Job Discussion Forums

[Trebek]

I am a certified teacher in the US with 12 years experience primarily in Art and History. I've taken ESL training, and have taught many ESL students from Mexico over the years.

Rather than go for a full time International School job, I would much rather work part time, at a place with nice seabreezes, and just chill and write much of the time. (I really don't mind living in a small studio Apt. and ride a bicycle for transport).

Been looking into Thailand, for several years now, but it seems like a sex crazy tourist intensive place to me.

Is it possible to work part-time and get a working visa, or at least a 3 month renewable visa? Where are some of the nicer places on Sumatra to live and work, where there is little pollution and milder traffic?

Thanks in advance,

Trebek

[Fishy]

Hello Trebek,
It will be very difficult to find a part-time position in Indonesia due the cost involved in hiring an overseas teacher. However, teaching in a small language school like TBI, ILP etc will seem like a part time job compared to working full time in a primary or secondary school. Teaching ESL "full time" at TBI in Jakarta entailed teaching for 20-24 hours per week, easy planning as classes ran for short periods of time before starting over again, very little marking of work, very rarely having to deal with parents and the work being pretty much all good fun. Teaching ESL at a language mill was probably one of the easiest jobs I've ever had, whereas teaching English in a secondary school is definitely the hardest job I've ever had.

When you you are looking for a job, only accept a position which gives you your two days off together each week and doesn't do split shifts etc. Most jobs are fine but the EF contracts I've seen make you work a lot more hours and weekends for less money than anyone else. With your experience I wouldn't even look at any of their schools.

Best of luck.