Job Discussion Forums

jenny_ree

Hello all,

I am from Canada (a smaller town about 1hr from Vancouver,BC) and have successfully completed my CELTA at a university nearby. I have a BA in geography and history. I have been researching teaching ESL overseas. I have thoughts about teaching in Japan, Thailand and in europe as well as the US. I realize it is more difficult to teach in North America and Europe but with my qualifications (and experience volunteering in a elementary classroom) i thought maybe it would be easier. I have applied to some of the bigger companies in Japan but I have some debt that I hope to decrease by going overseas and think japan is not my best bet. I have also replied to a few job ads in Thailand and China. Anyways, if anyone has any suggestions for me I would greatly appreciate it!!!

Thanks a bunch Very Happy

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Of the places you listed, I think Japan would be best in terms of savings/repaying student loans. I send back anywhere from $700 to $1000US every month or so.

d

jenny_ree · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:26 pm Post subject:

thanks for the response. I am looking alot further into Japan as I type......

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

jenny,
How much do you expect to repay every month?

Although denise paid off US$700-1000, here is a further breakdown of expenses.

Conversation school salaries are usually 250,000-280,000 yen/month.
Rent, utilities, insurance, groceries, and phone bills will eat up half of that.

So, you have 125,000 yen every month for everything else in your life.

Go out twice a week and drink/party conservatively, and you will eat up 50,000 yen per month easily. That leaves you with 75,000, not 125,000 to play around with. And, that's about US$700.

So, with that sort of thing, sending home US$700 every month leaves you with nothing for sightseeing, postage stamps, snacks, emergency medical care, dry cleaning, haircuts, long distance phone calls, cable TV, car expenses, replacements for clothes, batteries, or anything else.

ElNota · Joined: 28 Mar 2005 Posts: 123 Location: Buenos Aires

If paying off loans is your goal, and you have no experience, Korea is probably your best bet. Research your school carefully though, and spend some time on the Korea forum first. There are some really bad school owners in Korea, and some people come over and get screwed over and mistreated. That being said, the majority of folks I know over here complain a lot but are pretty happy with their job.

In Korea you can save between $700 - $1500 per month or more, depending on your lifestyle and if you teach private lessons. Most teachers save around $10,000 a year with no trouble.

Japan is probably all in all more interesting, but your savings potential are reduced by around 20% I'd say.

Taiwan is another option... and I personally like it there.

The other countries that you mentioned (China, thailand) have little to no savings potential. You might be able to save up for a nice vacation, but thats about it.

tedkarma · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 1:47 am Post subject:

I have to agree with ElNota.

Most people in Korea save US$1000 a month and up, lifestyle depending of course. There is savings potential in Japan too - but set up costs are high. Korea typically comes with free housing and a lower cost of living.

Personally, I find Japan much more interesting, but Korea is where I go to save bucks.

Spent a couple years in Taiwan - where you can save about 75% of what you could save in Korea - and again - the culture there is more interesting.