Job Discussion Forums

[tremault]

Hi,
I was recommended to come here by a friend of mine.
I've been looking for some way to work in east Asia teaching English. My first preference is Japan, but somebody led me to believe that obtaining work in china would be more likely and also I may be likely to get assistance with air-fare and living costs for the first month or so.
I think if I could get some kind of assistance with this, it would be great and I think I have the ability to be a very good teacher.
I have experience teaching English voluntarily in my home town and I have a degree in animation. My strength is in problem solving so I think I should also be able to give good one-on-one support.
I am confident that my CV should make me an attractive candidate but I am wondering what people's experience is with getting the type of financial help that I am looking for?

To be clear, my finances are pretty terrible right now. I'm surviving off government handouts and have no savings or anyone that could lend me money. I'm hoping that if this works out, working in China (or another country) can help me to climb out of the financial pit I find myself in. even if only by a little bit.

Thanks for reading!!

[7969]

[tremault]

Thanks for your question.

my qualifications include systems design and programming (web design), photography, film and video, graphic design.

I would have qualifications in computer science and other sciences, but this brings me to my weakness. I am dyslexic and have particular difficulty in academics. I have trouble with filling in forms and writing essays etc. The weakness is in short term memory so it gives me a different approach to linguistics. I don't have a problem with creative writing.

edit: I also want to point out that I love linguistics. While I have difficulty with essays and forms, I love etymology and I enjoy translating some manga from Japanese into English.

[RPMcMurphy]

You'll need your problem solving skills. While you may be able to land a job,
-you'll still need to find your own airfare initially, with the likelihood of reimbursement; it depends. Clarify this during negotiations.
-unless you get a school/college/university job which includes housing, you'll have a lot of up front costs to get yourself a place to live. Again, clarify this.
-teaching in China is hardly likely to solve your financial woes.

Print out and take any relevant emails from your negotiations. The old bait and switch is alive and well in China.

ps posted this before I saw your previous post. Strengths in English literacy are probably your greatest need, but appear to be a weakness, no disrespect intended whatsoever.

[johntpartee]

It's not a good idea to come here broke. ANYTHING can happen at anytime.

[fat_chris]

[roadwalker]

I third the advice to avoid coming over broke. And OP, your situation would be even worse: starting off in debt to a school that may be ethical, professional and all that, or NOT. Even if you were to merely have philosophical differences with the boss, you will really feel trapped.

Maybe you already feel trapped in your current situation, but things can get worse. My advice: document two years of teaching experience or continue as you have until you can, and save the airfare, enough for a return flight and a small cushion for who knows what, and then come over. I know saving may be impossible now, but coming to China, or going to any foreign country broke is Russian roulette with only one empty chamber. At least come with enough credentials to get a legal job and enough money to get out of bad situations.

[tremault]

Hey guys,
thanks for the advice thus far!
I really hear what you're saying and I understand the importance of making sure I have some money before leaving my country.

I have something that I am sure I will be able to sell for between �150-200 .
I was expecting to use that money to help me but I thought it might simply be used up obtaining a visa and getting to an airport etc.
However, I was pretty confident that I cannot save up within the region of �600 for a plane ticket.

I understand the potential difficulty with being in debt to a school. Being in debt to an agent however would be a different story, right? I wouldn't have to work with the Agent on a day-to-day basis so I would expect the situation to be fine. It's not like it would be all that different from my current relationship with my own country's social security dept.
Aside from that, I wonder if negotiations with an agent would result in a particular 'debt' or rather, the agent would simply make the decision to take that amount out of the salary over a few months along with their normal fees? it would not be seen as a debt and it would be in the agents interest to make sure I am in a stable position?

[7969]

Since you don't have any money, why not try the Korea forum? Schools there will offer you a plane ticket up front. For more info though you have to sign up for that particular discussion forum (separate from this one).

[tremault]

Really?
wow, I did not realise that was the case!
Thanks for that advice.

I had honestly thought to bypass Korea since I expected them to have higher expectations for their teachers.
I'm not sure why I have this impression, but I thought they would require somebody with a TEFL qualification or years of experience.

I'll register for an account there as well. Thank you very much!

[Ariadne]

Tremault, you are just not ready to go overseas. You don't have any money! Don't imagine that all you need is airfare to get you over. Aside from visa costs, you will have to eat. You'll need some linens to sleep on and soap to wash yourself. You'll need money for transportation and maybe a physical exam in China. You might have to pay for the RP. The list goes on.

You said something about having trouble filling out forms... will you be able to read and mark homework? Can you write on a board? Can you spell? I'm not trying to be nasty, but those are all pretty basic skills necessary in the classroom. Many textbooks include charts and lists. Are you OK with those?

I would recommend against using an agent. That just opens up the possibility of more problems and misunderstandings. If you must come, deal directly with the schools.

Rethink this idea of finding a solution overseas. China is way too much of a long shot for you right now. ROK too. Do as others have suggested. Find a way to save some cash, get the experience you need, and then, maybe.

.

[tremault]

Hi Ariadne, I appreciate your reply.

I feel I need to make some things more clear. I have an effective IQ of around 135. my weaknesses are relative weaknesses. the difficulty I have with forms etc, is more about a build up of frustration due to the relative weakness in my short term memory.
I should be ok with marking students work as I don't have to use short term memory for that. That is mainly cognition and long term memory.
My spelling is better than most. Any spelling mistakes you may see in my typing here are most likely due to undetected typo's caused by my crappy keyboard!

I understand the thing about money. When I say I have no money, it doesn't mean that I can't potentially save up something in the region of a hundred or two. Just not enough for accommodation and air-fare. I could even sell some of my belongings. I have a decent stills camera that I don't use much. I have lots of books and CD's. I have a bike that I have been meaning to get rid of for a while.

[fat_chris]

[chinatimes]