Job Discussion Forums

Canadian_Krista · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 17 Location: Ontario

Hi everyone,
I would like to teach English somewhere in Asia next year. I'm currently an MA student and as such, I have not been able to save up much money. I'm hoping to get a job through a school/company that will pay for my flight over. Is this realistic? I currently live in Toronto-does anyone have any experience with the recruiting companies here...one's to avoid...one's with good reputations?
I'm not sure which country I would like to teach in. I'm considering Korea and Japan mostly. I want to do as much travelling as possible while there. I'm leaning towards Japan because I heard that if you have an MA, they treat you very well there (you will get better paying jobs in higher quality schools, etc.). Is this true?
Also-I just read that Japan's school year starts in April. I will not be finished my degree here until the end of June. The earliest I could leave is August. Will it even be possible for me to get a job there?
Anyone with any advice on recruiting companies/the differences between working in Japan and Korea/the best country to work in AND travel in would be greatly appreciated. I'm in this more for the experience than for the money. I want to see and experience a part of the world I've never experienced before. If you could only go to one country...where would you go? Also-if I haven't asked any questions that you think are important to address, please feel free to add any of your 'nuggets of knowledge!'
Thanks Very Happy

saint57 · Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 3:21 am Post subject: Korea Japan China

If you want to travel Korea isn't the best option because you will work all year without a real holiday. However, you can save enough for a real nice trip after but only if your employer doesn't mess with you. Unless you are looking for a universtiy job in either country the MA might get you $50 a month more (they may also suck it out of you with more hours). I have never heard of someone walking directly into a university position in Korea. My guess is that it's even more rare in Japan. Honestly, after grinding it out for 13 months in Korea my advice is to check out Japan. You might save more in Korea but if travel is your main priority then go to Japan. Some of their language schools give respectable vacation time. In Korea I had ten days which the school chose. Sometimes I'd have a one day holiday on a Wednesday. You should check out China. You can pick any type of job and get awesome holidays. The only problem is you won't be able to send any money home.

khmerhit · Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 4:09 pm Post subject:

Try bhutan----or cambodia. right now, at your age, you should be goign for the experiemce, nothing else. bon voyage.

cambodia ---try it and

see.

saint57 · Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 5:27 pm Post subject:

Cambodia: Best place to visit, wouldn't want to live there. If you're a Western female I would pay particular attention to this statement. Cambodia is romantic/exotic etc, so take a real long trip there. Don't go to Cambodia for the work experience or to have a happy social life.

gemini22 · Joined: 16 Mar 2006 Posts: 9

I can relate, I am about to graduate with my Masters and I have been comparing all the different Asian countries. Maybe I am becoming a little obsessive about making the right choice, but I want to be comfortable where I am.

So I have it narrowed down to Japan or Taiwan.

My boyfriend does not have a degree, I thought maybe he could just teach English as a private tutor in Japan. Wonder if that is possible?

sojourner · Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 7:13 am Post subject:

Saint 57,

In your posting, you stated the following : " You should check out China. You can pick any type of job and get awesome holidays. The only problem is you won't be able to send any money home".

For the sake of newbies, especially, the OP, you should have elaborated on what you mean. Were you saying that it's virtually impossible to save any money in China, or did you mean that foreign exchange regulations will restrict the amount of RMB you can convert into other currencies or/remit such to an o'seas bank ?

In the two China fora, there are a number of threads regarding both issues. It IS possible to save money in China - AND to convert RMB into CAD, USD, or whatever.

With an MA, Krista (the OP), would have no problem in picking up a college or uni job in China. With such jobs, one would also be given opportunities to teach subjects such as Business English, Western Culture, International Business, British/American Literature, etc, rather than the more usual Oral English. In her first year, Krista would probably be on 5 K RMB per month. With some overtime and private tutoring, her total income should come to around 7 K RMB per month. As her contract should provide for a rent-free flat and free utilities, it should be no problem for her to save between 6 and 6.5 K RMB per month - which, I think, will be around 13 K CAD per annum. Her contract will probably state that she would be allowed to exchange 70% of her monthly income into foreign curency. Also, many (most ?) banks here have Western Union facilities for transferring money o'seas.Even if she can't convert all of her earnings into foreign exchange, she could take her surplus RMB out of the country ( I often exchange my RMB into Thai Baht, at good rates, with the non-bank money changers in Bangkok, whilst on vacation).

Thus, China should definitely be considered by any newbie - especially one that holds an MA degree. Yes, one could receive a better salary at a Sth Korean uni - but, as someone else has remarked, it is often difficult for newbies to land (coveted) uni jobs, until they have "spent time" in the hagwan sector. Yes, even the hagwans pay more than what Chinese unis pay - but FTs in the hagwans are often required to teach between 25 and 30 hours pw. By comparison, in unis and colleges in China, one normally works only 16 "teaching" hours per week, which comes to about 12 "normal" hours. Occasionally, some jobs here only require one to teach 12 or 14 "teaching" hours pw !

Again, I think that any newbie, with a Master's degree, should seriously consider the uni/college sector in China.

Peter

saint57 · Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 2:05 pm Post subject:

Peter, with a salary of 7,000 a month and saving 6500-6000 means she needs to live off $72-$144 CDN a month. Not my cup of tea. Money is tricky to convert while in China, but Thailand and Cambodia take Chinese money freely.

cameron.mayo · Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 81

Get out wide, take a risk and do youself a favour by going to Cambodia.

saint57 · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 12:21 am Post subject:

I think she has decided on Japan.