Job Discussion Forums

Daryl69 · Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Wonju, South Korea

Thanks for the comments Tedkarma and JZer. I have met many ex-pat's in and outside the EFL field that are certainly are odd, maladjusted even, and use being foreign to hide the fact. Nothing wrong with being quirky, and many find their true calling in teaching. I say good for them. I also acknowledge the vast majority of EFL teachers are very professional and competent and make great contributions to their host nation. I don't know Tedkarma and JZer, however the appreciation they have shown for Taiwan, with all its faults show the best of this professionalism and competence. However the thrust of my argument is deprecating those EFL teachers that abuse the hospitality of their host nations, and rail at the differences between the host country and their home country. I was also pointing out to Elamericano that Spain was a brutal authoritarian country for a long time before becoming democratic, as was Korea, so a broad brush attack on hypocritical Asian nations for their quasi-democracy was unfair and unjustified. The message is "don't bite the hand that feeds you".

tedkarma

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

At the moment big money can be made in Shanghai in China mainly teaching for companies. I noticed that the exchange rate is down somewhat again in South Korea at the moment. You have to be good however to get the big money in China but it's better than Korea.

Korea isn't that good for those that are new to the game. This September / October I'm expecting things to get difficult here in Asia due to the US economy. China is getting war ready at the current moment with Taiwan etc. It's hard to say what things will be like for teaching if war breaks out. At one stage in Korea it used to have on government contracts by, by if war breaks out.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200803071760.htm

Oh, and the grass thing in Korea! It use to be jail, fine, and pay your own ticket home or rot in jail until you come up with the money. Your employer doesn�t have to pay you any wages etc owed also. If you are in a place where people are suspected of use and it gets raided then you are guilty if it is traceable in your blood. So even smoking before coming to Korea is dangerous if you go to a place that gets busted and it is still in your blood. Welcome to Asia.

phoray · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Posts: 1

[quote="Anda"]

Korea isn't that good for those that are new to the game. This September / October I'm expecting things to get difficult here in Asia due to the US economy. China is getting war ready at the current moment with Taiwan etc. It's hard to say what things will be like for teaching if war breaks out. At one stage in Korea it used to have on government contracts by, by if war breaks out.

[/quote]

I heard stated on another part of the board that Korea WAS a good place for newbies to get started, now your saying it's not. Why do you think it's not?

Also, you keep saying china is good, yet it's entering a war? That doesn't sound good if your an actual citizen of said war country, little alone outsiders who may have things blamed on them. (perhaps I've watched too many movies, but i don't want anyone labeling me a spy just cuz I'm not a native.)

And one more thing I see you keep mentioning, Anda, is the exchange rate. I'm not big on economy, but right now, my US dollar is SUCKING... And with the way my government is being run, I actually can't guess that it'll get better for a at least a few more years till the US gets over this "war on terror" chaos. i'm sort of aware that the US owes China a LOT of money, so even the Chinese currency may be better than my own (or may be soon)

So like, shouldn't exchange rates be almost better everywhere since the US dollar is worth less and less? hence, working in China then switching it into US dollars would make me money in and of itself.

sorry if you aren;t an economist expert, I'm not one in the least. Just curious, since you kept mentioning it.

blackmagicABC · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 68 Location: Taipei

The US economy will recover when the new president is elected this year. It will not be a downward spiral into madness like many are predicting now.
The Chinese currency is pegged to the US currency so that should answer that question.
A China Taiwan war is on the cards but highly unlikely. How long has a North Korea war been on the cards and how many problems has it really caused? You cannot base your entire life on whether their will be a war or not.
The US us at war yet it is a safe country.(relatively)
Brazil and South Africa are not at war yet they are not that safe.
You have to look at many factors.
I used to be a banker before changing to teaching a few years back so you may consider my opinions outdated or conservative but the world is not heading for a crisis financially. The drops we have been seeing is a natural part of the ebb and flow of the economy and normal market corrections. It is good for us not bad.

tedkarma · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:56 am Post subject:

I would tend to support what blackmagic has to say.

I spent six years in Korea and two in Taiwan. Taiwan and China have been just about to go to war for about 50 years - as has N. and S. Korea. I was living in Taipei at the time of the "live fire" exercises about ten years back when Beijing was shooting missiles over the north of Taiwan and Clinton has to send aircraft carriers to the area. I also lived in Korea during times when both sides were trying to scare each other. They are quite used to the brinksmanship - though us foreigners can tend to get spooked. Just keep an on the local folks - they know what is really going on.

I tend to consider Korea to be one of the most newbie friendly countries around. Primarily because they expect no real teaching skills from you when you arrive. A school that requires a TEFL cert is extra-ordinarily rare - and they have grown quite used to the foibles of spoiled Westerners having a tantrum or two when things don't go as they would like.

Drugs and stuff - we already talked about that. If you wish to live overseas - learn how to obey their laws - or don't go.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

blackmagicABC · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 68 Location: Taipei

craw · Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Scotland

jpvanderwerf2001 · Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 1117 Location: New York

tedkarma · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:00 am Post subject:

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

blackmagicABC · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 68 Location: Taipei

All right.
Pegged means it is traded as for example 8.2 to the US dollar and it cannot change. So in theory it isn't pegged. It is controlled by the central Bank and manipulated. So in practice it is pegged although in theory it isn't. That is up for discussion and if you disagree with me you are probably still right as this is a grey area.
However,
if you are choosing a country purely based on whether you can work there and then make a killing by converting to another currency later, you are probably better of at a Black jack table in Vegas. The market just doesn't work like that and if you able to consistently make predictions and invest (gamble on currency) and profit accordingly, then you should much rather work for Soc Gen. I am sure they would be happy to employ another Rogue Trader.