Job Discussion Forums

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Here in Peru, you could make between 900 and 1800 usd a month off of privates, but look how much it varies! NOt realiable. Not good either, wasting time on the bus.

spanglish · Joined: 21 May 2009 Posts: 742 Location: working on that

naturegirl, did you ever apply for the British Council? They pay a lot more than that in Bogota.

Molson · Joined: 01 May 2009 Posts: 137 Location: China

To the OP:

I would suggest you look at either Korea or China for your initial experience. Korea pays for your flight over and housing, and thus it was why I went there first.

China is increasing their salary and benefits package every year it seems. If you want to make a career out of TEFL, I would suggest you hit Korea first, save up some cash, then hit China. After 2-3 years, you might want to consider some other countries that don't pay as well, and rely on your experience, connections and banked cash surplus to keep you going.

If you can score 10-15k RMB in China plus apartment, it shouldn't be too hard to network in another 10k or so in privates. China is a country that isn't as hardcore about enforcing laws on privates. In Korea, they will deport those they catch.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

papergirl · Joined: 13 Dec 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Up in the air

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

Im on my 3rd job in China at the moment, although I have been back home to the UK in between jobs. I returned to China last month on a �410 budget airline ticket, and since arriving 4 weeks ago today, I have spent �270 of my start up money. I get my first full months salary on Feb 10th, and so will probably spend another �200 until then. Im not really watching the pennies either BTW, Im still eating out and living life as normal rather than budgeting.

I applied for my job via email, and was not required to face any kind of interview, but took a leap of faith with my employer than has, thankfully, paid off.

It may be different flying from the US of course, but in this current job, I will incur start up costs of around �1000. If I was careful with my money here, and had arrived at a time other than Xmas, I probably could have started up with even less...Perhaps �700-800. I kinda arrived at the worst time for start up due to a combination of the holiday and salary dates in honesty.

I do have a small emergency fund to get me home, 'just in case' though. Always wise to have that of course!

I have only posted this to show it doesnt have to cost a fortune to start up teaching in another country. In between summer school teaching in the UK and flying out here late December I took a poorly paid warehouse job to raise some funds and to get ends to meet. Two months full time in the warehouse (which was a drag) gave me enough money to make things possible out here. So far, its looking worth it!

AdrianG4 · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 160 Location: Harbin, China

Where in Mexico would you like to teach?

kezzaNZ · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 6

Its not too hard to figure out. Get a job in the mean time and save!!