Job Discussion Forums

CuriousOne · Joined: 09 Aug 2010 Posts: 3

So I feel like I've been reading the messages on this forum for a good 12 hours! Boy! My eyes are tired, but I can't stop!

In short, I am looking for a career change and an overall better quality of life. Teaching English abroad appeals to me because 1) I like English (I've worked as a copy editor for several years) and 2) I'm hoping to put down some roots in a country and culture that suits me better than this boiling pressure cooker of a country called the U.S.A.

But after reading through many of these posts, I have a lot of concerns ...

1) I wouldn't be able to work in my first choice country, which is France. I studied abroad there for a year as an undergrad and would love to go back. Unfortunately, it sounds like that's 99.9% impossible with a U.S. passport.

2) I'm worried about the pay. It sounds like a lot of you folks subsist off of very little. Which I wouldn't mind doing the same if it wasn't for my mountain of school loans I have to pay off. And it would only grow if I did an MATESOL. Have any of you seasoned teachers succeeded in paying off debts? (Would be good to hear from an American, since we're notorious for school debts!)

3) It sounds like many contracts are short term, 1-2 years. I would not want to pick up and move every two years. In fact, I'd like to stay somewhere for a lengthy period of time, maybe permanently. What's the strategy for seekers of long term employment?

4) Does anyone here have a retirement plan? Are you able to save anything for that? Are you mostly relying on buying and selling real estate? (so I've read on a few threads ...)

Anyways, these are my main concerns. Would really appreciate any feedback. I would love TESOL to become a viable career for me, but the more I read through these threads, the more I think ... hmm ... very risky! But maybe I'm misinterpreting the whole enterprise. Or maybe I'm just not being open minded enough!

Thanks for listening!
A.

tttompatz

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

How much per month do you have to pay off?

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 2:13 pm Post subject:

There's a lot of stuff in that, alright. My thoughts are based on my career, so they can't be universal. But then, there isn't a lot of universality out there in this field- There are EFL teachers in dozens of countries. Situations vary widely even within countries, but especially between countries. But here's what I've got:

AGoodStory · Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 738

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

Actually, it is possible to live well "by local standards". My situation is similar to Justin's--I eat out whenever I want to, travel, basically do whatever I want, and still save half my salary.

I've got a mountain of loans, too--all from my MA. I've got a higher salary and better work conditions than the norm thanks to the MA, but I will be paying for it until the end of time. It's doable, though. My payments are just over $200--I have no idea how that happened on a loan that was initially in the $50,000 range. You can move to a 20-year or 30-year repayment plan, and you can defer them for up to two years. (I wonder if I switched the terms of my loan in my sleep...)

Yes, starting out will be risky. It's always risky at the beginning of a career.

d

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

Im not going to chip in and offer advice on saving the the future, finances etc but I will say that for the first time in 20+ years of working, I have found a job that I really like and want to continue doing. EFL has given me the opportunity to work and live in places that I would never have seen otherwise, and Ive met people who I would never have met otherwise. Although I have had some difficult times on the road, and some difficult decisions to make, the last 4.5 years of EFL'ing have probably been the best years of my life, and I dont think I will ever regret them.

I am making less money than I ever have, but I think Im living a hell of a lot better now!

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Retirement plan ? I rely on getting UK State Retirement Pension at age 65. If you have US contributions you may qualify for US Social Security Pension. Check it out.

johnslat · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 4:41 pm Post subject:

Dear scot47,

Americans who work overseas are not always able to make payments into their Social Security.

"When Social Security and Medicare Taxes Apply Outside Of U.S.

In general, U.S. social security and Medicare taxes continue to apply to wages for services you perform as an employee outside of the United States if one of the following applies:

You are working for an American employer which includes:
The U.S. Government or any of its instrumentalities
An individual who is a resident of the United States
A partnership of which at least two-thirds of the partners are U.S. residents
A trust of which all the trustees are U.S. residents
A corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any U.S. state, or the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (with respect to the CNMI, refer to Revenue Ruling 80-167).
You perform the services on or in connection with an American vessel or aircraft and either:
You entered into your employment contract within the United States, or
The vessel or aircraft touches at a U.S. port while you are employed on it
You are working in one of the countries with which the United States has entered into a binational social security agreement (also known as Totalization Agreements), and the agreement provides that your foreign employment is subject to U.S. social security and Medicare taxes.
You are working for a foreign affiliate of an American employer under a voluntary agreement entered into between the American employer and the U.S. Treasury Department

Foreign Affiliate

A foreign affiliate of an American employer is any foreign entity in which the American employer has at least a 10% interest, directly or through one or more entities. For a corporation, the 10% interest must be in its voting stock. For any other entity, the 10% interest must be in its profits."

more info available here:

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=97160,00.html

After twenty-two years of working in countries where I couldn't pay into SS, my monthly check would make you either laugh or weep.

Regards,
John

thelmadatter · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 4:54 pm Post subject: ss

For those my age and younger, you'd be foolish to think you'll get anything from SS, contributing or not.

Id say Im smart to be in a position where I dont pay into it... but I get the Mexican equivalent taken out... no better.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I've no idea of your age, thelmadatter, but I've got the calculation from the US SS agency: something like a grand total of 350+/- a bit per month USD.

Clearly, I'll be retiring in style (of some sort).

Thank the gods I never counted on USSS to support me in my old age, assuming I reach one.

CuriousOne · Joined: 09 Aug 2010 Posts: 3

Yeah - There are few safety nets here in the U.S. Can't count on SS whether you're inside or outside of the U.S.

I have about 25K worth of loans just from my undergrad right now. If I did an MA (and stayed home with my parents to save money) it would be another 12-16 at least (unless I can get scholarships). It might sound easy to say "try it for a few years, see how you like it" but with the amount that school tuition costs here, you really have to be sure of what you want to do. There are some certificate programs around ... those are in the 3k range ...

Another question I forgot to ask -- It sounds like a lot of TEFL teachers work part time? Is that enough? Do many of you work two jobs at the same time?

Does anyone ever get lonely? I remember being pretty lonely in France until I finally broke through the language barrier. I would imagine an living in an asian country, for example, would feel even more isolating.... the languages are so hard to learn...

Sorry if this is a lot of questions, and I know they're covered a bit elsewhere, but I'm still trying to consolidate some of this information in my head...

AGoodStory · Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 738

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Don't discount expats as a first social network. They can often introduce you to locals as well....it takes some time, but it often works well.

I work full-time at one job only, have plentiful holiday time, save money, and will actually retire in something other than poverty, thank god and hard work and forethought (and not the US gov't).

It can actually work, no kidding.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 12:22 am Post subject:

DO try it out for a year or two and see how you like it.

DO NOT get your masters until after you know how you like it.

A lot of good masters programs won't take you until you have some experience anyway.

But why would you spend that kind of money without knowing if you'd like it? Slow down, take your time...

I don't know where you're getting the "part time" information. In countries where I've lived, part time teaching positions would be extremely unusual.

Best,
Justin