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amnesty
Joined: 26 Jul 2004
Posts: 26
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 Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 7:47 am Post subject: Best Countries to Make $$$ in |
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In which country/countries would you say it's possible to save the most money? Not necessarily make the most, because generally salary correlates to local cost of living - so what I'm really asking is in which country/ies would the salary minus the cost of living allow me to save the most money?
I know teaching is not just about making money, and I don't mean to upset anyone with such a 'crass' question; it's just that right now I really need to consider this factor.
Thanks |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 8:18 am Post subject: |
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| What are your qualifications? Without experience and education, some of the countries which offer high salaries will not be available to you. |
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Celeste
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 814
Location: Fukuoka City, Japan
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| Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 11:25 am Post subject: |
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The usual places that I think of when asked this question are Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. If you are highly qualified and experienced you can also do VERY well in the middle east (I am not absolutely sure as to which countries in the middle east are the best for foriegn teachers, but I'm sure others onthis board can help you with specifics if you are interested.)
I worked in Korea for 2 years and I have been in Japan for the past 2. Japan cost more money to set up in and the cost of living is higher, but my net savings are still higher here. I have friends and relatives who have done fairly well in Taiwan also. |
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lagerlout2006
Joined: 17 Sep 2003
Posts: 985
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| Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 12:40 pm Post subject: |
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I know people in several countries who can't afford to go home...Incl Japan and Korea.
Better to look at it as one big party. |
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Bindair Dundat
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Posts: 1123
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| Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 1:52 pm Post subject: Re: Best Countries to Make $$$ in |
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| amnesty wrote: |
| I know teaching is not just about making money... |
I'd say Korea and Kuwait are the best if you want to work in addition to your regular job. You can get private students in Korea, and editing/writing jobs as well as second teaching jobs in Q8.
For just a single job, I'd say the UAE or Saudi.
BD |
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Snoopy
Joined: 13 Jul 2003
Posts: 185
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| Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Unfortunately, it has to be the Arabian Gulf states. I have served my time, and wild camels would not drag me back to the Kingdom of Stupid Arseholes. |
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amnesty
Joined: 26 Jul 2004
Posts: 26
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 5:45 am Post subject: Thanks for the replies |
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OK, my qualifications are simply 2 bachelors degrees from a decent American university (East Asian Studies & Business Administration). I also taught English conversation informally to two groups of students in Japan for a year while in college.
I'm quite willing to get further qualifications - whatever is necessary to become an excellent teacher (and earn top dollar).
I don't know if age is a factor - I'm already 41. Any thoughts?
Also, as an American, I wouldn't even consider going to Saudi at this time, but perhaps would consider another GCC country - especially Dubai. But how do I know that a few months after I arrive, I won't be kidnapped and beheaded in one of these countries? Is there some good reason why this couldn't happen in one of these countries, unlike what has just started to happen in Saudi? |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 1:31 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks for the replies |
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| amnesty wrote: |
I'm quite willing to get further qualifications - whatever is necessary to become an excellent teacher (and earn top dollar).
I don't know if age is a factor - I'm already 41. Any thoughts?
Is there some good reason why this couldn't happen in one of these countries, unlike what has just started to happen in Saudi? |
Good paying jobs at a university in Japan require a Masters degree, but you might have to spend 2-3 years and $20K on a degree at Temple or Columbia first.
Salaries in Japan for full time university jobs are between 5-7 million yen ($46-64,000)
Pretty safe in Japan, but there are plenty of earthquakes and no one knows when North Korea will lob another nuclear missile over our heads. |
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Bindair Dundat
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Posts: 1123
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 2:20 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks for the replies |
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| amnesty wrote: |
| I'm quite willing to get further qualifications - whatever is necessary to become an excellent teacher (and earn top dollar). |
For money, get a MATESL. To become an excellent teacher, get as much practice as you can.
| amnesty wrote: |
| I don't know if age is a factor - I'm already 41. Any thoughts? |
You've got time to get a degree and shop around a little. But figure on settling into your *final* well-paying EFL job by the time you're in your mid-50s, because that's when you start running into age barriers. In fact, you are already too old for many jobs in Japan, but they're not *good* jobs anyway. The good jobs will accept a guy in his 40s or early 50s with no problem.
