Job Discussion Forums

[j3ssm3ss]

Hi there!

I've been teaching in Japan for a couple of years now and, whilst here, have developed a major crush on winter sports.

I'm planning to move on in the new year and, although long term career development is important (have CELTA, good experience and want to keep pushing on) I'm in love with the idea of 6 months teaching and snowboarding somewhere else in the world to hone my skills. Any suggestions?

Southern Hemisphere locations would be a bonus so that I can continue round the year.

Cheers!!

[LongShiKong]

Vancouver.

There's dozens of private ESL schools downtown or you can tutor privately. A friend runs classes in his home and teaches 2 online students in Asia plus some other translation work

You can see the North Vancouver ski hills from anywhere in the city virtually. And then there's Whistler Mountain a short drive north where the 2010 Olympics were held.

[denise]

I learned to snowboard when I was in Japan and, I'm sorry to say, I haven't had nearly as many opportunities as I did when I lived there, with a decent salary, season ticket, and the nearest slopes 20 minutes away.

You need the appropriate geography and weather + a salary that allows for expensive hobbies. Snowboarding prices unfortunately do not drop when you get to poorer countries.

When I left Japan, I headed to South America. In Chile, I was able to snowboard maybe 4 or 5 times in 4 months. The cost + not having my own car and having to find a bus/shuttle really limited me. I've had good jobs/salaries since I left South America but still have only managed a one-week winter holiday each year.

Here's an option: if it's really important to you, why not put teaching/other career options on hold for a year and work at a resort? I can't speak for other fields, but there will always be teaching jobs out there.

d

[santi84]

[posh]

Czech Republic, Slovakia or southern Poland. Schools/colleagues will probably give you skis too. I first went to Prague in the early 90s and within a week I was off on the annual ski trip with the kids.

[AGoodStory]

I don't know if China is of interest to you, but this position offers half days free for skiing. (So, presumably you could snowboard.)

http://www.esljobfeed.com/esl-tesl-jobs?id=76354

Pay is pretty lousy, but it does include lift tickets and equipment rental.

[Dedicated]

A Good Story's suggestion seems like a great opportunity. If you have free board, all meals in a 5 star hotel + free skiing, then the 1,000 RMB per week is pure pockey money.

I visited Yabuli Ski resort when I was in China as it hosted the 1996 Winter Asian Games. Getting there was not easy though, as it is about 120 miles east of Harbin and perishingly cold. The temperature never rose above -10C and sometimes it was -40C. It is a high elevation resort, so the snow continues until the end of March, beginning of April. The scenery is spectacular.

I don't know about hotels now. When I was there, we stayed at the Avaunce International Convention and Exhibition Centre Hotel, which was rated 3 star (if I remember correctly) but had a great gym and sauna, good selection of Chinese/Western food, very comfy rooms. A 5 star hotel should be wow ! Rich Chinese expect very high standards.

Definitely worth a try - good luck!

[Linochka]

[j3ssm3ss]

Cheers for all these responses guys! I only realised i'd posted this today when i logged back in to post again - I forgot i'd changed my notification settings back in January. Well I've just finished the DELTA in the UK and a summer school which winds up at the end of this month. A bit paniced as there doesn't seem to be anyting decent around for October (my bad planning). I was looking at some jobs in Lebanon as I noticed they have slopes there (and beaches!!). I wondered has anyone worked there and tried out the skiing/boarding? If so Beirut might be a winner!!

[Glenski]

[coledavis]

Southern hemisphere: how about Chile and Argentina? I don't know much about these countries, but they're far south so I presume cold and they're Spanish-speaking so probably have some potential as a market for TEFL. (Checking the boards for these countries is, I guess, the next move.)

[dackinator]

Santiago Chile is good for this, maybe $100-$150 for a weekend snowboarding in the Andes. Snowboarding season is June-September so you've missed it for this year.

[j3ssm3ss]

It's been a couple of years since I posted and I'm sad to say i never found what I was looking for although I got job offers in Lebanon and Russia, neither was what I need then and other things get in the way! I've been in Colombia for over a year now and, on a decent salary, managed a snowboarding holiday down in Argentina but the snow conditions were so bad the time we went the boarding itself was a disappointment. Argentina being generally amazing though it wasn't a big deal. As my boyfriend is also a massive snowboarding fan we're thinking of just sucking it up and having 6 months off teaching to do a ski season. I'm nearing 31 now so I feel if I'm gonna do it it should be now!

We were even thinking of returning to Japan but their working holiday visas stop at 31 so it's going to be harder for us to find visas. Has anyone entered Japan on a tourist visa then picked up work locally up in Niseko? Generally I'm a bit loathe to do that but was thinking we'd make it more of an extended holiday to begin with then see what prospects are there when we arrive... Advice anyone?

[Xie Lin]