Job Discussion Forums

[MisterB]

Hi All,

Let's say you are 26 years old, TEFL qualified, a few months experience, and soon to embark on the long awaited TEFL career, something you've thought about for far too long.

But you can't decide on the location!

The two countries in questions...Spain/Japan

In the long term, I want to live and teach in Spain for so many reasons - but I am increasingly anxious about the prospects of this. I was in Barcelona last weekend and the place was shockingly expensive - although I assume other areas aside from the big cities are quite cheap - I wonder if a tefl salary will be enough to live comfortable.

I'm also fascinated by Japan, and there is the added bonus of strangeness, a good salary and a comfortable life. Yes I know Japan is expensive but teachers are well paid.

So here is what I am thinking.....

Quit my current finance job in Dublin, arrange a job in Japan March 1st, work for 1+ year to get more experience and then set up sticks in Spain. But by this time I will be a year older and greyer, and maybe I will have lost my willingness to move to another country, maybe Spain will become saturated with teachers or something else might happen that will prevent me from doing so.

So what would you do?

Head for the sun of Spain with 10k in your pocked and live the dream, knowing that you will do something you love in a country you love?

Or take the longer route? Knowing that your you might not have the opporunity or urge to do it again. I'm sure I will love Japan - but I get the impression you can never fully integrate into Japanese society no matter how hard you try - any comments?

I speak some Spanish, in 2/3 months I would be decent - I speak no Japanese. Spain is full of warmth, however it's not without it's problems too.

For some reason, I think I should get more experience and more money before moving to Spain. I think it is the sensible thing to do but I need advice.

I won't be ready to be hired in Spain in January, so September is the next realistic time. Japan hires pretty much all year round.

Any comments/abuse on this indecisive mail welcome!!

Thanks

[AgentMulderUK]

Lot of maybe's in there.

Just go for it. You can always go home if it all goes pear-shaped.

If you are really not sure, I would advise you consider Spain to get more experience of the job of TEFL, which at the end of the day might help you decide if TEFL really is the career for you.

Spain has a more balanced climate and is way closer to home too. Plus a lot more locals speak the lingo and you yourself say you know Spanish. Being in Japan with no ability to read/speak can lead to isolation for some people. Some love it for the same reason.

You can always visit Japan as a tourist to see if you like it. I can tell you now that it's not all that weird or exotic unless you've been living in a barrel all your life. The Japanese go to work on trains, shop in supermarkets and get pissed up Friday night after work. Nothing about that is alien I think.

You are young, so don't put a stopwatch over your head. You got plenty of time to try both options, or even others and take time to enjoy them all as you go along rather than focusing on the future or what might have been.


People can probably write whole books comparing the two options. The students will be very different too. Japanese are less interactive on the whole than Spanish students,which can make lessons drag a little unless the teacher really puts in the extra mile..or several miles in some cases :p

There are some dodgy companies in Japan too. The despatch companies are mostly evil and I would recommend they are avoided. Not sure about the state of affairs in Spain now.

Anyway, I am sure people will have lots of other advice.

[Glenski]

I know nothing about Spain.

As for Japan, you seem to want to "integrate" into the society and sound disappointed in knowing how impossible this will be. If so, I suggest you get over it and just come. Experience it a little first. Some foreigners turn a blind eye (intentionally or not) to various issues. Some never even run into problems.

What is your goal in choosing Spain vs. Japan? Testing the waters, making money, etc.? Some say that teaching in Japan is one of the toughest TEFL jobs there is for various reasons. Think about that and get some opinions about what the work is truly like before you leap into that frying pan for your first TEFL job. (PM me for lots of details if you like. I've done eikaiwa, private HS, private lessons, and university work.)

[Brooks]

go to Spain. Learn to teach, and your knowledge of Spanish will help a lot.

[MisterB]

Hi All,

Thanks for the replies! Very much appreciated.

Yep, I have a university degree in finance, lots of work experience, but only 3 months of TEFL.

What fascinates me about Japan? I can't pinpoint exactly, recently it's been Haruki Murakami novels!

Spain is in recession (like everywhere at the moment!) -the job market is ok, good enough wages to live on but nothing special. I figure it might be better to come back after Japan with more money saved and perhaps more experience - I guess it's matter of priority and there's no need to stress about anything - thanks Brooks, Agent Mulder.