| amnesty wrote: |
| Also, as an American, I wouldn't even consider going to Saudi at this time, but perhaps would consider another GCC country - especially Dubai. But how do I know that a few months after I arrive, I won't be kidnapped and beheaded in one of these countries? Is there some good reason why this couldn't happen in one of these countries, unlike what has just started to happen in Saudi? |
The UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Q8 are not full of disaffected, oppressed, angry nationals as is KSA; the internal politics and economics are different. However, there are NO guarantees. It could happen anywhere, and there ARE lunatic-fringe freakos in all of the above countries.
BD |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 1:00 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Good paying jobs at a university in Japan require a Masters degree, but you might have to spend 2-3 years and $20K on a degree at Temple or Columbia first. |
Apply to Purdue and you might get a teaching assistantship and not have to pay tuition. |
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XXX
Joined: 14 Feb 2003
Posts: 174
Location: Where ever people wish to learn English
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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| In the developed countries of Asia or the Middle East. Ya pays ya money an' ya takes ya chances. Korea can be a hell hole if you are not up for it! |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| my qualifications are simply 2 bachelors degrees from a decent American university (East Asian Studies & Business Administration). I also taught English conversation informally to two groups of students in Japan for a year while in college. |
In Japan, this still makes you eligible for only 3 types of positions:
1. JET program ALT (3.6 million yen/year, and many times the housing is partially funded. Your hours are pretty light, and since you finish around 4pm, you have plenty of time later to pick up other work if you want it [on the sly, of course]; Problem is, you will likely be posted in a rural area. JET pays your airfare.)
2. Eikaiwa (conversation school) job. (3 million yen/year. Depending on circumstances, you will spend half of your paycheck on basic necessities, and have roughly 70,000-90,000 yen to play around with every month after a conservative nightlife. Experiences vary on how much you will actually teach, too; 2 to 8 classes a day. Weekends may not even be 2 consecutive days off. Most eikaiwas don't pay airfare.)
3. ALT through a dispatch company or board of education. (Salaries vary, but they seem to vary between eikaiwa scale and JET ALT salary. Biggest drawback is usually no benefits like health insurance. You may have to work in more than one location, too.)
For higher paying jobs like a private HS or an international school, you will need experience working in Japan or teaching credentials from your home country, respectively. Others have already commented on what is needed for university work. |
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distiller
Joined: 31 May 2004
Posts: 249
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm not sure why I bother anymore but I've answered this question on this forum so many times and yet no one seems to get that in Hong Kong in the NET scheme the minimum salary is about $3700 US a month if you have only a year of experience. You also get a 15% gratuity after two years and a free round trip ticket home. Even if you don�t go into the scheme most local, subsidized and international schools in Hong Kong match at least the base salary. Plus rent is not ridiculous, nor is food or transportation. What more do you want? |
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ContemporaryDog
Joined: 21 May 2003
Posts: 1477
Location: Wuhan, China
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| Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 12:41 am Post subject: |
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i would say Hong Kong, although you need more than just a TEFL cert to get the good jobs there.
Still, its worth investing the time/money to get better qualified, cos from what a lot of people I know who work in HK say, its fantastic in both pay AND quality of life. |
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ContemporaryDog
Joined: 21 May 2003
Posts: 1477
Location: Wuhan, China
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| Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 12:44 am Post subject: |
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| distiller wrote: |
| I'm not sure why I bother anymore but I've answered this question on this forum so many times and yet no one seems to get that in Hong Kong in the NET scheme the minimum salary is about $3700 US a month if you have only a year of experience. You also get a 15% gratuity after two years and a free round trip ticket home. Even if you don�t go into the scheme most local, subsidized and international schools in Hong Kong match at least the base salary. Plus rent is not ridiculous, nor is food or transportation. What more do you want? |
You are right, but to get onto the NET scheme you need to be a fully qualified teacher (e.g. have a PGCE if you are British). Most people on here don't have this status.
I plan to return to the UK in the next year or so and complete the PGCE. I think HK is the best place to work in the long term. |
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