Job Discussion Forums

[mfelix87]

Hi all,
I was wondering what the chances are of being able to support two people on one salary. I am looking into getting an MA TESOL, and I would prefer to teach in Europe, but I am flexible because I want to be able to have my husband with me. He does not have a college degree so it would be unlikely that he would get work as a teacher (at least that is my understanding--plus, he isn't really the teaching type). I have read that it is possible to bring someone along, but how hard is it, realistically, to live off of one teacher's salary, considering that I will also have to pay off student loans? How likely would it be that he could perhaps get a job as say, a hotel housekeeper, or something like that? Any help is appreciated.

[Glenski]

What is your nationality? It would help to be able to tell you what parts of Europe are off-limits to you, visa-wise.

What countries in Europe are you interested in? I'm sure salaries vary considerably.

How much per month do you have to pay off in student loans? We can't tell you much about savings without knowing that.

What sort of lifestyle are the 2 of you used to? I know of a guy who says he needs a case of imported wine every month as a basic necessity.

As for your husband, the country you choose will have its own visa regulations, but I'm sure most jobs would require some measure of language fluency.

[spiral78]

I have an MA TESL/TEFL and have taught for about six years at a univeristy in Europe and for another 6 years freelance, at private language schools and a Canadian university.

With an MA TEFL, at a European university, you can support yourself ok and save a bit, generally speaking. Trying to support a partner would be difficult - not just 'frugal,' but in the 'buying a pair of jeans requires significant advance financial planning' category. Add student loans to the mix, and I think it's highly unlikely that you would find this do-able in the European region.

As for your husband getting other work - that's probably quite difficult. In addition to needing local language skills to do almost any other job than teaching English, there will likely be visa issues.

Which brings up the most important question: what nationality do you (both) hold?

If you are not from an EU member country, Western Europe is basically off-limits in a legal sense. I am American, and work in a Western Euro country on an exceptional work visa (I have specialist quals and local contacts) - but I would not be allowed to bring a non-European spouse into the country nor would my spouse be eligible for a work permit. This will be essentially the same in all countries in Western Europe.

Central/Eastern Europe is legally feasible for non-European teachers, but wages are really subsistence level for one person. I think your plan would crash for lack of funds quickly there, I'm afraid.

I think you should consider other regions of the world, in order to make this work for you!

[naturegirl321]

Possible, but not easy. What �s your nationality? My husband doesn't have a college degree. Jobs are limited. I'd say that money is a big concern, but in addition to that, keeping your husband busy will be something that you should think about. Some men, if they can't work, feel worthless, it's hard on your marriage. Take it from me. My husband left after 10 weeks in Korea. Just saying, money wise, we're fine, pride wise, he's not. But he's learned and knows what he'll be doing when he comes back early next year.

As for working as a hotel housekeeper, that's possible. Check with country reqs though, my husband legally can't work in Korea. Second, would your husband even WANT to be a housekeeper? That's something that you will have to discuss as well.

Asia is a possiblity, I know 5 other friends, the women work, the men don't. We survive here, and most of us save money as well.

[coledavis]

If you're offered free accommodation, then it may not be impossible. Also, does your husband's non-teaching attributes stop him from running spoken English groups (where he doesn't make claims to be a teacher)? This is often seen as a useful adjunct by language schools, although I suspect that this would only supplement your income.

[Glenski]

[coledavis]

[Glenski]

I see what you meant now. Many employers (most?) balk at hiring couples because of a few reasons. One is they don't want 2 vacancies when they choose to go on vacation. Another is the potential for bickering at the workplace over home matters. Another is the chance (and strong one here) that only one of them may be what they want (whether by degree or experience or personal chemistry). They may have a salary budget only for one person, too.

No harm in asking what you propose, but I'd not be surprised if the answer was no.

