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runthegauntlet
Joined: 07 Nov 2009
Posts: 92
Location: the Southlands of Korea
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 Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 2:22 am Post subject: |
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| SaratheSlytherin wrote: |
I don't speak any Korean at all. Spanish, Italian, and English are my only languages.
Of course, the CLASSES you teach would be in English. But I don't know how I'd live in a foreign country and navigate day-to-day life, without being able to talk to the people. |
Lots of smiling. Lots of pointing and smiling. Lots of holding up fingers and smiling.
The universal language.  |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 3:24 am Post subject: |
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| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| Glenski wrote: |
| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| Is there key money in Japan? Will your employer pay for that? How much is it? |
Ah, the lovely "bribes" to the apartment manager and the fee to the rental agency, collectively known as key money. Could be 2-5 times a month's rent equivalent in Japan.
If an employer already has a place set up, he should have long ago paid that, so if anyone says you owe it here, it had better be the first time someone has moved in. Some employers try to buffalo teachers into paying it. I would pass for obvious reasons. I think most are honest with this regard, though. |
Really? YOu mean you don't get it all back when you move out? |
In all the places where I lived in Japan, I got back 90-95% of my security deposit. None of the key money, though. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 4:26 am Post subject: |
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| First job go to somewhere they provide a package. China is good if you can find a reasonable employer. There are many. A year or two years there as an "apprenticeship" and a chance to save a few thousand US$ - then if you choose move on somewhere else. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 4:59 am Post subject: |
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| runthegauntlet wrote: |
| SaratheSlytherin wrote: |
I don't speak any Korean at all. Spanish, Italian, and English are my only languages.
Of course, the CLASSES you teach would be in English. But I don't know how I'd live in a foreign country and navigate day-to-day life, without being able to talk to the people. |
Lots of smiling. Lots of pointing and smiling. Lots of holding up fingers and smiling.
The universal language. |
If you are not in Seoul you will really have an interesting time since hardly anyone will speak English. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 5:03 am Post subject: |
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SaratheSlytherin,
I would really recommend trying a year in China but try to stick to larger cities unless you are someone who likes to keep to themselves.
You might try for a university job since that will give access to many foreigners that you can make friends with and lesson the shock.
Or you could find a kindergarten job for 8000 to 10,000RMB a month with a free apartment. If you find a job for 10,000 you might be able to save half. |
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runthegauntlet
Joined: 07 Nov 2009
Posts: 92
Location: the Southlands of Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 5:18 am Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
| runthegauntlet wrote: |
| SaratheSlytherin wrote: |
I don't speak any Korean at all. Spanish, Italian, and English are my only languages.
Of course, the CLASSES you teach would be in English. But I don't know how I'd live in a foreign country and navigate day-to-day life, without being able to talk to the people. |
Lots of smiling. Lots of pointing and smiling. Lots of holding up fingers and smiling.
The universal language. |
If you are not in Seoul you will really have an interesting time since hardly anyone will speak English. |
??? What? I'm not in Seoul. I'm in a smallish town 4 hours from Seoul. So that's what I use to get by. Lots of smiling, pointing, and holding up fingers.
That was the whole point of my post. How to get by without using English. |
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runthegauntlet
Joined: 07 Nov 2009
Posts: 92
Location: the Southlands of Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 5:19 am Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
SaratheSlytherin,
Or you could find a kindergarten job for 8000 to 10,000RMB a month with a free apartment. If you find a job for 10,000 you might be able to save half. |
If saving is the goal, Korea might sound even better. 10k+ USD a year is hard NOT to do. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| In all the places where I lived in Japan, I got back 90-95% of my security deposit. None of the key money, though. |
And how much would key money be in Japan?
To the OP, not knowing the language of the country shouldn't be THAT big of a fact. Tons of people go overseas without knowing even how to say hello.
If you want, you learn the language of your host country, if not, then you don't. Don't let that be a limit on where you're going to go.
Sometimes not knowing the language can be good. Then you won't understand the bad things that people say about you. Ignorance is bliss  |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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| SaratheSlytherin wrote: |
| I realize that it's preferable to go to the country and talk to the people at the school face-to-face, but I haven't ruled out the possibility of setting up a job in advance. |
Yes, it is. but then you'd have to go back home to get the visa. Many countries want you to be in yoiur home country when you get a work visa
As for money, don't deiscount the extra money you can do by teaching privates, doing IELTS, editing, etc. |
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Dan The Chainsawman
Joined: 04 May 2005
Posts: 302
Location: Yinchuan
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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| SaratheSlytherin wrote: |
| Dan The Chainsawman wrote: |
| SaratheSlytherin wrote: |
I have a question for anyone on the forum:
How did you manage to save money to fly to the country where you wanted to teach? If someone already has a lucrative job, they wouldn't be searching for one... at least by my logic.
To be a sub teacher you don't necessarily have to be certified. I have my university degree, and a Tefl certificate. Eventually I'll have more credentials, but for right now, that's it. Getting a credential improves a person's chances in life, but I'm just not sure as to how to make the most of this.
