Job Discussion Forums

nomadder · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2003 11:38 pm Post subject: Why Oh Why???

Why did you choose the country(or countries) you chose to work in?

I chose Japan because of the money and because I knew of people who had gone there and liked it. The culture seemed interesting and I knew I liked the food. I had heard hit and miss stories about Korea so that was out. Japan and Korea were the most actively recruiting so I only thought about those 2.

How about you Question

jud · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 127 Location: Italy

Love

For love, that is

khmerhit · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2003 12:13 am Post subject:

That's AmOre, isn't it Jud? Che fortuna. Divertiti.

I chose Cambodia because I heard you could get work as an unqualified newbie, also because it is one of the coolest countries on earth. Say no more.

jud · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 127 Location: Italy

Grazie!

Actually, it's been 4 years of love and 3 of teaching, e stiamo ancora divertendo.

Sid · Joined: 08 Jun 2003 Posts: 16 Location: S. Korea

Same as Jud, followed my heart. Cool

Sid

SweetOne · Joined: 19 Jul 2003 Posts: 109

The cosmos lined up when I visited Turkey last September. I fell in love with the place. For years I felt like an outsider looking in, here in the States. I couldn't figure it out. Having been to a few other places, I knew, the minute I landed, that I was "home" and thus began the journey into the BIG world of ESL. I had tutored before, but I needed guidance and direction before venturing into another culture to teach them my language. So, off I went to school. I got the certification and a promise that there would be a job for me .... in CHINA. I thought I would go there first, because it was easy. No hoops to jump through. One of the larger schools (or are they recruiters?) offered me a job and were prepared to send me a ticket, etc. As soon as I said "yes" I felt sick! I did this so that I could return to Turkey!!! So... many hoops later, I am finally on my way to Bursa! I submitted my application to the Embassy this afternoon and am packing up the stuff in the apartment tonight. I will have to couch-surf at friends' houses for the next few weeks, but they don't mind, and either do I. It will be worth it!

I could have made this shorter, but I am a bit verbose, at times.

Peace

Jess_Laoshi · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2003 2:17 am Post subject:

I went to study Chinese in China and knew when I left that I wanted to go back. I didn't stay nearly as long as I would have liked. I also left a fairly serious relationship back in Kunming and if its going to survive we need to not be so far away from each other. Despite the crappiness of the school where I taught, I really enjoyed the students themselves, and the act of teaching English. It was probably the first job I had that I actually truly enjoyed. So returning to China and teaching English (but hopefully at a more respectable school this time) is kind of a no-brainer for me.

Shonai Ben · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 617

Kizmet.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

I am not so good at psychoanalysing myself, but I guess the lure of China had somethiung to do with my being bored in the place where I was at that time.
I had been to India, Tibet and Nepal and all those hip places before; I had spent ten years in France (still le pays que j'aime le plus), I had put in one year and a half volunteering in Israel; my folks live in Africa, and I lived there and in Europe, and I travelled to Canada. But China?
Ah, another reason was that I have always been fascinated by countries under socialist rule. Maybe a morbid streak of mine - I did spend a whole month as an invited guest in a Moscow flat before the Iron Curtain went up! So, China was the next logical step!
If the above proves already that money was not my prime mover, the salary at my first school certainly convinces you even more: a college in 1994 paid me 1300 RMB a month! That was standard then! It went up to 2500 the next year, and another year on, I was making 7000 to 9000 on my own (having lost my job due to some bungling by my boss!).
When I discovered how much better you live on better pay, my dedication increased.
Students come in all shapes - some turn you off, some turn you on as a teacher. What matters the most here is not competence or excellence but personal chemistry; that's why I love teaching preschoolers the most.
And that's the most rewarding kind of work I have done in my life!

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

After 3 years in the Middle East,came back here on rotation for extremely hedonistic pursuit of extreme bar sports and women.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

I chose Mexico, specifically the Yucatan peninsula, for a combination of reasons:

~ climate (no cold winters)
~ laid-back attitude of the locals
~ interest in the Mayan culture
~ no earthquakes or tornadoes

Also, for me this is a good geographic location to travel from. It takes less than a day via the airways to get "back home." Having an octogenerian mom living in the U.S., I consider that important. It's a good central point for travel to Central American countries and the Caribbean, areas I find interesting and enjoyable, although on my EFL teacher's salary, I haven't been able to afford to travel much. Crying or Very sad

dduck · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 422 Location: In the middle

I guess I'm a real wanderer at heart. I've loved Spanish for many years - long before I considered becoming a teacher. When I discovered that teaching was the path for me I immediately wanted to teach in a Latin country. I find that Latinos are among the easiest students to teach as they are naturally talkative and fun loving Smile

Working in Mexico is part of my master plan to start teaching in North America and gradually work my way down to South America - however long that takes...

Iain

Capergirl · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2003 12:09 pm Post subject:

I came back to Canada to have my daughter so I am here until I she gets a bit older (she's 3 now). I'm not sure how long that will be, but I do enjoy the job I have right now - there just isn't any stability with this position (at least in Asia I had contracts guaranteeing my hours and salary). Confused

I went to South Korea because it was a good starting place - free airfare, free housing, and a decent salary. If the Korean economy hadn't crashed shortly after my arrival, I'd have stayed longer.

I went to Taiwan because the money was good and the culture was intriguing. I loved teaching there - my students were amazing.

There are about two dozen countries I would love to live and teach in, for various reasons. Hopefully, I will get to live in at least a few of them in the future. Smile

richard ame · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 319 Location: Republic of Turkey

Hi folks I'm back

The first time I came to this country I was hooked and did not consider another country to visit after the first time . Each year the need to change lifestyle and culture became stronger but the question always remained how to sustain body and soul without working in the tourist related industryand then a bright voice in my head why not teach ???? If any one had said I would end up teaching for a living 5 years earlier I would have told them to sod off but now it seems so natural to me (corny or what).
Seriously though people after the doom and gloom of the U.K this has got to be a better option not to mention the weather, food , beer , scenery, peoples hospitality, and the gereral ambience of the place I could waffle on like a holiday brochure ,don't you think Turkish women are really beautiful ? Yes fluffy as well but extremely good looking even the wife comments on them .