Job Discussion Forums

runningaway · Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 14

Please don't hit me with things about "it's not about the money" etc etc. I'm a good teacher interested in travelling. It's just that I need to earn at least as much as I currently do.

I'm a seventh year high school English and History teacher. I have a BA and BEd. I've done a little Deputy Principal relief. However, I'd prefer to be in the classroom.

I teach in Queensland Australia and earn 56 674 AUD a year. I also get very cheap housing as part of the bargain.

Am I going to find something similar, or better, overseas?

TIA

jdl · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 632 Location: cyberspace

Is that net or gross? If it is gross the answer is yes if you land a tax free overseas job.

runningaway · Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 14

That's gross. Still got HECS (uni loan repayment stuff in Aus) and tax to come out.

So, where are these jobs? Very Happy

jdl · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 632 Location: cyberspace

Try Oman. Jobs are advertised on Dave's

http://www.eslcafe.com/joblist/index.cgi?index

X-Bar Theory · Joined: 07 Jan 2009 Posts: 18

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I second the Oman recommendation. I'd look into international schools. I'm not sure where they advertise, but I haven't seen them here or on tefl.com--the jobs advertised are usually regional college jobs (which you could also do, but international schools would be a better fit for you, I'd say).

It's tax-free, and the lifestyle is actually pretty nice.

d

runningaway · Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 14

The fact is I've never been overseas and my only understanding of what the different places are like has been constructed by what I've read online. At the moment I'm leaning towards South Korea. However, the reality and my impression of it are two completely different things.
From where I stand, the location isn't important unless the opinion of the majority about a place can provide me with some sort of consensus as to whether or not it's a good place to go... And in the end I might end up having a different opinion to the majority anyway.

So the only thing I can know with any certainty at all is how much I'm going to get paid.

So, yeah..... Money does seem to be a pretty determining factor in my decision making.

I'm not a terribly social person anyway....

But I've heard a bit about these "International Schools". If one would take me and it paid something similar to or better than what I get now, I'd be up for it. Then I'd research the countries and make some choices.

Hopefully this all makes some kind of sense.

X-Bar Theory · Joined: 07 Jan 2009 Posts: 18

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 2:37 pm Post subject:

another thing to keep in mind is that it isn't really what you earn, it's what you earn relative to the local cost of living.

It sounds like what you earn is pretty good, where you are now.

It would amount to being stretched, in a city like NYC. (Depending on your family obligations.)

I'd agree that you're unlikely to earn what you're earning now in South Korea. But why is that a problem? Your disposable income would likely be a fair bit more than it is now. I know a number of people with $30K(US) salaries overseas. In some countries, that means barely getting by. In others, it means saving $20K a year!

Best,
Justin

creztor · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 476

I let him know about the cost of living part via PM Wink

I think besides the ME and maybe Brunei, it will be difficult to earn the same dollar for dollar that he is getting now? However, free housing and a MUCH lower cost of living can make a HUGE difference.

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

Any intl schools, try www.tes.co.uk or www.ibo.org

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

BOBBYSUE · Joined: 15 Mar 2007 Posts: 100

definitely check out the Brunei site, www.cfbt.org lots of Aussies and Kiwis here...good tax free salary, nice house, pleasant people, good organisation...some challenges in schools but not long hours and generally nice kids. Also much nearer to Oz than the ME - 4.5 hrs to Perth, 8hrs to Brisbane (both direct)

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Try international schools. Pick the capital city of your preferred country and then search. They include expats' and diplomats' children and want native speakers of English who are also qualified teachers. Obviously, it depends upon both the country and the school as to what they pay. I have to advise you to avoid TEFL for two reasons: TEFL is the not the same set of methods as teaching English to native speakers and, answering your original query, is very poorly paid.