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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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 Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 2:03 pm Post subject: Re: what about me??? |
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| taylotransient wrote: |
I have 1 year experience at a polytechnic in the KSA with good references, 6 months with kids in Taiwan, a few months with adults in Montreal, lots of other language-learning related experience, I'm 40 years old, and I'm doing a MA TEFL this fall. Next spring, I'm thinking about a couple to three more contracts abroad before settling back here in Canada.
Interested in teaching college-aged kids, perhaps a couple of years somewhere in Asia... and another somewhere in the middle-east pretty much solely for the money.
Any ideas, comments or suggestions for my best plan of attack, or where I might wanna look into??? |
Since you've stated your long-term plan, it's not clear what you're asking for. What specifically do you want suggestions on? A plan of attack for what? |
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EFLeducator
Joined: 16 Dec 2011
Posts: 595
Location: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS
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| Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 10:54 pm Post subject: Re: what about me??? |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| taylotransient wrote: |
I have 1 year experience at a polytechnic in the KSA with good references, 6 months with kids in Taiwan, a few months with adults in Montreal, lots of other language-learning related experience, I'm 40 years old, and I'm doing a MA TEFL this fall. Next spring, I'm thinking about a couple to three more contracts abroad before settling back here in Canada.
Interested in teaching college-aged kids, perhaps a couple of years somewhere in Asia... and another somewhere in the middle-east pretty much solely for the money.
Any ideas, comments or suggestions for my best plan of attack, or where I might wanna look into??? |
Since you've stated your long-term plan, it's not clear what you're asking for. What specifically do you want suggestions on? A plan of attack for what? |
Seems crystal clear to me. Go to Asia or the ME. You'll for sure get more money in Asia and/or the ME than you would ANYWHERE in latin america. I hear from a friend that you get more respect as a teacher as well, at least in Japan. Good luck my fellow professional TEFLer.  |
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taylotransient
Joined: 02 Jul 2012
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:40 am Post subject: plan of attack redux... |
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Just looking for any suggestions and feedback re. best salaries, best places to work, etc.
If I was shooting for the moon, what in your opinion(s) is the top salary I could attain?
Anyone have any experience using their MA TEFL here in Canada or another English speaking country? |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 5:23 am Post subject: Re: plan of attack redux... |
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| taylotransient wrote: |
Just looking for any suggestions and feedback re. best salaries, best places to work, etc.
If I was shooting for the moon, what in your opinion(s) is the top salary I could attain?
Anyone have any experience using their MA TEFL here in Canada or another English speaking country? |
Another newbie than thinks that their base salary is an important number. Duh..
Look at the WHOLE package and use the SAVINGS rather than base salary as your benchmark. Those non-salary things can add up in a BIG way as can extra work. In Korea I was earning about 40k per anum PLUS housing, airfare, medical and 6 week of annual paid vacation. Average net savings at the end of the year were about $15k.
I Thailand I earn about $32k per year (not including overtime), have 14 weeks of paid vacation, and savings are on the order of $20k with a similar benefit package.
Best salary without looking at the domestic economic picture is meaningless.
Best country is another non quantifiable undefinable objective.
Best job is another non quantifiable undefinable objective.
And to answer your last question, yes.
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taylotransient
Joined: 02 Jul 2012
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:46 am Post subject: thanx ttt tompatz... |
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nice salary for Thailand... I wasn't expecting that. 14 weeks of paid vacation seems pretty impressive as well.
the Korea figures seem decent as well.
you're landing these jobs with an MA? Decades of experience? Am I right to assume both of these would be top-tier jobs in their respective countries? |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:44 am Post subject: |
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| taylortransient wrote: |
I have 1 year experience at a polytechnic in the KSA with good references, 6 months with kids in Taiwan, a few months with adults in Montreal, lots of other language-learning related experience, I'm 40 years old, and I'm doing a MA TEFL this fall. Next spring, I'm thinking about a couple to three more contracts abroad before settling back here in Canada.
Interested in teaching college-aged kids, perhaps a couple of years somewhere in Asia... and another somewhere in the middle-east pretty much solely for the money. |
Japan is "somewhere in Asia", and it's where I've been since 1998. Taught conversation school, HS and now uni. I started out at your age with ZERO background in teaching and a degree UNrelated to teaching (but a master's nonetheless). You're not going to come to Japan and get a university position, not with your qualifications. So, look at other Asian countries.
BTW, what does it mean to say you have "lots of other language-learning related experience"? Be specific.
