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in_beijing
Joined: 27 Aug 2005
Posts: 78
Location: China Life Blog
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 Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 3:07 am Post subject: Korea, China - perhaps Japan next... |
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Anybody here ever teach in all three countries? I taught in Korea for several years, now I'm in China. I've been here 4 months. I'm studying Chinese like mad, but I also can speak a fair amount of Japanese and am considering Japan next year.
However, I make good money here in China at an International School - $2500 US a month plus housing for four classes/day. The kicker is I can save 80-90% of what I make in a month and still live well. The downside is that I have to live in Beijing, pollution central. It's dirty and smelly and the food is great but eating it is like russian roulette with how it will settle in your stomach. Basically I like China, but I don't like Beijing much. Living in another city would mean a serious pay cut - in most places you can expect to make well under a grand.
Korea is no longer an option. I'm sick and tired of that country, especially the teaching environment.
OK, so what I am wondering is if any of you have taught in all three countries. Sure, each place has it's pros and cons, but I wonder which places you have enjoyed the most and why. So far I have to say I liked Korea more than China living-wise, but I much prefer working here and Chinese is easier to speak than Korean, in my opinion. Japanese is the easiest to speak, so I'm thinking I'd be happier there as far as language is concerned. I like the alphabets and the fact that I can use the Chinese characters I already know, just have to learn the Kun readings...
Anyway, looking forward to readin about your opinions and experiences...
Last edited by in_beijing on Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:25 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 4:07 am Post subject: |
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| In Japan, basic wages will be 250,000 yen/month (housing is NOT paid for in most cases), and you will easily spend half of that on basic necessities. What you do with the rest depends on your lifestyle. Figure that an average person who enjoys going out a couple times a week will be able to save 70,000 to 90,000 yen/month. |
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in_beijing
Joined: 27 Aug 2005
Posts: 78
Location: China Life Blog
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| Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 4:13 am Post subject: |
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| Maybe with my degree in English Education and cerification I can land some a little better. I remember in 2000 when I first went to Korea Japan was hiring at 250,000 yen. What gives? |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:51 am Post subject: |
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| in_beijing wrote: |
| Maybe with my degree in English Education and cerification I can land some a little better. I remember in 2000 when I first went to Korea Japan was hiring at 250,000 yen. What gives? |
More foreigners comiing, more on working holidays, less good paying jobs. slimmer profit margins for the bigger companies. Less students signing up for lessons.
less students means less income and same overheads. salaries are the first things that get cut in a recession. People are still willing to work for lower wages as well to get their foot in the door to gain experience. |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:54 am Post subject: |
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| in_beijing wrote: |
| Maybe with my degree in English Education and cerification I can land some a little better. I remember in 2000 when I first went to Korea Japan was hiring at 250,000 yen. What gives? |
I think it has been 250,000 for about 15 years, in fact, salaries on average are dropping. There is a deflation here.
You could try an int'l school here in Japan if you want something better than 250k in a conversation school. |
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lajzar
Joined: 09 Feb 2003
Posts: 647
Location: Saitama-ken, Japan
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| Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:59 am Post subject: |
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| It's extremely unlikely to land a job paying much above 250k in Japan fresh off the boat, unless you have advanced educational qualifications (masters + publications, etc) and are applying for a university position. They do respect experience, but experience in Japan is respected far more than experience outside Japan, possibly because it is easier to verify, possibly because it shows familiarity with local mores. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 6:00 am Post subject: |
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| Gordon wrote: |
[
You could try an int'l school here in Japan if you want something better than 250k in a conversation school. |
I think it depends on what hes been teaching in the International school. he will have a hard time getting an ESL teaching job in an international school here and you need a state-certified teaching licence. |
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Brooks
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1369
Location: Sagamihara
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| Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 6:18 am Post subject: |
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the grass may not be greener on the other side.
It depends on what your priorities are. |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 7:21 am Post subject: |
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| PAULH wrote: |
| Gordon wrote: |
[
You could try an int'l school here in Japan if you want something better than 250k in a conversation school. |
I think it depends on what hes been teaching in the International school. he will have a hard time getting an ESL teaching job in an international school here and you need a state-certified teaching licence. |
He says he has an education degree, I assume he is a licensed teacher. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 7:42 am Post subject: |
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| Gordon wrote: |
He says he has an education degree, I assume he is a licensed teacher. |
Could be a Bachelor of Education. Not the same as a postgraduate teaching diploma in many countries. In New Zealand ( and maybe Australia) you need a teaching licence separate from a degree to teach in high schools.
An education degree may be enough but it depends on the school thats hiring him, anyway. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:09 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| He says he has an education degree, I assume he is a licensed teacher. |
Not exactly. He says he has a "degree in English Education and cerification". That could mean a plain vanilla BA in English Ed, plus a TESL certificate. It doesn't guarantee the license. |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:21 am Post subject: |
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| You guys might be right, maybe he can chime in and let us know. A BEd in Canada allows one to get a teaching license. |
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in_beijing
Joined: 27 Aug 2005
Posts: 78
Location: China Life Blog
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| Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:28 am Post subject: |
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| Hahah- I thought I made it clear, but I guess I didn't. I have a teacher's certifcate from NYS, grade 7-12, English. |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:31 am Post subject: |
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| in_beijing wrote: |
| Hahah- I thought I made it clear, but I guess I didn't. I have a teacher's certifcate from NYS, grade 7-12, English. |
Phew  Clear as mud anyways. |
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abufletcher
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 779
Location: Shikoku Japan (for now)
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| Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:38 am Post subject: |
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| Gordon wrote: |
I think it has been 250,000 for about 15 years...
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Way back in 1983 I was offered a contract at a conversation school (which I ended up turning down in favor of a local ESL job in the States) and the pay was to be 250,000. And that was when the yen was running almost 210 to the dollar so I think the sum of 250,000 is pretty much a permenant fact in the Eikaiwa market. I think schools are far more likely to add (and subtract) other perks than alter this basic salary.
Unless he can land a job at an international school here, I'd imagine he'd be better off in China -- or at least Beijing. In terms of university jobs here I'm not sure if a US teacher's license would really give him any substantive advantage. Still having several years of overseas EFL experience, might with luck land a contract job. Hiring in Japan is always a matter of luck so go for it. |
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