Job Discussion Forums

[travellingchad]

Hello all. I am new to the boards here and have some questions. I have been reading up on the various forms and websites but have yet to decide on what country I am headed to. I travelled to Thailand a little over a year ago and fell in love with the country and people. I decided to finish my BA in English and get outside the US and travel and teach somewhere in Asia. I have almost ruled out Thailand due to the lower income and have all but decided on Taiwan. I wanted to ask and see what people thought of the various countries... Korea, Thailand, China and Taiwan (or even Japan) and get a good comparison from some people that have taught in more than one of these countries. My wife is going to be coming with me and she doesn't have her degree but will probably getting her TESL and maybe some side work. I have heard that she will be covered in Taiwan as my dependent but wanted to verify this is the case in other countries.
Thanks for the help!

[PAULH]

[tedkarma]

I've worked in Korea (six years), Thailand (2 years), and Taiwan (2 years) in addition to Saudi Arabia (5 years).

Taiwan is a good compromise between the cold people of Korea and warm friendly people of Thailand - and the polar opposites of wages as well. Though, in Taiwan, you should be able to save almost as much as you could in Korea.

In Taiwan, side jobs are easy - though illegal - but everyone does them. Your wife would not have much problem lining up a full schedule. Many of us just advertised in the China Times (I think - forgot the name!) newspaper and landed decent private jobs.

Just as an aside - I don't know where you are from - but Taiwan was the most PRO-America place I have ever worked. A few people even approached me, asked me where I was from, and gave me their business cards and said to call them if I ever needed ANY help! WoW!

[Sgt Killjoy]

I wouldn't write off Thailand. I assume your wife is a native speaker. Any school would love to hire you both as a teaching couple. That means you could easily earn a combined 60k to 70k baht per month for just 15 20 hours of teaching a week. Thai lifestyle is cheap, if you were interested in saving, you put back 20k baht per month fairly easily, more with only a little effort.

[travellingchad]

Thanks for all of the info and support. We are both Native English speakers and from the US. I have heard good things about Taiwan so I think the plan is to leave here in Early September, spend a month having fun in Thailand and see what happens. After that we will head to Taiwan if Thailand doesn't work out.

[kuberkat]

Good on you for doing your homework, Chad. It really does depend on what you're after. Easy living (little money): Thailand. Ubercultural experience (tough life): China. Money (and madness): Taiwan. Just remember what you're really in the game for and stick with it. As other posters have noted, drifting in TEFL can become a never-ending, aimless business.

[travellingchad]

Awww the drifting experience sounds fantastic...

[travellingchad]

Oh also does anyone know if Bangkok is the only real opportune place for jobs in Thailand? I love Thailand but HATE Bangkok. I would teach anywhere but there. I have heard Phuket has some but what about Chaing Mai?

[Sgt Killjoy]

There are cities in southern Thailand that are begging for teachers. Just got an email just yesterday from a buddy of mine and his school currently needs 3 teachers, the pay is 32k month plus year end bonus, the school is great, and in two months of active recruiting, they still haven't managed to find enough teachers. In the city, he estimates that there are no fewer than 8 open positions. This is outside of Bangkok. There are literally hundreds of open jobs outside of Bangkok right now. In November, that number is going to go even higher.

Phuket has a high cost of living and Chiang Mai has low wages, you would do well to look outside those tourist meccas, just go over and you will find work.