Job Discussion Forums

[Cujo]

Hi all,
I'm as Newbie as possible and have a few questions. My background is as follows: I am a thirty year old American male with a BA but no TESL certification or teaching experience. I would be availabe to work from July.

I would like to work in Asia - I've read China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan are the best possibilities. Is this true?
Is Korea as unscrupulous as it is made out to be?
Where is the best place to start?
What is the situation as far as a school paying for flight, room, and employment documents?
What are the possibilities of obtaining a 6 month contract instead of a year?

Thanks.

[Glenski]

Answers related to Japan:

[khmerhit]

The best place to start and finish is

(----that is, if you want to avoid the feeling that you are working a nine to five job in your own western country, you're sick of the sight of cement, you like a cool breeze off the river, you you want to go somewhere completely different, you don't mind a challenge or two once in a while, you can hack the odd pothole, and you like the drama of living in a banana republic---)





















cambodia. try it and see. Vietnam, too. (No, not Thailand. Ugh.)

[Guest]

Khmerhit is just as hooked on Cambodia as I am on China. I have been here now for 8 months and have no plans to leave.

I only work 10 hours per week for 3,500 yuan and the life here is very good. I have never been happier in my life.

You could command a lot more money of course, because I have no Degree, No teaching qualifications and no Experience.

I take longer than 10 hours per week just to plan my lessons but anyone with experience would not need that amount of time I am sure.

[august03]

I agree, go China!!

You could easily get a job here, if you wanted a 6 month contract most schools would reimburse half your airfare, give you a working permit, pay for accommodation and utilities, but you may be hard pressed to get any holiday pay. I currently work for a Government Primary School (1 yr contract) and I get a total of 12 weeks paid holidays, plus a travel allowance!!

Check out the job websites mentioned in the China forum to find out what schools are looking for in an applicant and what type of working conditions you could expect. I can also highly recommend an agency if you're willing to put aside all the negative comments towards agencies (although I haven�t heard any bad ones for this one).

[ls650]

[Cujo]

Thanks for all your input. I was nervous that all I was going to get in return were negative, cynical comments!

[Cujo]

Oh yeah, August03, what is the name of the recruiter you recommend? I didn't realize the stereotype of the evil recruiter was worldwide, I thought it was only Koreawide!

[august03]

The agency is CTTR www.china-tesol.org, and I know of many people that have used the agency with no problems at all. They recruit for government schools and although the wage is average the working conditions are usually very high, paid holidays (I get 12 weeks paid this year). The agency is also there to answer any questions you may have and can act as a go-between through the local FAO and your school so there is a lot of support if there are problems.

I think for beginners in China this is a great place to start, once you have experience you can go your own way.

[Norman Bethune]

For ease of finding a job without any tesl qualification, China is the place to start. Private schools and Universities care only if you are able to speak the language well enough and can lead a class of students using some kind of lesson plan. Private schools will provide a curriculum most times.

I'd say avoid the franchise operations like English First if you don't want to work 40 hours a week. I hate to give that horrible operation any good words, but for getting your feet wet quick and gaining experience fast while making contacts to find a better job elsewhere, it is a way to go (a bad way, though). If you go via a franchise operation, sign a very short term contract, 3 months at the most...that gives you enough time to learn the ropes and scout about for a better job.

China has low pay. If you are not a boozer addicted to western covienience foods and pricey luxuries from the west, you can live comfortably on about 1000 rmb a month and save money for a rainy day (not much, but enough to give piece of mind).

Ef is so desperate to get teachers for summer, that you might get them to pay for a one way ticket here for a three month stint. Just don't sign a contract if it doesn't live up to expectations. Just walk away and go elsewhere, quick.

China, it's worth the hacking cough, red eyes, and spit covered clothing.

[shmooj]

[scot47]

I agre that China is probably best for you.

If you can't do a TEFL certificate at least look at some of the books that are available. There are stacks. Some of them are even useful.

[shenyanggerry]

I don't have a "hacking cough...and spit covered clothing". I only have red eyes when I spend too much time in a bar full of smokers.

Many cities in China are very polluted, especially in winter when they heat everything with soft coal. Others aren't too bad - by Chinese standards. They're all high by western standards.

I'm on my second six month contract at the same university - both from Feb to July. I'm in the northeast where demand for foreign teachers outstrips the supply. I get half my airfare. In more desirable climates, you may only get half after a year.

Supply and demand functions here just like everywhere. I suggest you read some of the contract forums before signing anything.