If you still want something in Japan, with your quals, you're still probably going to get only entry level work, perhaps with a salary around 220,000-270,000 yen/month ($2650 - $3253 US) pre-deductions. After basic needs, insurance, and taxes, you'll have roughly half that amount to do with as you please. Anything else (car, parking, magazine/newspaper subscriptions, cable subscription, sightseeing, girlfriend, entertainment, souvenirs, gifts, emergency medical care, etc.) will eat into that remainder. Many people compensate with side work, but as I'm sure you realize, that takes away from your otherwise free time and can be a drain physically and mentally. Besides, if you land a mere conversation school job, your weekends might not even be consecutive days off, so side work will really tire you out. I'm not saying "don't come"; I'm saying heads up. |
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MMK1
Joined: 25 Jun 2012
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:06 am Post subject: hope to be as good as you one day.... |
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| ohhh my hero... |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:20 am Post subject: Re: thanx ttt tompatz... |
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| taylotransient wrote: |
nice salary for Thailand... I wasn't expecting that. 14 weeks of paid vacation seems pretty impressive as well.
the Korea figures seem decent as well.
you're landing these jobs with an MA? Decades of experience? Am I right to assume both of these would be top-tier jobs in their respective countries? |
I landed the job in Korea based on a BA (even though I hold 2 masters and 3 undergrads), a few years of verifiable experience and a good interview.
I landed the job in Thailand based on a BA, a great cover letter, a few years of experience and a great interview. I moved up quickly based on skills and performance (even in teaching results matter).
Korea wasn't top tier (the best 2 international schools pay double that) but was decent and still not far above what a newbie with a MA TESOL (working at a public school) would end up with ($30k + air, housing, medical, pension, severance and 6 weeks vacation).
The job in Thailand is firmly in the middle of the pack with top international schools paying upwards of $60k + benefits and entry level EFL jobs are in the 35-50k thb/month ($12k-$19k) range with University jobs (which are among the lowest paid) coming in at around 25k thb (<$1000) /month.
If you want to work in Asia, skip the university positions until you get the lay of the land and figure out how the supplemental revenue streams work. Get a job in a decent high school and make twice the money for the same 40 hours on campus.
(admittedly, uni jobs have far fewer teaching hours (9 classes per week vs 18-22) but the NET jingle in the pocket at the end of the month is why we work).
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taylotransient
Joined: 02 Jul 2012
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:01 am Post subject: good stuff tttompatz and glenski.. |
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many thanks to both of you...
so, tttompatz, if I understand correctly... international schools are the way to go salary-wise in both Korea and Thailand, for starters anyhow, until I get the lay of the land and figure out the uni scene? That's good info. to know. That's what I meant previously in terms of shooting for the moon salary-wise...
Glenski you were wondering about my "language-learning" related experience... I have a tonne of outside-the-classroom, experiential and non-formal education/facilitation experience. I've been in charge of many many groups of young people, generally of varying cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and often in a strange location for all of us... One of my first jobs in that situation is to help teach language skills so they can learn initial vocabulary and work towards conversation with each other... French to the Anglos and English to the Francos if it's a mixed F/E group, or Bahasa Indonesian to the Anglos and English to the indonesians for a different example. It's never been a classroom setting, but the techniques are often the same... Lots of games and activities for the beginners, etc. etc.. |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:02 am Post subject: |
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Unless you have teacher certification from your home country and some (verifiable) experience at home or abroad to go with your MA you may find that the majority of accredited (IB etc.) international schools won't even look at you (certainly not from abroad).
Get your foot in the door at a decent bilingual, English program or government/public (easy to do in Korea) local school and if you are any good at what you do you will quickly find that opportunities will find you.
(in Asia, almost without exception, it really is all about who knows you and who you know not what you know).
If, on the other hand, you DO have home country certification and experience then decent international schools are the ONLY way to go (hint: quit looking on ESL/EFL boards).
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 1:10 pm Post subject: Re: good stuff tttompatz and glenski.. |
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| taylotransient wrote: |
| Glenski you were wondering about my "language-learning" related experience... I have a tonne of outside-the-classroom, experiential and non-formal education/facilitation experience. I've been in charge of many many groups of young people, generally of varying cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and often in a strange location for all of us... One of my first jobs in that situation is to help teach language skills so they can learn initial vocabulary and work towards conversation with each other... French to the Anglos and English to the Francos if it's a mixed F/E group, or Bahasa Indonesian to the Anglos and English to the indonesians for a different example. It's never been a classroom setting, but the techniques are often the same... Lots of games and activities for the beginners, etc. etc.. |
This will be problematic to put on a resume, so unless you can somehow come up with a clear way to do it (volunteer teaching?), I'd say save it for the cover letter. A "tonne" is hardly clearcut enough for any employer to grasp. Are we talking a month's worth of time, half a year, 5 years? I realize it's probably not anything like a FT or PT job, but you need to quantity it somehow. Dates, places, types and ages of students, etc. I'd say it would be nice filler in a cover letter, but not many employers will look at it very positively unless you give it some clear description and depth. |
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EFLeducator
Joined: 16 Dec 2011
Posts: 595
Location: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS
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| Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 3:25 pm Post subject: Re: plan of attack redux... |
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| tttompatz wrote: |
| Another newbie than thinks that their base salary is an important number. Duh.. |
Wow. What a RUDE response. What a RUDE message. Totally uncalled for.
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MMK1
Joined: 25 Jun 2012
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 4:56 pm Post subject: ski-ing in the glens.......... |
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rude and uncalled for....all that seems to go on from certain people on this japan forum/goes to show how more qualified and how much better they are as experienced English language teachers/instructors, or so they think  none of the other forums are half as bad....
shxt no punctuation/how irksome
grammar/spelling ok? |
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