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

[mfelix87]

Thanks for the responses, everyone.
In reference to some earlier replies, I am an American, and so is my husband. We are currently poor. Straight up poor. We had to move in with my sister because I haven't been able to get a job out of college (unemployment rate in my area is a steady-to-rising 15%) and I don't qualify for unemployment benefits. My husband works a very low paying job as it is. We practically live on nothing. As for student loans, I haven't got the Masters yet so it is a little difficult to project how much my payments will be each month, but I qualify for Federal Subsidized loans which have very low interest, and I am looking into getting my Masters from CSUSB, whose fees are low (compared to other universities, anyway). Central/Eastern Europe and Asia sounds pretty appealing to me, but really I am open to teaching just about anywhere.

[spiral78]

Your problem with Central Europe will be start-up costs.

You will have to pay for flights, and expect to support yourselves for a few months while you get a job sorted.
Landlords usually want one month's rent as security and the first month up front. You may also have to pay an agent's fee equivalent to a month's rent.
Employers usually pay monthly, at the end of the month worked.
Jobs are rarely found from abroad in this market - you need to be able to get here and beat the pavements. There is lots of competition, and Americans are at a disadvantage because employers have to jump through the hoops to get them legal work permits.

Seriously, in light of your financial straits and other circumstances, I think Asia is a far better and safer bet for you.

[coledavis]

In Russia, you can often get accommodation as part of the deal. And it is possible to get work by applying from your own country.

So then you're only waiting for payment for the first month's work (earlyish the following month). Not always flights, though, although the McSchools usually do (although hard to say if they'll take on a couple).

[Glenski]

You're both very poor and yet you want to go overseas for work. That combination poses huge problems.

You wrote that you're interested in Asia, among other places. Where in Asia? Korea and Japan provide the largest salaries, but even so, as written elsewhere, you're going to have setup costs and likely have to support yourselves for 2-4 months before you get a first paycheck.

What exactly did your husband figure he would do for work overseas? With no college degree, he would have to get a dependent visa. In Japan, that would allow him to get special permission to work only PT. If he had enough experience, he could get a skilled labor work visa, or perhaps (big maybe) some other sort of visa depending on his work experience to date. In Japan that is usually 10 years of experience.

I have not been in college for more than 30 years, but I would think you could at least estimate how much you'll have to pay off in student loans per month. In your financial situation, at least make a best guess because it looks like you're going to need to know that before making the jump.

I certainly wouldn't advise rushing into TEFL.

[Justin Trullinger]

[artemisia]

I�d have to agree that getting into TEFL might not be your best bet. Sorry if that sounds a bit dismal but then your situation is not entirely clear although I know you�re posting in the newbie forum.
Are you already an ESL teacher? It would make a quite a big difference if you are already trained to an extent and experienced. If you�re not and considering ESL for the first time then it�s far from impossible but probably a bit harder. If you have the chance of subsidized loans and lowish fees for tertiary study then you might want to consider training in different area where there�s a real chance of employment after graduating. That way you could stay in the States where your husband already has some work and he doesn�t have to worry about language/ visa issues. Other posters have already raised really important issues re: his chances of getting work abroad without a college degree or fluency in whatever the local language is. Also the problem of what he�s going to do with his time in a foreign country is no small thing.

If you think TEFL is really what you want to do than certainly going after the MA will open up doors for you. It would open up the possibility of the Middle East though it�s harder to get teaching work there without experience. Korea too is a likely bet but I don�t know if apartments would always be big enough for a couple. In either place, your husband would have to travel as your dependant. If you got a job in the ME where most of the best paying jobs are then your husband could consider doing online training in some sort of degree for the duration of your position. That throws up more issues, of course. Would he want to study in the first place? Studying online requires a lot of self-motivation and it still costs but hopefully your salary could cover it as well as local living costs and your loan repayments. I don�t know if you could make enough in Korea to cover all that but maybe. Once you�ve applied for the loans and know which course you�re going to do, you can work out what the repayments would amount to each month. In terms of your husband getting some sort of formal qualification; it might be helpful wherever you end up working but more likely, it�ll be useful for whenever you both return home.

Sometimes people can get themselves out of a poverty trap by going where the work is. So with an MA, I think you�d have some good options.