Job Discussion Forums

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:45 pm Post subject:

It's interesting to me that all the teachers I've heard chime in here are relatively experienced, well-qualified, and in positions that earn well. If you're in a good job, it's fairly normal to raise children practically anywhere. I have no plans to start a family, but if I did, I suppose Ecuador would be the place I would choose.

With some frequency, though, I get applications from newly qualified teachers with children. (often pretty minimally qualified, at that.) And, to be honest with them, I have to tell them that entry level wages for a teacher in Ecuador really don't provide for the raising of foreign children.

In this field, as in most, if you hope to raise children without enduring near poverty, you need to think about having a good, established position and good qualifications.

Best,
Justin

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

MELEE · Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 3:09 pm Post subject:

I once got an application from a teacher who was married and the father of six. He wanted to move his family overseas. While a Mexican could easily support a family of 8 on our salary. He came to realize how difficult that would be for a foriegner when I told him that the whole family would need resident visas and that would cost him 2 months salary each year!

This profession is doable with a family. But I think in any field, changing careers while your family is young will be very difficult. It is probably best to get started in a TEFL career and then have a family, or wait until you kids have left home, then start a TEFL career. Not start a TEFL career with a family in tow. Of course, I'm not saying it's impossible, but you're not going to have an easy time of it.

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

Gringo Greg · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:05 am Post subject:

zaylahis · Joined: 01 May 2007 Posts: 59

Ten years ago when Turkish lira still had those many zeros attached to it and inflation rising by the minute, I was a single mother teaching in Istanbul with two teenagers and a six year old. To make ends meet, I had to work nights, weekends but now both my kids and I look back on those days of poverty as rewarding and fun. Unlike their friends who had a cushy life ( cars, maids etc), my children are tolerant,focused, resourceful, resilient and street smart. They can cope better with different situations. They are very marketable, job wise because of their international exposure. Unlike me, they have forgotten their Turkish but whenever we go back on holiday to Istanbul they pick it up again. So yes, living abroad is an education itself for children and so is living just above poverty line. My son is now a budding lawyer, my daughter an investment banker and the youngest scored As and A stars for his IGCSE.

yaramaz · Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 5:56 am Post subject:

Zaylahis, just out of curiosity, where did your kids go to school when you lived in Istanbul and how was their experience? I only wonder because I wonder what I'll do if I end up staying here indefinitely and having a family. Did your kids enroll in the state system? Could you somehow afford or get subsidised tuition in a private kolej?

zaylahis · Joined: 01 May 2007 Posts: 59

As my answer is rather long, I have p.m-ed you yaramaz