Job Discussion Forums

Nanabijou · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 2

I have just graduated from university (finally at age 28!) and have completed my ESL teacher certification this spring. I have a daughter who is 8 years old, and I am VERY interested in teaching abroad. The thing is, I'm finding it difficult to find any info/advice for parents who wish to live abroad and teach ESL. I suspect it's because there are not many of us? Suffice to say, if anyone knows of someone who has done this, or might lead me to some forums or discussions with people who have experience or friends/co-workers with children (who are living abroad) I would really appreciate it!!!! We're from Canada, and wish to move this summer. I'm not sure where to try finding a job, but my first pick is Japan. Can anyone help? I'm getting really desperate!
Thanks ever so much!

rj · Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 159

I'm not sure about other sites, but several posters here are living abroad with their children. Not sure exactly what kind of info you are looking for but you might find this thread interesting. You might also want to try the search function for older threads with more specific info.

Nanabijou · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 2

I'm mostly afraid that I will have trouble finding my daughter some kind of day school or babysitter for the time I am at work. I haven't been able to find much information in the way of any kind of child care, including price! Are there other ideas that I might pursue?

august03 · Joined: 13 Oct 2003 Posts: 159 Location: Jiangsu, China

You could come to China; your daughter would come under your visa. She is of school age but it may be hard finding an International school in China that you can afford on a teachers wage, unless of course you are lucky enough to find a job at one of these schools. You could home tutor your daughter and hire an "ayi" which is a live in nanny, cook, cleaner etc.. they are not too expensive, check out this Shanghai Expat page http://www.expatsh.com/smclassifieds/templates/template1.asp?action=home&pid=32, a lot speak English too. I may be hard to send your child to a local school, although cheaper they work the kids very, very hard and plus it's all in Chinese apart from the English language classes.

If you want to live in the larger cities the cost of living will be higher so keep that in mind. The average pay starts at 4000RMB per month to 10,000 for some special places. You could support another on this wage because everything is so cheap here. Check out this website http://personnel.kidcastle.com/ it's kindergarten teaching but offers a good wage and you defiantly have experience with young ones.

Most schools offer reimbursement for return airfare (probably only for you though), accommodation on campus or a rental allowance, paid holidays etc.. Public schools in general have lower hours and I believe better deals, check out this website for info on teaching in China www.china-tesol.org.

I think most schools wouldn't mind you bringing your daughter although be warned she will become the center of attention, they love foreigners here, but children even more so. Look at the China discussion page for more info.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I'm not sure what to say. It is a tough question. I'm a parent, but am here in Japan with my wife. Frankly, I doubt I could live here if I was a single parent. Int'l schools are unaffordable ($10,000+/yr) and finding work during the hours your daughter is in school would be difficult. If you could work in an int'l school, then I'd say that would be great and easily achievable. Your daughter would be at school with you and school may be free.

Gringo Greg · Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 7:57 am Post subject:

Well, if you really want to teach abroad, think about Thailand. Last year, I taught at a school and put my 2 year old son in the school's nursery a few days a week though I could have done it everyday if I wanted....for peanuts. There are lots of jobs for primary teachers here and your daughter could attend the same school you teach, granted she would learn everything in Thai, BUT you are teacher, right? You can teach here at home on the subjects she really needs to know.

No worries about babysitters, she could be like most students of teachers, stay after school until mom goes home.

And for what it's worth, I was a single parent for awhile, and I did it with a 1 year old son. If I can, you can. You just have to choose the right place. PM me if you need any help.

Sherri · Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 9:51 am Post subject:

Try this website:
http://www.tokyowithkids.com/

All the best
Sherri

rj · Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 159

I don't have any real advice for you, but I would suggest you check out some of the country specific forums. While every job is different some countries are known for high salaries while others are preferred because they offer lots of free-time. I would suggest you first consider what it is you hope to gain by teaching in another country and see which countries will provide the best fit for you and your daughter based on your priorities.

justcolleen · Joined: 07 Jan 2004 Posts: 654 Location: Egypt, baby!

Congratulations on finishing your education. I will graduate in August, shortly before my 42nd birthday. Wink

Come September, my children and I will be abroad ... somewhere.

I've posted my resume here on Dave's. It says right at the top I'm divorced with two teenage children. The responses have been, overwhelmingly, both supportive and accomodating.

Granted, my children are no longer in need of daycare. (A referree upon occasion, but not daycare.) However, their education is certainly a concern. I've made arrangements with our local school system for supervision in a home-schooling curriculum. Much to my surprise, the school system was amazing: "What an opportunity," "I wish I could do that with my children," and "That's a better education than they'll get in a classroom here." My children are good kids, and they're good students, so I have to believe it's not a matter of the school wishing they were on the other side of the world.

We're going, and we're going pretty darned quick. Eight more weeks of classes and we'll have a big a s s yard sale. If we can't put it in a suitcase, and if it doesn't have so much sentimental value that I'm willing to pay for storage on it, it's going.

I have no doubt this is a good decision, and I'm terribly excited. I hope it works out as well for you, too.

Colleen

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Where do you think you'll be heading Colleen?

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

CHina would be good for kids. You could send your daughter to a Chinese school. Your school would arrange everything

justcolleen · Joined: 07 Jan 2004 Posts: 654 Location: Egypt, baby!

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Gordon and Sherri have given good advice regarding Japan. Let me just add this.

Being a fresh graduate, you really don't stand much of a chance of landing anything better than eikaiwa work here. Usually, the hours run from noonish to 9pm, and you might be faced with working non-consecutive, non-Saturday/non-Sunday weekends to boot.

Japan doesn't really have babysitters unless you count someone's family, and even that is somewhat rare and a hardship for the hours you need. Day care is expensive (about 50,000 yen/month), and your child will not have much in the way of English taught/explained. Even attending a regular school will have this language barrier, and the time problem in picking up your child, as Gordon put it.