Job Discussion Forums

[Rooster_2006]

I'd like to start a thread for those disillusioned English teachers who want to stay in Asia, but are tired of teaching English.

Please note that I am still an English teacher, and this is not a teacher-bashing thread, just a thread for people who think their path to self-actualization lies elsewhere.

As for me, I'm strongly considering moving back to Korea (on a 1.5-year Working Holiday visa, which recently became available to Americans), working as a translator for a year or two (I graduated from YSKLI in Seoul), spending a year on an E-7, and getting an F-2-7 (residency, renewable every three years), then opening up my own business making/selling educational software for learning languages.

Who else is planning to stay in Asia, but move into another sector of the economy?

What are your strategies for jobs and visas? Let's face it, staying here without teaching English is an uphill battle, but it's possible for the dedicated!

[Seymour Glass]

More and more of our western brethren seem to be opening restaurants here...I have an Italian friend who has had a successful pizzeria in Taipei County for seventeen years, I know another Aussie who has a sausage making business and an Austrian in Tainan that has a nice place. A Canadian guy in Kaohsiung has a very successful place. Restaurants are hard work and unless you are dedicated and get a steady clientele, it could be rough going. Most of the guys I know that have opened places are married, but not all.
I have a friend who has been doing technical writing in Hsinchu for years too; he received a permanent resident visa on his own (i.e. without resorting to marriage).
I myself went the translating route like Rooster is contemplating....Many options out there, just have to always find ways to reinvent yourself...

[Rooster_2006]

[JZer]

I would like to get into Chinese-English translation so I could do that while living in countries like Poland, Romania, Thailand, etc. It would be a nice way to make $1000 to $2000 a month in a country that I want to try living in. Actually I am thinking about going to The Republic of Georgia next year.

[markholmes]

I was an Esl teacher in Japan and Taiwan for four years. I moved to Canada got my B.Ed. in intermediate elementary and am now headed to Cairo to teach in an international school. Free two bed apartment, private medical, return flights every year and potential to save $20,000 a year with ease. I'll be teaching 3 1/2 hours a day with two months off in the summer (paid).

[zipper]

Rooster, like you, I spent 5 years teaching in Korea. Three of which were with pubic schools; all of which were in tiny communities. There wasn�t anything there except a couple of PC bangs, a bus station, a grocery store, an outdoor market place, and lots of mountains to hike on. Kids couldn�t care less about learning English, and most people gave me cold shoulders or dagger eyes while walking with my Asian wife in public. The experience was always stressful; despite knowing a little Korean. But I have heard of people adapting very well to Korean culture, and I wish the best for them as I will for you. You are young, full of vigor, adapted and inclined to learn languages and you possess a unique affinity for Asia, because Asia has become part of your life and is probably embedded in your deep consciousness. Nevertheless, never forget your past experiences, and how those experiences affected your emotions at the time. I guess that for some absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Unlike Koreans, Taiwanese at all levels of society have treated me well. For example, recently I had an ACL reconstruction surgery with meniscus repair at ChangHua Christian Hospital. The surgeon is so nice and helpful. The first day I entered his office, he conducted the Lachman Test and straight away determined that I basically had no ACL, and offered to work on it right away. Previously, in Korea, during a volleyball game, I injured the same knee, and so I went to Samsung hospital in Masan and was greeted by very ignorant and seemingly hostile staff at the orthopedic department. They would stare, giggle or just talk about the �foreigner� in front of my face while I was suffering. The orthopedic doctor examined it and basically said dismissively, �You injured it playing sports. Our national health insurance doesn�t cover MRI exams and sport injuries. Go home and rest for a couple of weeks and don�t play anymore soccer or sports.� And then dismissed me. I was freaking furious, because I injured it while playing volleyball at school and on the job. I went to other surgeons that took X-rays and rightly said that I probably had a torn meniscus, but none of them could accurately diagnose the underlining problem that caused my knee to buckle in the first place, and none of them performed the Lachman Test; maybe because they didn�t want to touch me? This is just one of the hundreds of instances as to why I would never go back to Korea, but Taiwan doctors have never treated me this way; neither have schools here made me feel like a worthless piece of crap. I am not saying that Taiwan is perfect, I have had my days here as well, but for me it�s a lot better than Korea. My point: I haven�t forgotten those moments. The only reason why I stuck it out there for five years was the money, and that I became used to it; and yes, I saved a lot more money.

