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Cohiak
Joined: 27 Mar 2009
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:02 pm Post subject: Where's a great place in Indonesia to teach and surf? |
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I have two bachelor's degrees and a minor in Spanish, and would like to go to Indonesia to learn the language and teach English. I'm of the Caucasian persuasion (6'3" blonde hair blue eyes) which seems to be a benefit in this country. I'm looking for somewhere on Sumatra or Bali. I'm just going to list my questions, if anyone has any valid knowledge on any or all of these questions, much thanks and appreciation.
Should I get CELTA or TEFL certified, and if I do how much will my salary increase? What is the average salary for a college educated teacher with a year of experience?
What level of fluency in Indonesian did you have when you were done with a year of teaching? (assuming you were really trying)
What's an average week like outside of the job? I went to school in Hawaii, and am hoping you can go and kick it at the beach and surf or go diving or jungle hiking etc.
What company/school did you work for and would you recommend it?
How are the national airlines? I heard they aren't that good. Were you able to travel around the country/region of the continent relatively easily?
Where is a great place to live and work if you surf and are bringing boards?
Thanks again for any and all info pertaining to these questions. |
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Vertumnus
Joined: 03 May 2006
Posts: 142
Location: Indonesia
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 10:56 am Post subject: Re: Where's a great place in Indonesia to teach and surf? |
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| Cohiak wrote: |
| I have two bachelor's degrees and a minor in Spanish, and would like to go to Indonesia to learn the language and teach English. I'm of the Caucasian persuasion (6'3" blonde hair blue eyes) which seems to be a benefit in this country. I'm looking for somewhere on Sumatra or Bali. I'm just going to list my questions, if anyone has any valid knowledge on any or all of these questions, much thanks and appreciation. |
The "londo" effect always opens doors. Either continent would suit you, but I've never visited either. If you want jungle, both have some, but they're disappearing (especially Sumatra) so make haste!
| Cohiak wrote: |
| Should I get CELTA or TEFL certified, and if I do how much will my salary increase? What is the average salary for a college educated teacher with a year of experience? |
Yes. In a word, it opens doors for you to have a cert, and it will increase your salary (although I'm not aware of how much). The salary is very dependent on where you work (location & school), and what kind of school it is. What are you looking for: EFL course, national, national-plus, international or university, plus pre-primary, primary, secondary, or tertiary?
| Cohiak wrote: |
| What level of fluency in Indonesian did you have when you were done with a year of teaching? (assuming you were really trying) |
After one year, I could give a taxi driver directions and not much more, but I wasn't trying. After two years, I was able to have somewhat simple conversations with people, and I still wasn't trying.
| Cohiak wrote: |
| What's an average week like outside of the job? I went to school in Hawaii, and am hoping you can go and kick it at the beach and surf or go diving or jungle hiking etc. |
That would be entirely up to you. I'm a family man, so my life revolves around them. Other people hit the bars every chance they get. Some prefer to stay at home and do gardening. Others travel, or do the stuff you want to do. It also depends on whether you work at an EFL course (nights) or a real school (mostly days), and whether they require regular Saturday work (stay away from those places). If you choose a good place, you can certainly do all the activities you mentioned. If you want much more jungle, try Kalimantan or Papua.
| Cohiak wrote: |
| What company/school did you work for and would you recommend it? |
Being the difficult person I am, I don't recommend them. 
| Cohiak wrote: |
| How are the national airlines? I heard they aren't that good. Were you able to travel around the country/region of the continent relatively easily? |
Public and private transport is easy to find in many places of a largish population. Airplanes crash at least once a year here and there isn't one that qualifies for top ratings from the International Aviation Association. The company that is regarded as the best is Garuda Airlines, but even they have crashes, and sometimes they are banned from countries for safety violations. Basically, if you choose to travel, it's a calculated risk: trains, planes and buses all crash far too often here. I have travelled to a few different parts of Indonesia and I'm clearly still alive to tell of it, and it was easy (albeit I'd like to throttle some of the pilots).
| Cohiak wrote: |
| Where is a great place to live and work if you surf and are bringing boards? |
I'm not a surfer. The darned board always gets away from me. There are numerous great surfing places in Indonesia, aside from Bali. East Nusa Tenggara sports some famous locations, as do Lombok, Papua, and just about every other island I can think of. Try looking at maps that show diving locations, then look for schools nearby!  Sorry!
-D |
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Vertumnus
Joined: 03 May 2006
Posts: 142
Location: Indonesia
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 10:56 am Post subject: Re: Where's a great place in Indonesia to teach and surf? |
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If you can give details of your work expectations, that would be a great help.
-D |
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Kebo
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 26
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toddumptious
Joined: 08 May 2009
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 10:59 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, Padang is a good place if your interested in surfing. There are regular boats and one or two flights to Mentawai. It's also possible to do some surfing off the beach north of Padang and to the south at Pantai Air Manis, although the waves aren't very big here.
A couple of English schools, EF has recently changed names to become Elite English Institute. Its a typical EF school, not great but not terrible either. There is another school too but I forget the name. I don't think the pay is as good as EF though. |
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