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What's the best place for me?
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Hsinchuguy



Joined: 09 Apr 2003
Posts: 109
Location: Toronto

PostPosted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 2:29 am    Post subject: What's the best place for me? Reply with quote

I've been teaching ESL for about 17 years, I have an M.A. and TESL certification. I've taught in China, Taiwan, Oman and now, Canada. At this point, money is probably the most important factor for me but I don't want to live like a hermit either so Saudi Arabia isn't for me. Even though I could teach in a university I'm not necessarily interested in it, career advancement isn't important for me. I just want to go someplace where I can bank some decent money for my later years.
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Mrs McClusky



Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 133

PostPosted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

for banking money you might want a career change
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naturegirl321



Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home

PostPosted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

How about an intl school?
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rafaella



Joined: 22 Feb 2011
Posts: 122

PostPosted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 9:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I posted a similar question a while back and, although our situations are not exactly the same, you might find the replies useful. The title of the thread is 'Where should I go from here?' and it's in the General Discussion section.
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Trinley



Joined: 29 Apr 2010
Posts: 144

PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 4:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

South Korea.
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Hsinchuguy



Joined: 09 Apr 2003
Posts: 109
Location: Toronto

PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 1:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Trinley wrote:
South Korea.


A couple of people have suggested this but the vast majority of teachers I've spoken to who've worked there hated it. The opinion seems to be that Koreans are xenophobic and unfriendly. I've never been there myself so I have no opinion but this seems to be a commonly held perception.
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Trinley



Joined: 29 Apr 2010
Posts: 144

PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 3:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hsinchuguy wrote:
Trinley wrote:
South Korea.


A couple of people have suggested this but the vast majority of teachers I've spoken to who've worked there hated it. The opinion seems to be that Koreans are xenophobic and unfriendly. I've never been there myself so I have no opinion but this seems to be a commonly held perception.


I have heard that too, unfortunately, and I haven't been there either. But you stated that money was the most important factor. As you can imagine, the coolest places to be are rarely the top money-making destinations. If saving is your goal, you may have to compromise.
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naturegirl321



Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home

PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 5:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hsinchuguy wrote:
Trinley wrote:
South Korea.


A couple of people have suggested this but the vast majority of teachers I've spoken to who've worked there hated it. The opinion seems to be that Koreans are xenophobic and unfriendly. I've never been there myself so I have no opinion but this seems to be a commonly held perception.


I'm sure a lot of teachers hate a lot of countries.
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Shimokitazawa



Joined: 16 Aug 2009
Posts: 458
Location: Saigon, Vietnam

PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

naturegirl321 wrote:
Hsinchuguy wrote:
Trinley wrote:
South Korea.


A couple of people have suggested this but the vast majority of teachers I've spoken to who've worked there hated it. The opinion seems to be that Koreans are xenophobic and unfriendly. I've never been there myself so I have no opinion but this seems to be a commonly held perception.


I'm sure a lot of teachers hate a lot of countries.


I was going to suggest Korea also, if compensation is important. But, I concur with previous posters in that, Korean tend to like drinking and fighting a little too much. More so than what I've observed in other countries in the region.
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Hsinchuguy



Joined: 09 Apr 2003
Posts: 109
Location: Toronto

PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 4:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Trinley wrote:
Hsinchuguy wrote:
Trinley wrote:
South Korea.


A couple of people have suggested this but the vast majority of teachers I've spoken to who've worked there hated it. The opinion seems to be that Koreans are xenophobic and unfriendly. I've never been there myself so I have no opinion but this seems to be a commonly held perception.


I have heard that too, unfortunately, and I haven't been there either. But you stated that money was the most important factor. As you can imagine, the coolest places to be are rarely the top money-making destinations. If saving is your goal, you may have to compromise.


I used to work in Oman. There, as in other places in the Gulf, the money is fantastic. As well, there are no taxes and an apartment is thrown in the deal. Although it had its perks, it was a little too austere for me. I will consider Korea but I'm considering a return to Taiwan as well.
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Trinley



Joined: 29 Apr 2010
Posts: 144

PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 2:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What was the pay like in Oman? Did they pay the flight and one month's pay as severance?
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Shimokitazawa



Joined: 16 Aug 2009
Posts: 458
Location: Saigon, Vietnam

PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 5:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Trinley wrote:
What was the pay like in Oman? