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DrVanNostrand
Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 70
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 Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 1:31 am Post subject: Best place to save (other than SK) |
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Just curious, where are some of the better places to teach and save, Korea aside? Also not really interested in the Middle East.
I'm really looking for an experience more than anything but if I can have the best of both worlds, why not?
A little background info may help:
I have a BA in history and am licensed to teach middle grades Social Studies with one year experience (two kind of).
Any responses would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks. |
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mandalayroad
Joined: 11 Mar 2008
Posts: 115
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| Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 3:19 am Post subject: |
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| Next best choices after South Korea in Asia, would probably be Japan and Taiwan. |
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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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| Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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Not sure about the hiring requirements, but some international schools in Thailand pay a good salary relative to the cost of living. I think the first requirement is that you be a certified teacher as you are.
Sadebugo
Djibouti, Horn of Africa
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/ |
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soapdodger
Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 203
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| Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:33 pm Post subject: |
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| When I saw SK, I thought you meant Slovakia ....my answer then would have been "anywhere else on the planet!" |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:13 pm Post subject: |
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| What does "kind of" mean? |
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DrVanNostrand
Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 70
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| Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| What does "kind of" mean? |
I was a teacher assistant in a BED (Behaviorally and emotionally disabled) classroom during the 2006-2007 school year and while I was doing that my principal gave me an opportunity to teach Social Studies half the day for about a semester because the LA/SS teacher couldn't cut it on the SS side (or any side for that matter).
So, technically I'm a first year and I wouldn't expect to be classified as anything other. But in an interview I would try to use my previous year's experience to my advantage - especially the BED gig. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:44 am Post subject: |
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| Depends on the type of job, if you can work at an international school, the world's at your feet. Funny you should bring up saving. We're talking about going back to Korea, I loved it. Here in Peru, with 20percent taxes, you just can save. |
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DrVanNostrand
Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 70
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| Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:57 am Post subject: |
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Then why all the negativity on the Korean board?
I get so many conflicting reports on Korea that it seems too risky to even consider at times. Financially it makes more sense than anywhere else, but I can't live somewhere that I don't feel safe or comfortable. Especially when that place is thousands of miles away from any kind of support group.
If I were more comfortable with Korea then that'd be my choice hands down.
The idea of being able to live and teach in a foreign country, save more money than most, and vacation all over Asia is a dream come true. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:02 am Post subject: |
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| DrVanNostrand wrote: |
Then why all the negativity on the Korean board?
I get so many conflicting reports on Korea that it seems too risky to even consider at times. Financially it makes more sense than anywhere else, but I can't live somewhere that I don't feel safe or comfortable. Especially when that place is thousands of miles away from any kind of support group.
If I were more comfortable with Korea then that'd be my choice hands down.
The idea of being able to live and teach in a foreign country, save more money than most, and vacation all over Asia is a dream come true. |
Beats me, maybe I lucked out, went with a public school in the richest district, gangnam. If you have experience, you can skip hakwons, finished teaching at 1230 every day and had to stay until 430, but just made and laminated games
Korea is full of foreigners. Maybe that's why the board seems negative, more people means more can complain. I've taught in Spain, CZ, China, and Peru, hands down with pay, treatment, students, and benefits, Korea wins. |
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DrVanNostrand
Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 70
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| Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:23 am Post subject: |
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Interesting. Thanks for the reply, naturegirl.
I don't think I'd have much trouble finding a job at a public school with my credentials (not that my creds are great, but certainly better than someone coming with a high school diploma and a dent in their wallet). |
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anyway
Joined: 03 Sep 2007
Posts: 109
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| Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:14 am Post subject: |
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| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| DrVanNostrand wrote: |
Then why all the negativity on the Korean board?
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I've taught in Spain, CZ, China, and Peru, hands down with pay, treatment, students, and benefits, Korea wins. |
Notice: she did not mention anything about 'culture'.
Korea must pay people an arm and a leg to bring them in because no one is going to come otherwise (ie for the culture, the food, the sights, etc).
Remember that one self-centered rich dork who always bought his friends back in high school? That's South Korea. Literally. |
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smedini
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 178
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| Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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Hey all...
Just wanted to throw in my two cents' worth on the Korea front...
I, too, am unsure of why all the negativity persists on the Korea board. I worked there for two years, in a smaller city on the south coast, and I worked for one of the hogwans (private schools)...I had the best time of my life. I found the people - while painfully shy at first - to be very kind and sweet.
I made good money, paid little in taxes and walked away with a most unforgettable experience - made even more so because I didn't live in Seoul...I got a more 'authentic' experience that way: I was forced to learn Korean because not that many people there could speak English and I made lots of Korean friends because tehre weren't many foreigners there, either.
I loved it and if it weren't for the fact that I now have my heart set on the middle east, I'd return to SK as the OP called it. Who knows, maybe I'll go back in a few years 
Smedini |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:57 am Post subject: |
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| anyway wrote: |
| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| DrVanNostrand wrote: |
Then why all the negativity on the Korean board?
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I've taught in Spain, CZ, China, and Peru, hands down with pay, treatment, students, and benefits, Korea wins. |
Notice: she did not mention anything about 'culture'.
Korea must pay people an arm and a leg to bring them in because no one is going to come otherwise (ie for the culture, the food, the sights, etc).
Remember that one self-centered rich dork who always bought his friends back in high school? That's South Korea. Literally. |
True about not mentioning culture, I go halfway acrs the world and usually end up sitting at home reading or painting, I don't do the clubbing or disco scene, guess I'm old beyond my years. |
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smedini
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 178
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| Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:15 pm Post subject: |
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anyway wrote:
| Quote: |
| Korea must pay people an arm and a leg to bring them in because no one is going to come otherwise (ie for the culture, the food, the sights, etc). |
I forgot to address this...I can't believe that someone could spend time in Korea and deny the country has little to offer by way of culture, food and sights. Korea is a beautiful, scenic country with an ancient culture and delicious food.
I didn't at all feel bribed to be there...I felt privelaged...I was having a great international adventure and the money was good too. And as for the country being that high school guy, "literally", that's impossible...perhaps "figuratively" for the jaded 
To each his own, I suppose but it all boils down to this, OP...some will say they loved it and some will say they hated it, but in the end only you will you know how you feel about it yourself and you'll only know that if you go ahead and give it a try
Smedini |
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DrVanNostrand
Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 70
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| Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:37 pm Post subject: |
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| smedini wrote: |
anyway wrote:
| Quote: |
| Korea must pay people an arm and a leg to bring them in because no one is going to come otherwise (ie for the culture, the food, the sights, etc). |
I forgot to address this...I can't believe that someone could spend time in Korea and deny the country has little to offer by way of culture, food and sights. Korea is a beautiful, scenic country with an ancient culture and delicious food.
I didn't at all feel bribed to be there...I felt privelaged...I was having a great international adventure and the money was good too. And as for the country being that high school guy, "literally", that's impossible...perhaps "figuratively" for the jaded
To each his own, I suppose but it all boils down to this, OP...some will say they loved it and some will say they hated it, but in the end only you will you know how you feel about it yourself and you'll only know that if you go ahead and give it a try
Smedini |
Quite possibly the best advice that I could have asked for.
Thanks, Smedini. |
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