different strokes !

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

I would like to live in Brazil. However, I might need to live there for more than a month to make that determination.

MotherF · Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 3:41 pm Post subject:

i agree that the best living will come in a place where you speak the language. If English is widely spoken, teaching jobs for native speakers are probably harder to come by (though you can teach online these days for a supplemental income.)
After that, I would choose a country whose currancy is weak against which ever currancy your financial indepence is based on, so that likely means the global south.
After that I'd choose a climate you like, people love to vacation at the beach, but heat and humidity can get you down when it's month after month. I guess some people like it, but not me. I like the cozy feeling of a thick sweater and the pleasure of hot showers.
And as we age access to good medical care becomes more and more important.

dragonpiwo · Joined: 04 Mar 2013 Posts: 1650 Location: Berlin

Everyone's different. I've worked in the UK, Poland, the Czech Republic, Libya, Kuwait, Saudi, Qatar and the UAE. Lifestyle-wise the UAE wins hands down. However, in terms of enjoying the teaching, I think Central Europe is hard to beat because the students are educated and eager. Unfortunately, starting off in Central Europe these days is financial penury. Can't comment on south-east Asia as I've never taught there.

In the heat of the moment · Joined: 22 May 2015 Posts: 393 Location: Italy

I asked a similar question and there were some suggestions here;
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=117089

MotherF · Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 1:57 am Post subject:

The Great Toad · Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:29 am Post subject:

I saw an add for Maldives on this web page. The pay was sub 2 grand but it i cluded housi g flights and visa. you could ski. dive every weekend with zero 500bucks a day hotel fees. I have no idea how tbe peole are though they could be kind or not.... I am in a trpical country making 2o times more than tbe minimum wage and around 4 o5 gimes that of the other English non native speakers. SE asia is hot but full of idiot scotter drivers. If I had a writ from Hevean no motor drjven tbing wkuld touch me it might be ideal

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

The Great Toad,
The Maldives would be great. I would love to work there. However, it might be expensive.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

schwa · Joined: 12 Oct 2003 Posts: 164 Location: yap

Subjective, yes.

I've been living & teaching on a speck of an island in the Western Pacific for three years now. Yap. I've never been more content.

I had a simple wishlist of what I wanted for a post-Korea gig. Someplace warm year-round with some nice natural attributes, English commonly spoken, friendly locals, decent internet. All boxes checked. No age limit was a big factor too, I'm mid-60s.

I teach ELA/Lit in the public high school but realistically it's ESL. It's a challenging fun job. My wage covers my cost of living, though there's not a lot to spend on or do here really, just enough, which suits me fine. Not for those with a low boredom threshold though.

Friday after work now sipping a cold beer on my porch with a sublime view of lagoon, palms & greenery, exotic birds, & sky.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

schwa, how did you find that job?