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Two Questions

 
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SeanPadraic



Joined: 16 Aug 2010
Posts: 6

PostPosted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 5:47 pm    Post subject: Two Questions Reply with quote

A friend and I have been talking about teaching English abroad for a while now. I am 23 with a BA in History and I will have an MA in Adolescent Education in May. I�ve also worked at an overnight camp for children ages 5-17 for the past 6 years.

Before we started researching a lot, we were talking about trying to go to Thailand because we would both want the warmer climate, but from what I hear, it�s not the best paying place. I am going to have loans to pay off while I am there. I think they will be around $250 a month. So�


1.) Would it be worth it for me to take an online TESOL course?

2.) Would I be able to pay off my student loans in Thailand? South East Asia? Anywhere?
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Sadebugo



Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524

PostPosted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 11:20 pm    Post subject: Re: Two Questions Reply with quote

SeanPadraic wrote:
A friend and I have been talking about teaching English abroad for a while now. I am 23 with a BA in History and I will have an MA in Adolescent Education in May. I�ve also worked at an overnight camp for children ages 5-17 for the past 6 years.

Before we started researching a lot, we were talking about trying to go to Thailand because we would both want the warmer climate, but from what I hear, it�s not the best paying place. I am going to have loans to pay off while I am there. I think they will be around $250 a month. So�


1.) Would it be worth it for me to take an online TESOL course?

2.) Would I be able to pay off my student loans in Thailand? South East Asia? Anywhere?


The best locations for paying off your loans are in North Asia, i.e., Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. As for the TESOL course, more education is always better but the online courses are sometimes frowned upon because they don't offer observed practice. Having said that, many jobs in Korea don't require a cert. so it's not mandatory that you do this.

Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/
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Cal_Ger



Joined: 29 Jan 2005
Posts: 14

PostPosted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 3:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've been involved in ESL teaching in China for 7 years.

Before I came to China, I did an 'Online' ESL course called ICAL. It amounted to nothing more than 'theoretical' (obviously) downloads. In real affect, in terms of applicable teaching....it was 'rubbish'.

Furthermore, you are/were not allowed to download the complete course in one hit, even though you PAID FOR IT.

With the greatest respect, go and do a proper ESL course, minimum hours of 120 hours, that includes practical teaching. These 'Online ESL' courses are for the gullible, and spendthrift minded. They FAIL to Deliver.

Decent schools, the ones that pay decent salaries, will want genuine ESL certified teachers with some kind of 'Practical' training. So, go and pay the 'extra' and do a CELTA course.

Working as an ESL teacher in Asia to save money?....think twice about that idea. Why don't you just get a 'part-time' job on top of your normal job where you are...working in Asia is not a picnic to a 'Gold Mine'. ESL teaching is actually 'hard yakka'!...if your aim is to 'Save Money'.

Medicine is never nice to take...is it?
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Montanaland



Joined: 20 Dec 2009
Posts: 60
Location: Bakken Oil Field

PostPosted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 5:21 pm    Post subject: Have you checked the Job board lately. Reply with quote

Please take Cal_Ger's advice on the inflated down side of esl teaching with a grain of salt.


What Cal_Ger meant to say is that China is one of the lowest paying Asian countries. In fact they don't even pay much more for a Masters degree in tesol.

you will make 2-3k a month @ entry-level jobs in korea or the m. east....can you save and/or tutor on the side..of course.


The thing that makes esl attractive is that your flexible and not in the up and coming depression thats about to hit the good ol' USA.
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tttompatz



Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines

PostPosted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 12:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Where to save:

Korea - monthly salary in the range of 2.2-2.5 million won with your teaching quals. Savings of $1000 per month are easily achievable. Market for teachers is tighter than it was but there is a steady turnover (one year contracts) so there are still jobs available.

Japan - again, a tight market (worse than Korea) and you will need airfare and $3000 or so to get yourself settled. It is also harder to find a sponsor for your visa.

Taiwan - Still lots of jobs for certified teachers and the pay is decent. The market is tougher for those without teacher certification but still do-able.

Thailand - IF you are in a rush you can find jobs that pay in the $1000 range just about all the time. With the current costs of living you won't save anything at that level in BKK but can do OK out in the provinces. IF you are patient you can find positions that pay upward of $2000 with potential savings in the $1000+ range.

The situation is similar in Vietnam.

If you are patient you can find positions in China that pay from $1500-2000 (ignore all those 3000-6000rmb positions). You can live comfortably on rmb5000 and bank the rest (outside of Beijing and Shanghai).

Can you pay off loans while working in Asia = yes.
Can you find jobs with decent pay = yes.
Will you get rich = maybe.
Will it be fast = not if you want decent pay.

.
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MrMrLuckyKhan



Joined: 08 Feb 2008
Posts: 282
Location: Kingdom of Cambodia

PostPosted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 9:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

tttompatz wrote:


Taiwan - Still lots of jobs for certified teachers and the pay is decent. The market is tougher for those without teacher certification but still do-able.


Does that mean a teacher with a BA/CELTA, or a certified teacher back in their home country???

thx
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tttompatz



Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines

PostPosted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 1:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

MrMrLuckyKhan wrote:
tttompatz wrote:


Taiwan - Still lots of jobs for certified teachers and the pay is decent. The market is tougher for those without teacher certification but still do-able.


Does that mean a teacher with a BA/CELTA, or a certified teacher back in their home country???

thx


Teacher certification from their home country.

If you only have a BA and TEFL (CELTA or other) cert then you are limited to language institutes.

.
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MrMrLuckyKhan



Joined: 08 Feb 2008
Posts: 282
Location: Kingdom of Cambodia

PostPosted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 4:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

tttompatz wrote:
MrMrLuckyKhan wrote:
tttompatz wrote:


Taiwan - Still lots of jobs for certified teachers and the pay is decent. The market is tougher for those without teacher certification but still do-able.


Does that mean a teacher with a BA/CELTA, or a certified teacher back in their home country???

thx


Teacher certification from their home country.

If you only have a BA and TEFL (CELTA or other) cert then you are limited to language institutes.

.

Thanks for the clarification!!
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