Job Discussion Forums

missfish · Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 1 Location: Madison, WI

I am looking for advice/stories from teachers who pursued TEFL while paying off student loan debt at the same time. I know that to do this will require some hefty pre-departure savings and extra planning on my part (bills will be roughly 200USD/mo), but I hope to gain a better understanding of how difficult going about this will be. Do I even stand a chance at making it, with a modest standard of living?

I should note I am most interested in teaching in Spanish speaking countries; but I welcome advice from anywhere in the world.

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

After you get your degree, apply to the JET Programme www.jetprogramme.org and see if you can land a job as an ALT in a public school in Japan.

Pay is 300,000 yen/month (roughly USD3000) before deductions, which is a bit higher than most other entry level jobs. JET pays airfare, too, and you sometimes get free or low rent. It is enough to pay off your loan easily.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

You may want to look at your exchange rates a bit, Glenski. 300,000 yen is only about $2500 US, it isn't even $3,000 CDN or AUS anymore.
I agree though that the JET is a great way to pay off loans.

To the OP, few or no Spanish speaking countries pay well IMO. Korea is probably the best place to save if you have a degree and no experience or post-graduate qualifications.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

If you want to make a career out of this, then could you hold off on Latin America for a couple of years? I spent two years in Japan before heading down to South America. If this is only going to be a short-term job, you can defer your loans for up to two years.

In Chile I earned about $1000 monthly and in Peru $700. Saving $200 would have been doable, but it really would have cut into spending money.

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

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

The_Hanged_Man · Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 224 Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

When I was in Japan I made about 275,000 a month in my eikaiwa gig. With a fairly frugal lifestyle I was able to save about 60,000-70,000 (around $500-600) of that per month. I knew people working the same job who were able to put away about 100,000 each month, but they lived like monks. So, yes it is possible, but only if you can budget and keep yourself from blowing it all on entertainment or travel.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

SAving should be no problem as long as you don't expect to live it up. Having a roommate can help a lot, as costs are split. My husband and I are able to save all of my salary and still allow ourselves little luxuries like going to the cinemas or restaurants.

comenius · Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 11:45 pm Post subject:

To echo an earlier post, if you could defer your interest in teaching in a Spanish speaking country for a bit, it would make the most financial sense given your situation to head over to Korea or Taiwan. These seem to give the greatest opportunities for saving.

When I was in Taiwan, I had gotten to the point where I was saving over $3000 US a month, which made paying for my MA a lot easier. Bear in mind, I was working two jobs at the end as I was really focused on earning and saving money, so you're not going to end up with a very relaxing lifestyle with a lot of free time time if you try to save this much, but for me at the time it was worth it. Banking all of that money really helped me with paying for graduate school. I don't think I'd recommend it as a permanent lifestyle decision though. Smile

Wild Bill · Joined: 29 Aug 2006 Posts: 37

The only places where it is do-able are the developed countries in Asia and the Middle East. Other places will give you an excellent life style, but you won't be able to stash away much cash.

Deconstructor · Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 775 Location: Montreal

How's this! Don't pay at all. Let the government pay the bank. Then the government will come after you. If you refuse to pay them, they will take about 30% of your salary, that is, of course, if you are working in your country. (I'm thinking US, Canada.) If you're not, then there is nothing that they can do about it. What's more, the government can come after you for only 10 years. After that you're home free!! So stay abroad for 10 years and all will be well.

Deicide · Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 5:55 pm Post subject:

I hate to say it, but in Korea you can live well and save at least 1000 USD a month...you can easily save 12,000 USD a year here on a shitty salary, 15,000 on a better one., all the while partying and travelling the whole time..Korea is a dung hole; but you can make cash here...