Job Discussion Forums

MikeySaid · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 509 Location: Torreon, Mexico

I've seen a similar post in the General Asia forum with no real answers.

I am a bilingual American (Californian to be precise) and she is a bilingual Mexican. We are both fluent in the other's language, but I have my degree in Spanish, hers is in Anthropology, and our degrees are from our respective countries.

We're looking to teach abroad, and Europe is the only locale not really on our lists--Asia is our preference. Anyone got any tips on a gringo and a frijolera going to Japan, China, Taiwan, or somewhere else together? We are NOT married and will NOT do so for the purposes of easing VISA restrictions. So we are trying to figure out if there is an opportunity for her to teach English there, or even for me to teach Spanish.

We are aware of the implications of working in the same environment and will do our best to avoid such a situation, although we met in a manner that required us to be together nearly 24/7 for the first month we knew one another.

Please feel free to share your horror stories as well as those of romantic triumphs.

If it helps, we are also very interested in doing INGO/NPO work abroad.

Her background is Anthropology, mine is Languages/Cultures.

Cheers.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

My advice from Japan.

You're not married, so you are going to have to get your work visas (not VISAs) separately. If you get married, and if YOU get a job, she can get a dependent visa which, with some minor additional paperwork, allows her to work part-time.

There isn't a big call for teaching Spanish here. Look into NOVA and Berlitz for the major players, but whether she teachers English or Spanish, getting a visa will probably be tough.

By the way, is she bilingual just because you say so (no offense), or can she prove to an employer some test score that proves it? She may have to. How strong is her accent?

One more thing. If you are used to seeing each other 24/7, you will have to get used to the opposite here. Work hours may keep you out of the office for quite some time.

MikeySaid · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 509 Location: Torreon, Mexico

Glen....

WRT to the bilingual question...
She has studied at an American University in California and also maintained a very high TOEFL score when she was in high school. Her english is superb and her accent is no more notable than someone's from East Texas or anywhere south of the Mason Dixon line...

Seeing eachother 24/7 is not an expectation we have, we would simply like to share the experience of moving to a country where neither of us speaks the primary language and that rules out most of WESTERN europe for us (england, ireland, france, germany, italy, spain)... we currently live in different countries but are seriously persuing this and would like to make it work, but are concerned that it may be difficult to find this type of work.

I have already spoken with people at Berlitz and my only concern with them is that they generally ask that you fly out to the location of the school for your interview and there is the chance that you might not become gainfully employed in the process.

So... I think that answers those questions...

Anyone else got any input on how a binational couple can go about getting work in at least the same city if one of the two is from a non-english speaking country (even if the person speaks excellent english)??

tedkarma · Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:43 am Post subject:

Much better possibilities in places like Thailand.

We have people from just about everywhere teaching English here.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

MikeySaid, well if you were married I would say that she could probably find a job in Korea. There are many Filipinas teaching here. I guess the real problem is that almost no one would be able to offer your girlfriend a visa, no matter how well she speaks English. You need a UK, American, Australia, or Canadian passport to be offered a work visa in Korea. If she is very white, maybe you can try China. There are Germans and Norweigens that teach English there. The reason I say this is that if you look white they think you are a native speaker or at least can pass you off as one.

Maybe you can apply to some schools together in China and say that you want to come together. Maybe you can get a job at the same school.

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

I know Mexicans that have taught English in both Japan and Korea, mainly children's classes I think. I'm not sure if they were doing it legally but I'll check. Both were on student visas at the time.

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

tedkarma · Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:47 pm Post subject:

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

Some are skilled-what about the rest?

Rocket surgery-get your cliches right.

Cdaniels · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:11 am Post subject: it ain't brain science

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

Sgt Killjoy · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 438

I would second TedKarma's suggestion on Thailand. You both will have no problems getting jobs and visas over there.