Job Discussion Forums

[zipper]

[LKJ]

[quote="zipper"]

[zipper]

[Rooster_2006]

Well said, zipper.

Money isn't the biggest thing, unless you're in debt. I'm up to my ears in student debts, which is why I teach. Otherwise I'd be doing something else, plain and simple.

Doing non-EFL work is simply a matter of job skills, language skills, and the right visa. You'd need skills in your own country, as well. Language skills can be acquired in a couple of very diligent years. The visa is the hardest part for most people.

Fortunately, Taiwan gives permanent residency after five years (and my former boss got it this way, so it's not just a bunch of legal fluff). Therefore, you can teach in Taiwan for five years and then do whatever the heck you want, basically.

Of course, in Korea, doing what you want would be nearly impossible, since they nearly never give out permanent residency. It isn't easy in Japan either, but at least there are enough legal options/loopholes to be exploited where a very enterprising foreigner could set up shop there.

Taiwan just makes it downright easy, though. Five years to PR? That's no harder than the US.

I think the main barrier to most TEFLers to doing other kinds of work is simply a lack of willingness/desire to stick it out long enough for the right visa, be creative, and learn the local language. Not to mention that most have Liberal Arts degrees that don't really give them marketable skills. To succeed abroad outside of TEFL, you have to change your mindset. Most English teachers are all too quick to say "it can't be done, the only work available to foreigners in this country is English teaching." Is that the attitude of Mr. Gupta, the Indian immigrant in the US? Is that the attitude of Mr. Wang, the Chinese immigrant in the UK? I don't think so!

[zipper]