Job Discussion Forums

moot point · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Posts: 441

Recently been thinking of making a move but am at odds whether or not I could do better financially.

We are a family of four and I'm the only income-earner. We are banking about $10,000/year including personal pension contributions.

Are there more lucrative opportunities out there?

Just to share some more personal info, how about for someone that's been in the field for more than ten years and is a holder of an MA in TESOL?

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Is there a part of the world you have in mind? I think you could bank the same or more in UAE or Saudi.

moot point · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Posts: 441

Anywhere's fine.

UAE is attractive in many ways, especially the subisdised education for the kids. Can anyone with experience respond on their children's educational experiences?

Another option would be to seek a teaching certificate and work at one of those international schools.

Who would be further ahead: the MA-holding university teacher or the international school teacher?

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Post on the various ME boards you will get more knowledgeable information

VanIslander · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 2:01 pm Post subject:

You can bank $20,000 U.S. a year without really trying, working 30 hour weeks at any of hundreds of present job offerings at private language institutes ("hagwons") in South Korea. The standard contract is 2.0 million Korean Won with free accommodation, month's salary bonus at end of yearly contract, and 3 % taxation.

It's a free country too. Smile

Plus lots of spicy food and hi-tech stuff. Low cost of living with the free apartments offered, cheap transportation and buck-an-hour PC computer rooms.

All you need is a bachelor's degree in anything and the ability to not give up trying to teach exhausted and bored elementary school kids whose parents are rich enough to send them to four or five extra classes each evening.

If you have a Master's then head straight to the many colleges and universities in South Korea and collect about the same wage for half the workload and eight times the vacation length.

moot point · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Posts: 441

Are you serious? Isn't 2million won equivalent to roughly US$2000? That works out to a gross annual salary of $24000. So are you saying a family of four could live on $4000/annum?

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

TEFL is for singles or gays.

nomadykaty · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 60

I'm going to agree with mootpoint- UAE / Gulf is a much better gig for a family of four than pretty much anything in Asia.

VanIslander · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 2:40 am Post subject:

nomadykaty · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 60

That sounds like a great deal for people w/o MA.

But with an MA and some experience- in UAE/ Gulf mootpoint could make $35,000+ working only 16-18 hours a week. The key about the Gulf region is the benefit package.

($35,000-this is the low end of the pay scale)

Celeste · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 3:19 am Post subject:

VanIslander - I think you are not taking into account that this person will have to pay International school tuition for their kids (that is unless you know of a public school where a couple of way-gook kids would have an easy time of it). International school tuition is about $10,000USD per year I believe. That sort of sucks a teacher's salary dry. Korea can be lucrative for those of us without children, but I would never recommend it to someone with kids.

younggeorge · Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 350 Location: UAE

moot point asked for comments from someone who had kids at school in the UAE, which would be me. My youngest daughter went to school here and did very well - probably better than she would have done in a state school in UK because of smaller class sizes, fewer disruptive pupils, etc. The better schools here are very good - but very expensive. The government tertiary institutions would pay most of the fees for you, but four kids at the top schools would put you over the limit - it would still be cheaper than paying the full fees yourself in Korea, though.

moot point · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Posts: 441

Thanks younggeorge. I'm glad to hear you've had positive experiences in the international school setting in the UAE.

Just to clarify, we are a family of four. That includes myself and my wife, so we actually only need to consider education for 2 kids.

younggeorge · Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 350 Location: UAE

Sorry, didn't read carefully enough. Then you'll be fully covered at least till high school.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

moot point, I might be seeing you next year somewhere in the Middle East. I have the exact some questions as you and am in pretty much the same boat.