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Where should I go?

 
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lucid_dreamr



Joined: 11 Feb 2016
Posts: 3

PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 12:38 am    Post subject: Where should I go? Reply with quote

Hi there! I'm looking for advice on what/where the best job options are for me abroad.

My qualifications:

- MA in Educational Psychology
- CELTA
- College graduate certificate in Technical Writing
- Taught ESL in Korea for 3 years (1 year at a hagwon and 2 years at a public school)
- 4 years of experience in teaching roles at a good Canadian university
- 4 years of experience working at a university learning and writing center

I'm female, unattached, and looking to pay off student loan debt while living somewhere cool and getting decent vacation time. I'd prefer to work at the university level and could potentially commit to a multi-year contract. I'm looking for a position that starts in August/September (earlier is possible too).

Any input would be greatly appreciated!


Last edited by lucid_dreamr on Sun Feb 14, 2016 2:26 am; edited 1 time in total
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nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 1:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

lucid_dreamr wrote:
I'm female, unattached, and looking to pay off student loan debt while living somewhere cool and getting decent vacation time. I'd prefer to work at the university level and could potentially commit to a multi-year contract. I'm looking for a position that starts in August/September (earlier is possible too).

By "cool," do you mean climate? Also, which countries/regions do not interest you?
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bograt



Joined: 12 Nov 2014
Posts: 331

PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 1:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I'm female, unattached,


If you're looking for some action, I'd recommend Turkey. Any Western woman who's on for it can have their pick of the locals.
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lucid_dreamr



Joined: 11 Feb 2016
Posts: 3

PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 2:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hahahaha, getting "some action" is not my priority, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't factor in at all...

By "cool", nomad, I just mean interesting and enjoyable. I'm open to pretty much anywhere in the world.
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nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 2:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

lucid_dreamr wrote:
By "cool", nomad, I just mean interesting and enjoyable. I'm open to pretty much anywhere in the world.

Assuming you're Canadian...

Turkey (but not so much for the reason bograt gave)
Oman (look at Sultan Qaboos Uni)
China

But since you're open to location but are focusing on universities, give sites like higheredjobs.com and TESOL.org a look; they mostly cover uni jobs.
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lucid_dreamr



Joined: 11 Feb 2016
Posts: 3

PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 3:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks, nomad! I am indeed Canadian. Without a PhD I'd still qualify for (at least some) uni jobs in Turkey/Oman? Are the "glory days" really over for uni jobs in Korea? What about UAE/Saudi Arabia?
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nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 4:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

lucid_dreamr wrote:
Without a PhD I'd still qualify for (at least some) uni jobs in Turkey/Oman? Are the "glory days" really over for uni jobs in Korea? What about UAE/Saudi Arabia?

I can't say what you'd specifically qualify for; I'm simply pointing you in the direction of possible employers. Check the links I gave you. Look at the requirements for Turkey and Oman opportunities to see if you're a match.

As for KSA, it usually doesn't fit anyone's idea of "cool" (i.e., interesting and enjoyable), which is why I didn't mention it. But yes, you'd qualify for university EFL positions. However, the UAE will be a challenge; your competition would be MA TESOL holders who possess years of Mid East university experience. And that's for limited openings. Also be aware that the governments of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain do not recognize qualifying degrees that included online coursework. Anyway, major recruiting for the better jobs in the region usually occurs at TESOL Arabia's job fair in Dubai. Some Gulf employers may recruit at IATEFL's and TESOL International's annual conferences as well.

You'd have to head to the Korea forum to discuss SK; it's not a topic for these forums.
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MotherF



Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1450
Location: 17�48'N 97�46'W

PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 4:13 pm    Post subject: Re: Where should I go? Reply with quote

lucid_dreamr wrote:


I'm female, unattached, and looking to pay off student loan debt while living somewhere cool and getting decent vacation time. I'd prefer to work at the university level and could potentially commit to a multi-year contract. I'm looking for a position that starts in August/September (earlier is possible too).

Any input would be greatly appreciated!


If it weren't fot the debt, I'd say Mexico. I work in a university system in the state of Oaxaca that has a long history of hiring single teachers who become attached! Razz The pay is obviously lower than other regions of the world and the peso is weak right now, so you wouldn't be able to make debt payments, but might be able to get them deferred? We have good longterm benefits like a paid sabatical year after six years.
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currentaffairs



Joined: 22 Aug 2012
Posts: 828

PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 4:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would do two years in the Middle East and then maybe check out Mexico/South America perhaps. Plan B - Hong Kong is an okay choice in terms of making money and having a decent life.. The world is your oyster!
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Xie Lin



Joined: 21 Oct 2011
Posts: 731

PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 5:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Welcome to the café, lucid_dreamr!

As per Mother's post, your qualifications and experience allow you to teach at the tertiary level in most of Latin America. But, as others have indicated, the salary will not allow you to pay back loans, especially when the dollar is as strong as it is now.

.
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spanglish



Joined: 21 May 2009
Posts: 742
Location: working on that

PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 8:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I echo what the above posters have said - you could find a nice uni position in Latin America, but you wouldn't make enough to pay enough to pay off loans. In addition, the region is going through quite a prolonged economic slow-down that isn't likely to dissipate in the next 1-2 years; you'll also have to consider currency risk if you're servicing loans in Canada and getting paid in local money.
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Sudz



Joined: 09 Aug 2004
Posts: 438

PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 10:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Vietnam could be a good bet for you. It's still quite cheap, has easy access to other countries in SE Asia, and you would likely be paid in USD. However, as you are looking for a university gig, RMIT might be one of the few gigs that would interest you.
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scot47



Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343

PostPosted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 10:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

"The world is your oyster" says a poster here. I beg to differ. The market is shrinking. Not a good time to get into EFLing. Fof the OP I would suggest South Korea or PRC. The Middle East is about to implode. Turkey is a war zone.
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bograt



Joined: 12 Nov 2014
Posts: 331

PostPosted: Tue Feb 16, 2016 12:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
"The world is your oyster" says a poster here. I beg to differ. The market is shrinking.


One door opens and another closes. A few years ago China wasn't a TEFL destination, now it's the biggest TEFL market there's ever been. I guess Syria isn't much of an option nowadays (if it ever was) but Burma is opening up nicely. Turkey was a war zone when I worked there back in the 90s (the Kurds in the East) I don't remember seeing any jobs in places like Kazakhstan twenty years ago. As less developed countries get richer and the developed world gets poorer, while still having high taxation, wages being offered in a lot of previously poor countries might become more attractive.
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In the heat of the moment



Joined: 22 May 2015
Posts: 393
Location: Italy

PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2016 8:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

1. Pay off student loan debt
2. Living somewhere cool
3. Getting decent vacation time

You maybe can get two of those, three is right out. Instead look to do them all but in different locations. Start with #1 and #3, then look to #2 later. I'd never, personally, work in Turkey. Your experience and qualifications are worthy of many better-paid places to work. You could contact universities in the Middle East directly and satisfy #1 and #3 if you get a decent gig at one of them.
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