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Canadian couple job searching - new to this, lots of qu's!

 
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emmyallison



Joined: 02 Nov 2007
Posts: 1

PostPosted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 5:34 pm    Post subject: Canadian couple job searching - new to this, lots of qu's! Reply with quote

Hey all,
My boyfriend and I, both mid-20's, Canadian, are thinking of moving abroad to teach english largely with the goal of paying down student loans, but also for the opportunity to live/work somewhere else. We are just starting our search for jobs.

Quick background: I have an undergrad degree and an M.A. in poli sci, and some teaching experience at the university level. He has an undergrad degree and post-grad diploma in poli sci. Neither of us have any TESL certification.

My quick research into some of the big Japan teaching companies (such as Aeon) indicates they do not hire couples and guarantee them shared housing/jobs in the same city. We want to live together. I was hoping being a couple may be an asset to our finding employment (we can share small accomodation etc).

Any tips on looking for jobs as a couple? As well, any advice on what countries/companies etc we should be looking into in terms of the potential to save the most amount of money? And finally, do you think it would make a big difference for our employment prospects if we took a TESL course?

Thanks!
Emily
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Glenski



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

PostPosted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 9:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you're interested in Japan, ask your questions on the Japan forum. Please use the search function, too, because this question has been asked a lot. Also, read the Japan forum sticky FAQs.

Bottom line: some places hire couples, but most don't. You are both eligible for entry level work, meaning JET Programme ALT or dispatch company ALT or eikaiwa (conversation school). Tip on Japan for the moment: be careful because the largest eikaiwa (NOVA) has just filed for protection under the bankruptcy laws, and that has put about 5000 NOVA teachers on the streets looking for work. Not a good time to be looking, and November to January is traditionally dead time anyway.
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tedkarma



Joined: 17 May 2004
Posts: 1598
Location: The World is my Oyster

PostPosted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 1:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There are significant advantages AND disadvantages to hiring couples. I think the disadvantages greatly outweigh the advantages for the school - as well as the couple. You have problems with one of the two - you suddenly have double the trouble. You don't lose one teacher, you lose two - and so on and on.

My wife and I headed out overseas before we were married and in four countries across about 15 years now, we have only ever worked for the same school three times. And, I have to say . . . only ONE of those three worked out well - and that one shouldn't really count as it was in Saudi Arabia where the women's school was in a different location with different bosses, students, rules, yada yada.

So . . . two of the two others didn't work out well. At one school I found a very nice promotion and quit to work elsewhere - they fired my (by then) wife! At the other they jacked her around regularly but never hassled me and I have no idea why as I think she is a far better teacher than I am.

Shoot for the same city, in the same area if possible - or adjust once you are there. We once had two apartments provided and we just lived in the best one.

Working in two different places helps with your empathy and support of each other also. When we worked at the same places, we didn't always get along with the same people or have trouble with the same people. When we worked different places we could always be 100% sympathetic about what bast*ard someone was - because we didn't know them.

Don't get too hooked on the idea of always working together. It can greatly stress your relationship - and kill the whole deal.

It is only with great caution that my wife and I would even consider working for the same employer these days.
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Hitman Hatton



Joined: 16 Oct 2007
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 11:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is a link to a blog of a Canadian couple who went to work in Korea, it may help. http://thedailykimchi.blogspot.com/

Me and my gf are looking at going to Korea next year, I have already seen a few job postings that specifically looked for couples. I also worry that it would be difficult to organise things like apartments and even when you both arrive if you take up two separate jobs. In Korea, the schools usually give you a single apartment so god knows how that would work if you were at separate schools, it might mean you would have to look for your own place.
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tedkarma



Joined: 17 May 2004
Posts: 1598
Location: The World is my Oyster

PostPosted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 11:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Schools will almost always organize an apartment for you.

It would an unusual situation for that task to be left to you. Key money, language problems, crazy addressing systems and prejudice against foreigners Shocked makes it a task best left to the schools anyway.

Not to worry on that front.
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Hitman Hatton



Joined: 16 Oct 2007
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

No, I meant if you were to find jobs in separate schools, each employer would provide a single apartment, they wouldn't get together and pool the money to give you an apartment for a couple.
If you are coming as a couple you should be able to get a better apartment than a single person, or at least you would hope so. I mean thats two housing allowances together, they shouldn't just stick you in the same apartment originally intended for single teachers.

Anyway, so how the hell do you go about getting an apartment for two people if your working at different schools?
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eslstudies



Joined: 17 Dec 2006
Posts: 1061
Location: East of Aden

PostPosted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Many Chinese universities would look favorably on a teaching couple.
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