Job Discussion Forums

[spiral78]

Hi, Henry. I remember the extensive discussion regarding "hot but humble' women. Yeah, I know, we're being negative. But I agree with you that endless discussion isn't productive. mick, get going if you're really gonna go!

[memorabilis]

A word on why the reaction was so negative re: teaching w/out a degree in the Korean forum.

Recently a whole bunch of teachers were found teaching illegally or with fake degrees and were busted by the gov't. You MUST have a degree to work in ESL in Korea. It may not be fair, and it nay not be right, but that's the way it is.

Because of the bust, immigration changed everything. Everyone actually had to order sealed copies of their transcripts, take their original degree (often at home) and head on down to the immigration office to be "re-checked". A huge headache. So degree-holding teachers are somewhat p o'ed about it and illegal teaching/teaching with a fake degree. It makes it harder for the above-board folks.

[mick_luna]

Right, and pot smokers should be executed because some crack addicts rob and kill people. I don't follow the logic that because i make a simple enquiry about korea, i should be roasted alive, degree or not. Of course, those with degrees are so far above me, morally, that i can't fathom their lofty conduct.

By the way, the poster who listed all my OPs since last year, thank you. I have actually belonged to the site since 1999, and been teaching since then, in Vancouver,the Czech REpublic, Vietnam, Brazil and Toronto. I've been posting, off and on, for 7 years now.

I never went anywhere without sufficient research first, and don't intend to become more foolhardy as i get older. I've been burned, and had some good experiences, but have learnt the hard way about leaping before i look, carefully. if i had a good job lead, and good info regarding a likely situation, i would be there now, instead of trying to find out more info. i don't find your derogatory comments about my alleged cowardice helpful, or accurate. let's try to help each other out here folks, rather than play silly games.

[Henry_Cowell]

[mick_luna]

thanks for that helpful advice, Teach. Don't know how i survived my life so far without your help. If you are really so incensed by my ineffective research, why don't you point me in a more useful direction, offer some leads or helpful advice, rather than just slagging me and putting me down in post after post?

[mick_luna]

Khmerhit, do you know anything about Quebec, or have a contact there? I have thought about it, i actually lived in montreal for a few months, years ago, before i started teaching. I imagine montreal would be rather competitive for ESL, but perhaps you're talking about Quebec City? I haven't been there, though i understand its quite the tourist mecca.
Anyways, i'd like to learn more about this.
cheers
Mick

[jammish]

[Henry_Cowell]

"mick"

You can be very successful with Google. If you're researching a particular city or country, you can find arts organisations, discussion groups, performances, exhibits, culture, history, and so on.

Most EFL teachers on Dave's Cafe have very limited overseas experiences, preferring to live their comfortable Western lives wherever they are. Maybe that's why you've been so unsuccessful on Dave's Cafe, where you've had to ask the same questions again and again and again. People here are NOT the ones you want to be asking.

Again: "Research" is not asking questions of anonymous people. Do some real research, including going to the library to read current newspapers and magazines from the places you're interested in.

[spiral78]

I believe Henry's wrong about many/most of the regular posters on this forum. I have not lived a 'western' lifestyle myself since 1998 - and most regular posters have pretty extensive experience abroad. In fact, I think few regulars are living in the 'west.'

However, this does bring up a very useful point - any one of us necessarily have limited personal experience - how many different countries you've lived/worked in. I've never been anywhere less than two years, but that means, of course, that I've only taught in four locations over the past eight years. I know that there are posters who have moved yearly (or even more frequently!) but their insights into the places they've 'visited' will be necessarily limited.

Further, not everyone shares mick_luna's personal interests - so even though I may have information and contacts about some place that might be of interest, I don't necessarily have the contacts in the art/cultural world that you are seeking - and likely few of us will.

Local art/cultural scenes, unless you WANT to go right back into that expat world that you're complaining about in Prague, are locally oriented - and you have to GO THERE to meet the locals and find whether there is a niche for you (as an expat) or not.

Henry's right that in terms of anyone here on the forum actually hooking someone up with the infrastructure to get set up in any given location is an unrealistic dream. Basically, you've got to make the best informed choice you can (Google's a useful addition to asking endless questions here) and then GO THERE and make contacts yourself. No one is going to take you by the hand and lead you there.

[ls650]

[denise]

I agree with ls650.

Most of us are teachers and as such can answer teaching-related questions, not art-related questions.

d

[dmb]

[mick_luna]

I'd be interested in finding out more about Dali in China, if anyone knows anything about that. Is it not as Confucian and conservative as Hanoi?

[khmerhit]

you ask many questions, grasshopper. follow your instinct. take to the road..........

[mick_luna]

again, i haven't gone anywhere without making contacts and getting very significant job leads, info re: cost of living and startup, etc. One still gets burned on arrival, but less so the more one finds out first. this is one part of that, and has been quite helpful in the past. i was given some wrong info re: Vietnam on this forum, but had i waited and gotten more info from other expats living there, i could have found out what i needed to.

i don't plan on making that mistake again, and am not about to head out on a whim for god knows where. again, i am looking for real, valid info re: potential locations, and i have advice to offer about the places i've been. i don't go on someone else's thread and tell them they are barking up the wrong tree, or that they should shut up and get on with it, whatever 'it' is. it would be pointless and a waste of time.

i do thank everyone who has given valid opinions and info about real places, that is what i thought this forum was for.
cheers