Job Discussion Forums

[lehh]

I want to go somewhere for a few years and teach English when I finish my master's degree next year. Any suggestions? Ideas?
here are my qualifications:

TEFL certificate
Undergraduate degree in English w/ ESL concentration
MAT master's in elementary education with an ESL add-on endorsement

I prefer teaching elementary aged students and would like to be in a warmer climate preferably nearby at beach


Where are some good places to go teach where a salary can pay enough to live reasonably well (meaning, not struggling to get by)

I've thought about Japan, Thailand, and South America, and would like to go somewhere where ideally my qualifications would carry some weight and maybe increase the salary a little bit. When it comes down to it though, it's more about getting the most out of the experience then the money.

So basically I'd just like to know everyone's opinions!

[Glenski]

Speaking from the Japan contingent, beaches here are in horrible shape, and the country's climate is not uniform. from Okinawa to Hokkaido, you will find quite the variation, and anything south of Kyoto (roughly the midpoint north-south) would probably be considered more on the warm side, but you will also have to contend with typhoons.

Still, it's an interesting requirement -- warm beach.

Your education is laudable, and I would say it provides a solid foundation for a long-term career. However, in Japan, you would still likely have to start out on the bottom run of the ladder, meaning conversation schools, dispatch company ALT, or JET programme ALT. There may be exceptional cases to the contrary, but fairly rare.

Salaries here for newcomers are livable. 250,000 yen/month or slightly less in many places. Slightly more in the big cities (where the cost of living offsets the difference). Live sensibly and reasonably frugally, and you should be able to save US$500-700 per month. I assume no student loans, though.

After a year or 2, you could expect to move out of those entry-level jobs and into something a bit higher paying (300,000-350,000 yen/month), and there is always the potential to string together part-time work to make even more. Depends on circumstances.

[thelmadatter]

I have similar qualifications and I work for ITESM in Mexico, which has 33 campuses around the country. However, the closer you are to a beach, the less the pay. The best pay is in DF and the surrounding cities in the center of the country. However, both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are within 8 hours of where I live.

MELEE works for the public uni system in Oaxaca state and you may find something to your liking there.

[MELEE]

In addition to universities in Mexico. You'd be well qualified to work at a International school or other private primary or K-12 school that offers an English medium or bilingual curriculum. Some of these schools pay just as well as universities, but with better hours (usually 7am to 3pm). But few are right near the beach. Most are in Mexico City or other major cities in North-Central Mexico. You could got to the beach each long weekend (about 10 a year) and vacation. Most Mexicans travel on overnight buses so you get on, sleep during the trip and wake up at the beach. And I think the Mexican highland climate is wonderful, never too hot (unlike the beach). I can send you contact information for universities on or near the Oaxaca beach. PM me if you are interested.

[naturegirl321]

International schools would be good, anywhere in the world. If not, try the Middle East