Just writing things down and reading people's responses has already helped.

As the Spanish hiring times are January and September, I think the best bet will be to give Japan a shot in March/April - I can always go to Spain after. Good work people!

Glenski - cheers, yes if you don't mind I'll pm you about advice. I've read all the options and it's a bit bewildering. At the moment I'm considering David's English house in Hiroshima - but have read conflicting reports.

One last question - assuming you had enough money to survive the few months -

- Would you advise arriving on a working visa in the hope of securing a nicer school and prehaps better working conditions?

- Or go with the 'evil' agencies - that help with apartment/set-up costs but an inferior actual working life?

I know this has been asked many times before and is also a matter of preference - but any thoughts/ideas welcome

[Gusss]

Hi,
Ive just been teaching out in Spain (Tarragona and Madrid) and will be starting in Barcelona this January. Yes it is quite expensive in Barcelona but Im going to teach just outside where it is a little cheaper. If you can land jobs teaching business men then you can make quite a lot of money. Certainly the standard of living is better than the UK at the moment and Barcelona is an incredibly vibrant city.
I myself intend to go to Japan in summer. Westgate is interesting - if you apply to them you get hired for three months but get a years working visa, after three months you get a choice of whether to renew the contract for another three months . It will take you four years to fill out the application for though - youve never seen anything like it !

[onesentiment]

Why do you have to choose? Why not find a way to do both?

[Apsara]

I agree, do both. I'm not sure why the OP thinks that his/her desire to travel/live overseas will have disappeared after a year- many people find that one year goes by very quickly.

I spent a year in Japan in my early 20s, then went to Spain to study for 6 months (not an EU citizen so that was about the limit), then back to Japan again.

There's no reason to think of teaching overseas as a once in a lifetime, one place only, time limited kind of thing.

[bornslippy1981]

Do both.

[cornishmuppet]

I faced a similar choice a few years ago, Italy/Japan. I went to Italy because it was closer to home and I had a chance to 'practice' if you like. It turned out to be way harder to teach there than ever it has been in Japan (but way more rewarding than eikaiwa (private school). It was interesting and I loved the country, but the pitiful salary meant I quit and went out to Japan the following year. And here I still am.....

I'd say go to Spain, it sounds like you want it more. Barcelona is my favorite place in the world (did my TEFL there), though it sounds as though its got a lot pricier recently, strong Euro and all that. If you find Spain is hard work and you don't enjoy it, head on to Japan where life is pretty easy and you'll get paid a lot more.

[MisterB]

I was in Barca last weekend - amazing city but it has become very expensive. I don't know how the locals survive!

Gusss it sounds like you have a good plan living outside the city. I actually got to stage 3 of the Westgate appliation process - such a pain, perhaps I'll finish it and do likewise. That will still leave me the option of moving to Spain in September.

I think I would prefer to come to Spain first but the hiring times just don't suit, and I'm sure the Japan will be excellent, albeit in a different type of way.

One last question, any tips on how to get involved with business/corporate teaching in Japan? I don't have a business English cert (only the regular TEFL), but I do have a lot of work experience in that area and it might be a good earner. It might also be useful towards making a decent living in Spain after. Although I'll quite happily teach kids aswell!

Thanks

[Apsara]

In the current economic climate teaching business English won't be as easy to get into as it once was. I just had my corporate classes cut because the company whose staff I taught has suffered a lot from the high yen killing their exports and domestic sales slumping. They are letting go most of their part time staff, which includes me.

I imagine many companies will make similar cuts with English teachers being seen as an unnecessary expense in tough economic times.

Once in Japan you may be able to pick up classes once you have made some contacts and have some experience teaching here.

[Glenski]

[Gusss]

Ill tell you what mate. You say you have ten grand. Well you dont need ten grand in Spain but you probably could do with it in Japan . So I recomend whilst youve got the money - go to Japan . You can go to Spain skint and youlll still land on your feet - Japan sounds a little more harsh.

[Smooth Operator]

The yen is very strong now so take that into consideration - if you have to pay start up costs it will be pricey. That said, if you are in the black you can save quite well. When getting paid in yen Japan is not so expensive.