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Am I too old, can I get a job?
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FarawayNow



Joined: 28 Apr 2012
Posts: 17

PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am also looking for a job at an older age. I am mostly looking at China, but the salaries in the Middle East look good. However, since I am female many people are discouraging me from that option. I have a couple of issues to address. I have been offered incredibly low salaries, so far. I know the average at a university in China is 5000 rmb a month, plus housing and the usual perks. I also have been asked to come over without official documents at a moment's notice. So I keep looking for something legal, and with at least average pay. It is good to know, that my dream is still possible. I am also open to kindy teaching (yes I have read about long hours and so on and so forth). I definitely like the idea of housing provided, since I will be a newbie overseas.
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johntpartee



Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258

PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Your passport and a scan of your degree are the only documents you will need. One year contract, housing provided, one way airfare reimbursement, 16 hours a week, 4500 RMB per month, that's the norm away from the big three.
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FarawayNow



Joined: 28 Apr 2012
Posts: 17

PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, that is what I am saying. They want me to come over without a contract or a visa. Isn't that illegal? It is recommended to have documents first. So is 5000 too high? Maybe payscales are declining? I notice all the ad headlines have big salaries, then I read the details and it not what was stated. I realize, that they really do not pay like 15,000 rmb a month in most cases. I like the idea communicating with other teachers and seeing photos of the campus and such too. But that is just my preference.
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johntpartee



Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258

PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
They want me to come over without a contract or a visa. Isn't that illegal?


No, just stupid. Sounds like you have the right idea. Look at the contract carefully, ask them for the e-mails of foreign teachers, etc. Many of the universities have web sites; I know it's an advert, but it'll give you an idea of what you're getting into.
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Prof.Gringo



Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!

PostPosted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 3:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

teachersmile wrote:
I sure appreciate the info everyone, thanks so much.

As for Thailand...anyone have any recommended language academies? I'd love to be in a smaller city/large town. Any prefered sites (besides Dave's) for job searches? China as well?

I do have a little flexibilty in my schedule,, as I am done teaching here in mid June and don't need to return until mid August next year. Maybe a six month job contract would be wise, then do some academy work in another locale (or see where the wind blows).

I am excited to learn about new lands, people and add to my teaching experiences.

I'm still confused as to whether I should pursue some type of certification?

Thanks all, and have a terrific day.


I know for a fact that schools in both SE Asia and Lat. Am. will hire you. Of course some won't, but there will still be enough work to make a go of it, best of luck!
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tttompatz



Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines

PostPosted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 5:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

FarawayNow wrote:
I am also looking for a job at an older age. I am mostly looking at China, but the salaries in the Middle East look good. However, since I am female many people are discouraging me from that option. I have a couple of issues to address. I have been offered incredibly low salaries, so far. I know the average at a university in China is 5000 rmb a month, plus housing and the usual perks. I also have been asked to come over without official documents at a moment's notice. So I keep looking for something legal, and with at least average pay. It is good to know, that my dream is still possible. I am also open to kindy teaching (yes I have read about long hours and so on and so forth). I definitely like the idea of housing provided, since I will be a newbie overseas.


Define "older".

University jobs in china don't pay that great BUT if you understand how things work and have the wherewithal that ghod gave to green apples there are ample opportunities for "additional revenue streams".

If you are not set on university work or particularly set on China AND are under 60 then there are also lots of other opportunities in East/S.East Asia to work in mainstream schools as an English or subject teacher.

I am too lazy to go digging to find out more about your background so I will leave it there for now.

.
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Prof.Gringo



Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!

PostPosted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 7:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

johntpartee wrote:
Quote:
They want me to come over without a contract or a visa. Isn't that illegal?


No, just stupid. Sounds like you have the right idea. Look at the contract carefully, ask them for the e-mails of foreign teachers, etc. Many of the universities have web sites; I know it's an advert, but it'll give you an idea of what you're getting into.


Sounds like typical ESL/EFL work to me... paid under the table, contract in a foreign language (if at all), working with a tourist visa, yep, all very typical in this "profession" Twisted Evil
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spiral78



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

PostPosted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 8:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Prof Gringo:

Quote:
Sounds like typical ESL/EFL work to me... paid under the table, contract in a foreign language (if at all), working with a tourist visa, yep, all very typical in this "profession



Your idea of 'typical' isn't by any means the norm in most of the world.
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Prof.Gringo



Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!

PostPosted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 8:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

spiral78 wrote:
Prof Gringo:

Quote:
Sounds like typical ESL/EFL work to me... paid under the table, contract in a foreign language (if at all), working with a tourist visa, yep, all very typical in this "profession



Your idea of 'typical' isn't by any means the norm in most of the world.


Seems like the norm in many places to me... And many others agree. EFL isn't a long-term career except for a few.
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johnslat



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

PostPosted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 8:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hmm - I think this would make a good pole on the General Discussion forum.

Regards,
John
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spiral78



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

PostPosted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 9:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
EFL isn't a long-term career except for a few.


Short-term (a year or a few years) isn't conducted illegally on a tourist visa or paid under the table, in most places.

There's nothing wrong with teaching short-term; not everyone will want to pursue a career.

But it's not fair or accurate to infer that most TEFL teachers are working illegally and are paid under the table, whether they are short or long-term teachers.
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johntpartee



Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258

PostPosted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 9:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think the Prof. is talking about Mexico and China. MOST of the foreign teachers THAT I MET in Mexico were technically illegal (they didn't have the FM-something [2 or 3, I forget what the number is] visa [I was one of them]); the schools didn't care and the authorities didn't enforce it. In China I think MOST is the wrong word, but MANY foreigners here are working (again, technically) illegally (I'm NOT one of them).

In my own defense, I had every intention of making myself legal in Mexico, but I got a (legal) job in China before I'd really "settled in" there.
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spiral78



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

PostPosted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 12:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Prof Gringo:

Sounds like typical ESL/EFL work to me... paid under the table, contract in a foreign language (if at all), working with a tourist visa, yep, all very typical in this "profession"



Quote:
Johntpartee:

I think the Prof. is talking about Mexico and China


Generalizing personal experience in one or even two parts of the world to the whole profession does newbies a disservice - if you look at the language in the post, it basically implicates the entire profession, and that is misleading.
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Prof.Gringo



Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!

PostPosted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 6:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

johntpartee wrote:
I think the Prof. is talking about Mexico and China. MOST of the foreign teachers THAT I MET in Mexico were technically illegal (they didn't have the FM-something [2 or 3, I forget what the number is] visa [I was one of them]); the schools didn't care and the authorities didn't enforce it. In China I think MOST is the wrong word, but MANY foreigners here are working (again, technically) illegally (I'm NOT one of them).

In my own defense, I had every intention of making myself legal in Mexico, but I got a (legal) job in China before I'd really "settled in" there.


This type of employment is very common in SE Asia, China and all of Latin America, which includes a very large chunk of the EFL job market, esp. for newbies.

Plenty of schools will hire just as I posted above in those areas, from Mex City to Lima Peru to BKK Thailand to HCMC to Beijing, so I think that includes a large enough swath of both territory and EFL jobs to make my statement which I stand by.
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spiral78



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

PostPosted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 6:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Because under the table jobs are available in the places you cite does not mean that most EFL teachers there are working under the table. That's why it's not accurate to say that working illegally is typical.


http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=96829
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