Job Discussion Forums

[nasigoreng]

My only teaching experience has been Taiwan and I have not enjoyed it: don't like the environment, the kids, or the culture.

I'm considering teaching in Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, or Latin America.

I welcome feedback from people who have taught in these (and other) countries.

Thanks

[taiwan boy]

You might get a better response if you post on the boards relevant to the countries you want to know more about.

Remember you might find the things you don't like about Taiwan, you also won't like about other countries. The grass is always greener on the other side...

[comenius]

For what it's worth, I've taught in Prague, Istanbul and Taipei, each for a period of about 10 - 14 months. Taipei was my least favorite destination by far. I'm not 100% sure why, either. I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that I found it quite difficult to culturally assimilate in Taipei. Being a white guy, I suppose that may seem obvious to some point, but in Prague and Istanbul I found I developed much stronger relationships with the local community, even though I didn't pass for a local there either.

For whatever reason, I felt a kind of wall between me and the local Taiwanese. This could have been purely in my head, but I just never felt as warmly accepted and welcomed. The end result was that this sense of emotional distance negatively colored many of my impressions of my time there.

The good news is that Taipei isn't the same as elsewhere in the world, and that a less than overwhelmingly positive experience there doesn't mean you can't have a really excellent experience elsewhere. I know you were specifically asking about other areas than Prague and Istanbul, but thought I'd toss in my two cents regardless...

[sigmoid]

I've taught in Thailand for quite a few years, but I wouldn't really recommend teaching here. It may be OK for a year or two, but in the long run it will probably be financially draining as the average salaries are quite low. I have definite plans to go elsewhere in order to make more money.

The following is just my opinion. Hopefully, others who have lived/live there can add to or correct it:

Indonesia may not be the best place for Westerners to be if the invasion of Iraq occurs. I don't think you can make much money there either.

Ditto for Latin America. I don't think there is any country where you can earn a decent living by teaching English. But, like Tahiland, it may be enjoyable to live there a few years depending on which country you chose.

Japan offers higher salaries than most other places, but has possibly the highest cost of living in the world. Many people complain Japan is sterile and rigid.

[TheyCallMeTrinity]

[nasigoreng]

Thank you all for your input.
I should have mentioned that money was NOT a priority. I just want to learn stuff: martial arts, batik painting, thai massage, samba dancing, etc....

[WorkingVaca]

What exactly do you hate about Taiwan's "environment"? The lack of imaginative architecture, the air pollution, that international cuisine means McDonald's and Sizzler, too many little motorcycles...? Culture: you mean the narrow-minded "family values", the striving towards corporate slavery, the double-takes whenever a WAIGOREN happens by...?

If that's the stuff you mean, stay away from Thailand...this stuff is all magnified down there, with the added bonus of Third World inconveniences like peddlers, two-tiered pricing systems, absolutely pitiful wages for ESL teachers, garbage rotting in the hot sun, cocroaches, etc. Except Thailand has it all over Taiwan in the food department.

But at least in Taiwan you can save some decent money.

[chi-chi]

I would suggest Japan or the Middle East, if you have student loans to pay.
If money is not anything to worry about, then you have a whole host of options.
Don't go near Korea if you had trouble with Taiwan.
Anyway, consider either Japan or the Middle East. Japan may be better until things calm down a bit.

[Miyazaki]

Chi Chi,

So where did you end up?

Yeah, Taiwan is boring and friendships with locals superficial here.

So the story goes.

[demaratus]

Making friends with the Taiwanese is not hard nor is it alwas a matter of them making face. Maybe I travelled in better circles but in Kaohsiung (2nd city, in the south) I found most Taiwanese to be friendly, curious people. Did I get stared at? Yes. Did I hear comments and see stares? Yes. This is common in any country with little exposure to outsiders. I also made a ton of friends xpat and Taiwanese and never felt I was being used by Taiwanese friends. I don't think my expierience is unusal, I think with a little effort it is easy to make frieds with Taiwanese people. I loved my time there, despite near constant illness and being a buxiban worker.

[markholmes]

With a name like nasigoreng I would have to imagine he ended up in Indonesia.

[StayingPower]

Nasigoreng, don't sweat it, for now. Just go where you feel the climate is suitable, and the standard of living. In the three countries most mentioned here, Taiwan, Korea and Japan, the standard of lving is what will attract foreigners most(for the most part,) so you have to choose where you want to go in light of this between the three. Stick to the main cities if you don't want to be a posterbaord. Make sure there's a strong influx of foreigners.

I'd say that Korea smoothened everything over by its salary and its personableness, since I've been there a long time and am now here. "Emotionally distant" is a good word for living here, but it may have to do with a lot of factors.

"Western-centricism and a McDonalidization-mindset" are some defects I've found to reflect some people here.

[Toe Save]

You guys are hilarious. This thread is 4 years old. Miyazaki must be bored in whatever cultural eden he is in and went about gravedigging some old threads. This guy has long made up his mind.

It's the same for the recently reinvigorated American Eagle thread.

Old news me mateys.