Job Discussion Forums

[sashajade]

How does the money in Germany compare to the money in a country like Korea? I am an American with a B.A., but no ESL certificate. I really want to work in Europe but need to be able to make enough money to pay bills at home. Is this possible, or unrealistic?

[Surfdude18]

Read this article for a sad indictment of ESL in Europe:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/main.jhtml?xml=/education/2004/01/17/teftefl17.xml

While teaching in Asia is similar in terms of professional development, it at least enables the teacher to have a decent local lifestyle and save a bit of money/travel.

[jonniboy]

[Hod]

[Surfdude18]

Really - most jobs I see in Europe pay about 1000 euros a month, with no free rent or whatever. I can't see how that could provide a better standard of living considering the much higher costs in Europe...

Seriously - in China I have a maid, eat out at good restaurants, have easy working hours, and still save about 1000 euros a month, with 4 months' paid holiday. (And I'm not a Fully Qualified Teacher (yet)). How many ESL jobs in Europe would allow that? Not that many, I would suspect.

[Hod]

It's each to their own. Asia offers benefits that Germany doesn't and vice versa. You might be doing Ok, but I'm not sure all jobs in China are that great if the China section is to be believed.

I'm a bit naughty to reply anyway because I have no connection with teaching now, but I did have once. I will say that anyone taking a job in Germany which pays 1000 euro a month either has very rich parents or is bloody daft.

The good stuff about Germany is the cheaper (than UK anyway) lifestyle, relatively easy language to pick up and meet new and exciting friends, the events and stuff that go on in any of the bigger cities, the cosmopolitan range of food, easy transport, woefully cheap beer, decent healthcare and infrastructure, easy to go home at weekends and see friends/family/your football team lose, etc.

The bad stuff is the weather, crap economy and the dosy teflers who accept 1000 euro jobs.

[Surfdude18]

True man - I guess I forget that not all of Europe is as expensive as the UK. Indeed comparing prices of a lot of stuff between where I live in China (a pricey for China city admittedly) and where a german friend is from in Germany (Dusseldorf) for stuff like property it's roughly equal.

Sadly my wife is Chinese and for her we have to live either in China or somewhere English-speaking. so germany's right out. a shame as it's culturally a bit like england but as you say much more affordable.

[sashajade]

[Surfdude18]

[Travels]

I can add my 2 cents on earning in Germany - I have been teaching here since July and have only now earned over 1,000 euros a month (and JUST over). I have found it very hard to get by. I couldn't have done it without savings and my boyfriend's financial help and putting my school loans on hold.

I am planning to go to So. Korea to teach later this year for money. I couldn't stay here if I wanted to, because the money is just so bad. But, keep in mind, I live in Erfurt, former Eastern Germany, and maybe the job market is not as good as Munich or Berlin? If you're going to try Germany, though, try to get a contract for full time work with a language school. I have been piecing together part-time freelance work and it's been TOUGH. Also, I don't speak German, and that has made it difficult too. There are a lot of beginners here (in Erfurt and I suspect former Eastern Germany), and it is hard to teach them English without knowing German. If you DO speak German, you would probably have a much easier time.

Lastly, though, I LOVE GERMANY. The people are awesome, it is beautiful. I will truly miss it next year, but I also look forward to exploring Asia, which terrifies and excites me.

[anyway]

I thought I might weigh in here. Although it's been almost 14 years since I left Germany (where I started teaching), I've been in Korea for the last 4 years.

I must say in all honesty that Korea is a very boring place outside of a few big cities. Even in the big cities a Westerner is simply not going to find the kind of life which s/he is accustomed. Which should come as no great shock to those with brains. While I can't speak for China/Japan, the Korean culture is one of the most insular, conservative, and homogeneous on the planet. That is not a good combination.

Let's put it this way. Employers are paying good salaries (2-3,000 USD), plus accomodation, and benefits (medical, pension, airfare) to get people (anyone with a pulse) to come here. Why? BECAUSE, ON THE WHOLE, NO ONE REALLY WANTS TO COME HERE!! THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO GET PEOPLE HERE!! EVEN STILL LOTS OF PEOPLE ONLY A WORK A SHORT TIME AND LEAVE!!

Meanwhile, people are going to work for peanuts in China because it's fun, interesting, and welcoming. Korea is not. Overall, I would only recommend working here for the saving potential (rule of thumb is 50%). It is modern, convenient, and comfortable - but the culture is just plain vapid.

[SF21]

what i'd like to know is --- what is the major difference between the teacher base in each country?

In Germany, the other teachers whom I met were all 30 and over, with a lot of experience and were doing it for the long-term/career. From talking to the current and former Korea-based teachers whom I met while doing the CELTA, I got the impression that Korea is a launching pad for early-20-something backpackers/recent college grads trying to pay off loans, in it for the short term.

Is that stereotype justified?

[Deicide]