Job Discussion Forums

[renzobenzo1]

Okay so I read her a while ago about mixed views about low-pay and a reluctance of schools to accept foreign teachers.....
However, I would really like to live and work in the P......
The low-pay I can accept if it is enough to live off....
but what would be my chances of getting a job....I see a lot advertised.....
what schools/institutions would you advise contacting?

Also I am a NZer would I have any Visa issues?

Thanks

[American English pilot]

Hello!
Contrary to popular opinion around here, there ARE ESL jobs in the Philippines. Your biggest problem, however, will be the working visa. As posted by Ghost and others, it is very difficult to get. It must be applied for by your employer, and they (especially Koreans) won't want to go through the hassle (and especially EXPENSE) to get you one.
You DON'T want to work here illegally! If caught, you will go the to immigration jail in Taguig (near Manila)...and you DON'T want to know what jails are like HERE! You will then eventually (as in after they extort all your money for things like FOOD) you will be expelled and blacklisted.
I'm here as a resident alien as my wife is a citizen. I DO know teachers here who work with only a visitor visa, so it IS possible....but I don't recommend it.
The pay will run from 300-600 peso per hour (42.27=$1 US). Opportunities range from academies (Korean) to schools preparing Filipino's to take the TOEFL, IELTS or other language exam. There are also the call centers....average salary for a trainer (regardless if your a native speaker or not) is 30,000 per month gross. These salaries are very good locally...but don't expect to live like a king! Cost of living here is quite high with most prices the same or HIGHER than in the states. (Example: gasoline here is currently 42 peso's per LITER...which makes it around $4 US per gallon). Medicine is also very expensive...housing is affordable and food is cheap. I've been here for over 7 years now (off and on since 1997), so let me know if you have any specific or even more general questions.
Hope this helps....good luck!

[No Moss]

I don't know too much about the teaching situation in the Philippines, but I spent three weeks in Cebu this year. Taxis, food, beer, rent are cheap. (Beer is very cheap, and that San Miguel Light is a good substitute for Corona!). Personal services are very cheap--maids, haircuts, manicures, etc. And there's a lot of the etc., in case you're interested.

It's a good place to have a good time. The natives are friendly and many speak a fair standard of English. There are a lot of guards with guns, but I felt safe walking around Cebu.

[renzobenzo1]

[American English pilot]

Your best shot at ESL job's are in and around the Metro Manila area - Manila, Pasig, Pasay, Makati and Alabang. As for the visa...as previously posted, that could be a big pain in the neck!
You might wish to 'visit' and have a look around.
Question....have you been here before? Do you have experience teaching? How old are you? Are you single? Have you worked/taught outside of NZ before?
On a visit, especially as it's 'camp' season, you might be able to pick up some spending money informally teaching...but BE CAREFUL!!!! The Korean academies don't particulary care if you're "legal", but they ALSO don't care if you're in jail either! Picking up 'private' students is not easy here until you've become established.
As 'No moss' stated, most of your living expenses are cheap compared to the rest of the region (beer averages around 18-20 peso's per bottle and a good apartment runs between 4,500 and 7,000 per month depending on location). Also as previously posted, don't expect to live like an expat king.
You can have a good life here on 30-50,000 per month...but don't plan on saving much unless you're single...but that also depends on how much you like/expect to 'play'.
PM me if you have specific questions.
As for hours, once you're "in", as a native speaker, you can pretty much work as many hours as you can stand. BUT, be aware...the Koreans pretty much have a 'lock' on academies here and most Koreans prefer an American accent. This is not stated to discourage you, just reality. I work 5 hours at one academy and 2 hours private per day. I could work more, but quite frankly, 7 contact hours completely drains me! [/u]

[renzobenzo1]

Hi thanks.
I am 24, male, single and am now into my 9th month teaching in Korea.

I have been on a holiday in the Philippines once before and realised it is a place I would like to spend more time in.

I see a lot of jobs online for English teachers and call centre trainers-I would probably feel more comfortable with the former to begin with.

I will be there for another 2 week holiday in January whereby I was going to check the rules with Immi and perhaps look in the local papers and see what's on the go.
Basically find out if it is a possibility or not.

[GueroPaz]

My friend asked me to post here because he's too busy tutoring Koreans who attend international schools, to post. He loves to tutor Korean children, and they fill his schedule at 450 pesos per hour (in another country).

He's retired and says his pension is over $2000 per month (US!). He likes hot climates and has original American accent, American BA degree, TEFL certificate, and years of experience teaching ESL to immigrants; Thai kids, and Koreans (plus, plus). And, he's Christian. So, if he goes to a place like Cebu on a retirement visa, and gets started with private tutoring of Koreans, what are his chances of getting imprisoned? His chances of tutoring up to 28 hours per week? Thanks.

[American English pilot]

Hi!
I'm not completely sure what the retirement visa entails, however it must contain residency as a part of it. If you have an ACR-Alien Certificate of Registration-then you are considered the same as a citizen. Exactly the same if you have a 'green card' in the United States. So, NO, your 'friend' would NOT be illegal. (There IS a difference between a green card holder in the States and an ACR holder here. ACR holders are NOT allowed to own property!! We can own/run a business without having Filipinos involved...depending on the business-can't be media or energy related for one thing...but absolutely cannot own property. The 'government' here is making noises about changing this, but don't hold your breath!).
If you like, you can (or better, have your friend) PM me with more specific details/questions. I'll be happy to help.
His problem, though, will be in picking up private students. It's kind of hard to do that here unless you are established. NOTE....I said "kind of hard"...NOT impossible!! There are several Korean academies down in Cebu, with more opening all the time. Several are branches of academies up here in the Manila area. There is also a Canadian owned/operated academy on Boracay which is a resort area. However, as you can imagine, they don't exactly have a whole lot of vacancies as everybody and their third cousin would give their left nut to live there and get paid for it!
Anyway, PM me if you would like to discuss in more detail. Bottom line is he would NOT be illegal under a retirement visa...unless it contains a provision for not working, which I doubt.
Good luck and Merry Christmas all!

P.S. With an income of $2,000 per month, he can live like a KING here and not even have to worry about working! Except of course, to have something to do. Even living in paradise gets boring after a while....unless he's into ruining a perfectly good walk by chasing around after a little white ball?