Job Discussion Forums

ContemporaryDog · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 1477 Location: Wuhan, China

I have to say I'm sceptical about the claims one poster makes about Japan. Maybe in some jobs, but the average job I see advertised in Japan pays around 18000 quid a year, which is about what I made in my crappy job in London. I wasn't saving anything like 1000 US a month and driving a sports car - and Japan is on average even more expensive than the UK!

zaneth · Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 2:07 pm Post subject:

Not that I suggest it as an option, but:

Russia. Small private university. Official. Paid apartment. Virtually no commute. 12 classroom hours a week. Enough money to eat but not really enough to cover all visa expenses and a trip home every year or loan payments or to save. Small, historically interesting town. Intelligent people. Clean, beautiful white winters. Opportunity for graduate work.

Wow, sounds good, writing it. But being Russia, everything is subject to change, lifestyle and conditions are not Japanese or Western standard. Beauracracy takes some getting used to, and then it changes. Frustrations abound. And not all that exotic when it comes down to it. Not exactly the easiest place to live, but I have heard of some westerners retiring here and enjoying it.

Hod · Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 1613 Location: Home

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

stevenabroad · Joined: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 34

I would have to second China. Perfect for you...low hours, pay and expectations.

T-Bone · Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 33 Location: Phnom Penh

Taught English in Japan for a year. Didn't save a dime.

I think you can save there if working at a Uni (and have an MA to get such a gig) but at about Y250,000 a month ($27,000/yr or so US) at a conversation school it's pretty hard to save.

I think it's possible to save, but you can't really go out all that often.

Everyone's experience is different, though.

Deconstructor · Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 775 Location: Montreal

KOREA!!!!!!!!

When I got there, they gave me Side by Side and let me loose. Using that book for every level meant that I did virtually nothing, but, boy, did I take my students out for drinks. After a few, I would tell them that I was thinking about setting up my own business: language school/pub. I was going to be a teacher/bartender. I was going to call the place WELCOME TO GLASS. Students had to sit at the bar and the class wouldn't start unless they had at least one bear in them. When asked why, I told them that beer actually reduces inhibitions and facilitates learning languages. (I think there is something to this.) Laughing

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City