Job Discussion Forums

[moneyoriented]

I desperately need your good advice. I'm sick and tired of being in debt, and really need to come up with some decent money fast in order to pay off my obligations.

So which country would allow me to make the most NET income? (i.e., difference between what I could earn with my current qualifications minus typical taxes & living expenses in that country)

I ask the question this way because I assume that the countries that have the highest salaries (gross) generally also have the highest taxes and costs of living, and therefor may not be the most suitable for me at this time, since all that really matters to me right now is how much I'll have at the end of each month to pay down my debts after paying local taxes and living expenses.

In other words, if in country A I can make $4,000/month, but have only $500 left after paying taxes and living expenses, whereas in country B I can make only $2,000/month but housing is paid for and there is no local income tax, so that I'd have $1,000 left at the end of each month to pay my debts with, I'd want to work in country B. I understand there is no precise answer here; I'm looking for some general advice.

I'm a 43 year old American guy with two undergraduate degrees (Asian Studies and Business). I taught English on a casual basis for one year while studying in Japan in college. (My homestay mother put together two classes for me, of about 6 students each, each of which I taught for 1 hour per week. These were high school and college students, and I basically just used a British ESL workbook and tape set and went through one lesson per week.) I don't have any other teaching experience.

I also don't have any formal TES/FL qualifications (masters degree, certificates, etc.) I'm willing to obtain one or more of these, but I don't currently have the money to do so, unless some sort of financial aid or loans were available (or in exchange for a commitment to teach for them afterwards, etc). Which qualifications are the most respected and useful in getting the best jobs, and which have the best cost/benefit ratio? (these are not necessarily the same things).

Is there a certificate or masters program in one of these countries where I could get acclimated and make some useful contacts while earning the qualification? Is this the best way, or would a degree from a school in the US or UK get me a better job?

There are so many choices to make in this field, in terms of qualifications and in terms of where to teach - it's pretty bewildering. So I'd really appreciate any advice any of you might have for me. What would you do if you were in my shoes and needed to make as much money as possible as quickly as possible?

Also, would I need a regular job, or is there some way to just find a bunch of private students in one of these countries? Wouldn't that also pay more?

Finally, what about other work in the Middle East? Are there any other decent-paying jobs I might be able to get with my current qualifications?

*Many thanks in advance*

[15yearsinQ8]

what is your debt? exactly. credit card? student loan? what? is bankrupcy an option - really?

it may sound cold, but us longtimers have seen many people come to the ME to 'work off debt'... most need financial advice, career guidance, patience and increased self esteem more than than the 'dream job'

if your debt is student loan and with your degrees, a simple 1 year training program to earn a state teaching license and then teaching on federal indian reservations will go a lONG way to ease or entirely eliminate student loan debt

seeing a financial advicer and bankrupcy lawyer are the first steps; only when overseas work is an option - the best option - and you are fully qualified, then come to dave's

[moneyoriented]

Hi 15yearsinKuwait - (really? that's a long time!). Thanks for your reply.

It's student loan debt, so bankruptcy isn't an option. I finished school loaded down with about $35,000 of student loan debt. I deferred them as long as I could, then defaulted about 4 years ago. I don't know what the total amount is now - I'm afraid to even look.

You're right - I need financial advice, career guidance and increased self esteem, so any advice would be most appreciated.

I hadn't considered the route you propose, so it's interesting to hear this idea. How much would this one year training program and state teaching license cost (I'm currently resident in California)? How much would I get paid teaching on an Indian reservation, and how long do you suppose it would take me to eliminate my student loan debt in this manner? And once I got to that point, how much might I be able to put away from then on (salary minus US taxes and living expenses)? Would this be the best route to a big-buck EFL job in a GCC country?

Might I not be better off getting some sort of EFL related masters degree (What's the best kind, what are the best schools, and how much would it cost? Are there one year programs, or are they all two years?) and then heading to Saudi or UAE, having my living expenses paid, no taxes whatsoever, and paying off my loans in maybe two years or so, and from that point on being able to save and invest maybe $40k/year?

I don't know - I'm asking. I'd love to hear some numbers, if you could come up with some (even rough estimates).

Thanks again.

[15yearsinQ8]

go to the nearest university that has a college of education or has a program for certification for BA/BS holders
you have to take course work and student teach for a semester depending on what area you seek certification in - depending on your transcripts, i assume you will be social studies oriented, but look to elementary education as more marketable or math/science - there's another program to teach those in inner cities w/ student loan credit
salaries on indian reservations vary - accordiong to school district/state - it's the rate for the public school teachers
i know 3 teachers who paid off debt this way THEN can to the mE w/ expereince, degree and certification - they taught 2 years on the REZ

[veiledsentiments]

To be completely honest, you have no credentials and thus little chance of getting any decent high-paying teaching job in the Gulf. I assume that neither of your degrees is in education. First off, do you really want to be a teacher? Why? Are you just looking into this because you think it is easy and offers high pay? This is definitely NOT true without credentials. If you seriously want to teach:

1. Get teaching credentials. You would need to add credits to one of your degrees... how about business education? Teaching on the Rez is hard work, but your age may help you deal with what are cultural issues. You won't be able to teach any ESL related courses in any reservations schools. It would have to be general elementary/middle school or high school certification. But, the pay is quite good because people burn out quickly. Another option is to look into teaching in Alaska. Think Northern Exposure... small places up there need teachers too.

2. If you seriously want to teach ESL overseas - not just a quick fix to your money problems (which it isn't) - the minimum qualifications would be a good TEFL/TESL certificate and I would recommend the CELTA - something with a good teaching practicum that actually teaches you how to teach. To get to the big money in the Gulf that you have heard about, you need an MA in the field and 2+ years of related experience.

3. A third option is to get an MBA and stick to using that business major in the US.

VS