Not all is bleak. There�s one aspect I like about teaching EFL and it�s that I get a lot more personal time; time for which I am using for self development. You are probably doing the same thing, I hope. And for the first time this month, I actually enjoyed teaching a class. Last night, I taught a group of older students (a couple of the ladies were older than me) and I just had a lot of fun with them. They seemed very motivated to use and experiment with their language skills; which is a rarity I might add. If every class was like this, then perhaps I would reconsider changing my career; but then again, there�s that lack of dignity and self-esteem I often encounter in my little old midlife experience.

As I mentioned in the other post, I am studying to get into the solar energy business. Eventually, I would like to submit bidding and building proposals for large energy distributors and manufactures. I just need to touch up a bit on my electrical engineering experience, however.

That comment about �resorting� to marriage to stay doesn�t apply to all foreigners that married here, either. I think most, like myself, have actually fell in love and had jobs before they married, and since laws on both sides of the pond reciprocate somewhat, then getting an ARC is just an added benefit; a benefit that I would call quid pro quo. Resorting? Nah, not quite.

[Seymour Glass]

I banked NT$1 million last year (yes after taxes) doing translations...I agree that it would ideally be a good way to make a living in a country worth living in, but that being said Taiwan has become the devil I know and I'm getting too old to break in any new devils...
The problem I have found with trying to get translation jobs while living in another country is that there are too many rush jobs that will go elsewhere because you are not readily available. There is also the trouble of getting paid, if I'm in country I can always light the proverbial fire under the asses, but living out of country makes that harder. If you do find someone to work with that is reliable, I guess the only thing then is the transfer fees for pay. I have had some people offer me jobs from the US, but couldn't be bothered with the bureaucracy...
The key, ostensibly, in making it is getting a steady source and then keeping the customer satisfied...

[JZer]

Seymour Glass, any advice on how to get one's first translation job in Taiwan? At least the opportunity to translate a sample and see if your work is acceptable.

[Seymour Glass]

JZer, sure, I'd be glad to try and help you out along those lines...what kind of stuff would you like to translate? I posted on another entry here on the seasonal availability of translating study plans and reference letters for those ubiquitous overseas study centers, mostly located around the Taipei train station on Nan Yang Street, maybe just to test the waters, you could take a resume and make it down that street from the Caesar Park Hotel all the way to the 2-28 Park. Merica, Harvard, there are many back there...you could also send your resume to government agencies, they are always on the lookout for web content editing and translating...one place to avoid is any sort of privately-run translation agency, as they tend to pay very low. The Taipei Times is also looking for translators from time to time, though they asked me to go into the office to translate years ago, that might have changed by now. I used to translate for the Taiwan News back when it had a different format; they let me do it from home...
Check the Tealit and Taiwanted sites, every so often they have ads looking for translators....
I see you intend to leave the island? Ever consider doing a master's in translation here? If so, I could help you out along those lines too...

[creztor]

Get a job teaching English that has the absolute minimum hours you need to survive and make the most of your spare time. Sounds easy, doesn't it That's what everyone has been posting on other forums throughout the years. The catch here is WHAT do you do with that spare time that could make more money than you do teaching... Whatever it is I personally think having teaching as a "backup" plan is always good. Might not pay heaps but there is usually work around. Other avenues might be more profitable but if you aren't careful the honey money dries up and several years later you find yourself back teaching (/me looks in the mirror). Good luck to you all.

[ncaraway]

Deleted by author

[zipper]

[KayuJati]

I was never keen on teaching English as a subject and, thus, did so for only 2 of my 16 years overseas. I was able to get into programs that taught content subjects (sciences, business, and engineering) in English and now teach Engineering subjects in Malay. Once you develop fluency in the local language, then the opportunities open up.

In Malaysia there are many foreign degree programs that require content subjects to be taught in English. I know that some of those European, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, and USA universities are now starting similar degree programs in China. Sure beats TEFL IMHO.

[creztor]

KayuJati, I am sure it does but many places want you to have a related major to what you are teaching. China often has job ads for people with Science or Mathematics degrees. I definitely agree with what you are saying, but many people just don't have related qualifications to teach those kinds of classes.

[Geraldo84]

Go home and do a Primary PGCE I cant really see many job prospects in the UK outside of teaching at the moment.