Job Discussion Forums

[Phat-T]

A word about me as it is my first post.

I'm 33 with a BM in music composition (primary career) and a BA in english. I have a greek passport but I'm a product of the international private schools so my English is impeccable, even americans do a double take when I insist I'm 100% greek... then they demand explanations . I'm 5"9, very "white looking", clean cut, in fact I look more like 23 than 33 but with rapidly whitening hair. Also, having grown up in greece in the 80's I'm rather used to less than western comfort levels and not picky at all about food, crossing a busy street in the smog and the like. I'm well read, well spoken and I've been all over the globe a few times.

I have a series of queries that must all have been answered at some point in different threads but since I can't seem to find them at all I'd beg you to indulge me, I'll be brief and to the point. I'll ask them one at a time because the answers of one will define the next.

As I said above, I have a greek passport and BA from an american 4 year college. In which of the following countries do I have a decent chance of finding a job and teaching legally? I aim to leave greece in april and get a CELTA at the country of choice.

vietnam
laos
cambodia
thailand
korea
japan
bhutan
nepal
myanmar
malaysia

I realize that for the more obscure ones I might have no choice but to volunteer, that's not a problem, what I want to know is where my passport and lack of Bed/MA precludes me from teaching for a salary.

Thanks in advance.

[Glenski]

If all of your education (or at least 12 years of it) has been given to you in English, then you can teach English in Japan. You will have to prove your education was in English, though.

Your age and appearance will not make much of a difference here.

Leaving Greece in April will make it a little difficult to find openings in Japan, since that is the month that most employers start their fiscal and academic year. You are suited for conversation schools and ALT positions (different types of work visas, just so you know), and if you have any substantial work experience in a non-teaching field, you might also look into business English agencies. See the FAQ stickies in the Japan forum for more info before posting there.

A word of caution about your writing style: please use capital letters when needed.

[tttompatz]

[Phat-T]

Hmm.. I was really hoping for one of the southern countries but Japan might be my only realistic option. My problem is that I'm contemplating this move as a way to climb out of a very nasty depression and I don't see Japan as the best place for doing that. In any case, is college included in the 12 years of education in english? I have 9 years in school + 5 in college.

Is this 1/2 salary figure standard policy or is it something negotiable if an employer likes me? My original ambition was to get a part time job (10-15hours) that pays the equivalent of 15kbhat a month around Chiang Mai (I have more money to survive on). I'm very determined and capable and would probably be the best student at the CELTA school. I'd job hunt/interview at a million places using every trick in my sleeve; a wily Greek sleeve at that . Are my plans so unrealistic that I should consider another angle? If i did a year as a volunteer ESL teacher first would that up my chances of getting hired significantly? Thankfully TOEFL etc. is not a problem.

Thank you for your prompt replies, this matter is very important to me. As for capping the countries names, yes, you are right. I just decided to give way to my inner laziness here where there's no editor monitoring my every keystroke. My bad.

[tttompatz]

[Glenski]

[Denim-Maniac]

Glenski - Im guessing here, but I think 'depression' probably refers to the Greek financial situation rather than a personal one.

Phat-T - China isnt in your list, and perhaps it should be a place to consider. With a CELTA or similar (or possibly even without) legal work should be possible. I currently share my staff room with both a Pole and a Filippino who both have legal working papers and have the same salary as native speakers.

[Phat-T]

Nice guess, and you'd be right with 99% of Greeks in these times, but in fact, my depression is entirely personal. I'm doing ok financially. I'm fleeing because I need a change of environment... call it dissociation therapy . China is an option I managed to overlook, thank you for bringing that up, I will consider it.

Glenski brings up a good point, I'm really serious about it being part time, more than I am about the money I will be making. In the Thailand-Vietnam-Cambodia area is a work permit possible for part time work?

As far as the volunteering goes I assumed I would find a program that takes care of work visa issues in some very poor and/or remote place. I think Bhutan does something like this. Yeah, there's no way that's part time but at that point I'm in Bhutan so it matters little... but that's my nuclear option.

[Dedicated]

You have an EU passport. Have you considered looking for work within the EU countries? They may not be the best paying in the world, but if you build up your experience, and prove your capabilities, then you might land a good post. I have several Greek colleagues working alongside me at a London university.

[Phat-T]

I have indeed, and I realize it would be much easier on many levels, however, I'm not interested in Europe right now because I want to shake things up.
Thanks for the thought though...

[Glenski]

[tttompatz]

[Phat-T]

Wow, seems hard to NOT read about Greece these days... believe me I wish it weren't. In fact, for any young person, this is a great time to be leaving Greece.

Since you're asking, I've found that leaving everything familiar behind (especially habits) is a great way to distract oneself from seemingly inescapable obsessive negative thoughts. My theory (expert neurologist that I am ) is that by activating various other parts of the brain (the novelty center mostly) you can distract yourself long enough to break the feedback loop. I also just want to live outside the west in general for a while, regardless of depression and I'm cashing in a major payout soon that will enable to do this stress free for a while.

That's really bad news about the work permit... I guess I'll have to do without one. What are my options for permit-less work? language academies? less reputable private schools? anything else?

Thanks for the info folks, you've been very helpful.

[Glenski]