Job Discussion Forums

[Don Lorenzo]

I'm facing a very hard decision to make. I have 6 months in between my current job (which I truly enjoy, not teaching related at all) and starting school again next September. I am dying to get out and travel and work (read teach English overseas) during that time.

The 2 countries I am considering are Brazil and Thailand. I am really torn as to which to choose. Here are the reasons for each country:

Brazil because I have been there before and I literally fell in love with the country, the culture, the music, the food and everything else. I also speak quite good Portuguese, I have some great friends there and I am seriously considering making Brazil my 2nd home in the next few years.

Pros of Brazil:
- Already been there, I speak the language, I am geniunely interested in the culture and the country overall and I have some great friends there and some interesting business opportunities on the side.

Cons of Brazil:
- Brazil has been getting quite expensive in the past couple of years due to the revival of the Real, its currency compared to the CDN $.
- not a high chance of securing a position before going there and going to the various schools there in person.

Now, Thailand, is also a country that has been fascinating me for a long time however, I have yet to visit it.

Pros of Thailand:
- having a secured job, plus a TEFL certificate through the programme by TEFL International.
- A great gateway to the rest of SE Asia.

Cons of Thailand:
- Never been there, I don't (yet!) speak a word of Thai and Thai language is not as easy to learn as a Roman-Latin language.

All in all, both countries attract me tremendously for different reasons. Brazil, to get to know better a country I really geniunely love and Thailand for the truly unique, "exotic" adventurous challenge that it would represent.

Which one of these 2 countries would you suggest?
I'd be specially looking for feedback from those who have been to both Brasil and Thailand and get a sort of comparison of the 2 countries.

Thank you so much from someone truly torn between these 2 wonderful countries...

[william wallace]

nil

[QatarChic]

I've spent time in Thailand and had a great time, but my dream has always been to go to Brazil.

I'd say go for Brazil, it seems that your heart has already made up it's mind anyway

[wildchild]

[Joeys ESL Room]

I'm with 'QatarChic' - go with your heart on this one. Speaking Portuguese will also be a HUGE benefit to your daily life if you decide to go there.

[rusmeister]

Why do you feel you want to teach English? Why not just travel? Or find a way to do what you love to do overseas? If I were your employer, I would be wanting to know what exactly (honestly) makes you a teacher.