I can take an honest answer, but if you have a nasty one, it's better just to move on.
If you can help me, thank you. |
I'll tell you what, being a sub teacher gives you a leg up in terms of not pissing your pants at your first day of Ding Dang Dong English Academy. I'd play it up big time on your resume, because a large percentage of those going into ESL have zero classroom experience. |
Are you serious??
In the area where I live, the schools are very rough and I deal with some very rough kids. I don't expect my EFL jobs to be in schools where the kids are perfect and there are never any behavioral problems. But I live in an area of the US where the schools are notoriously bad. I feel like I'm a stronger person than many people, because you have to be.
Thanks for your answer!! |
My first year at a hogwan in South Korea was saved by my previous experience in working with nutter kids in a wilderness program. You'll have a leg up on the competition for you experience.
I strongly suggest China, if you like working with very young children there are option, same with middle school kids, and adults. You just have to know where to look around. The other upside is there are a few companies offering six month contracts. You can use one of these to get your foot in the door and then kick the door down when you use the six months as a bargaining chip after sussing out your next job in person. |
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SaratheSlytherin
Joined: 21 Jul 2009
Posts: 137
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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| runthegauntlet wrote: |
| JZer wrote: |
SaratheSlytherin,
Or you could find a kindergarten job for 8000 to 10,000RMB a month with a free apartment. If you find a job for 10,000 you might be able to save half. |
If saving is the goal, Korea might sound even better. 10k+ USD a year is hard NOT to do. |
Are you serious? Saving $10k USD a year??
Saving is very, very important to me. I'm at the point in life where I want to be able to save some money, although I'm not ready to settle down yet, I just can't scrape by anymore.
Perhaps Korea is the answer to my prayers.
Asian culture excites and interests me too, by the way. Perhaps I could learn some pleasantries in Korean?
I'd better start saving...
Thanks!! |
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SaratheSlytherin
Joined: 21 Jul 2009
Posts: 137
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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| runthegauntlet wrote: |
| JZer wrote: |
| runthegauntlet wrote: |
| SaratheSlytherin wrote: |
I don't speak any Korean at all. Spanish, Italian, and English are my only languages.
Of course, the CLASSES you teach would be in English. But I don't know how I'd live in a foreign country and navigate day-to-day life, without being able to talk to the people. |
Lots of smiling. Lots of pointing and smiling. Lots of holding up fingers and smiling.
The universal language. |
If you are not in Seoul you will really have an interesting time since hardly anyone will speak English. |
??? What? I'm not in Seoul. I'm in a smallish town 4 hours from Seoul. So that's what I use to get by. Lots of smiling, pointing, and holding up fingers.
That was the whole point of my post. How to get by without using English. |
I'm good at drawing pictures... perhaps that will help? |
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SaratheSlytherin
Joined: 21 Jul 2009
Posts: 137
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 7:31 pm Post subject: |
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My first year at a hogwan in South Korea was saved by my previous experience in working with nutter kids in a wilderness program. You'll have a leg up on the competition for you experience.
I strongly suggest China, if you like working with very young children there are option, same with middle school kids, and adults. You just have to know where to look around. The other upside is there are a few companies offering six month contracts. You can use one of these to get your foot in the door and then kick the door down when you use the six months as a bargaining chip after sussing out your next job in person.
How difficult would it be to fix up a job in advance over there? I understand that it's best if you can go to the country and talk to the people at the schools face-to-face, ahead of time... but I'd just like to knwo all the options.
Thanks for this information!! It's really helpful!!
I enjoy young learners... I actually wanted to take the extension course, "Teaching Young Learners," that my Tefl course offered. When I have the $$$, I want to go back and do that.
I'm beginning to get interested in Asia and I'm going to do some research about jobs over there.
Eventually I would like to return to Mexico... Asia is an amazing place, I am sure, and I'd love the chance to go there... but I miss Mexico so much... it's just difficult to save $$$ down there. I'd like to save some $$$. I didn't know that was possible with ANY Tefl job but it seems like it is possible to save in Asia.
Thanks for the help!! |
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Justin Trullinger
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 3110
Location: Seoul, South Korea and Myanmar for a bit
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm good at drawing pictures... perhaps that will help? |
Helps a lot. Carry a notebook and pencil, a phrase book...and you'll be fine.
Remember that numerals are pretty consistent the world over- so if you memorize how to ask "How much is it?" and then hand someone your notebook, you've got prices down.
About saving...Korea is probably the best country I've worked in for saving. Also maybe the only one right now that offers significant savings for someone with your level of quals.
Be ready, though- in Ecuador, where I am now, they get teachers even though the pay stinks, because it's such a lovely place to live.
Places that pay a lot are usually paying for something. Often the high pay locations are also some of the most challenging to adapt to.
Best,
Justin |
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SaratheSlytherin
Joined: 21 Jul 2009
Posts: 137
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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But this should be in the Korea forums. You really should join those if you're interested as you'll get a zillion more answers for any question you have.[/quote]
Thanks gauntlet, of course i will do that. |
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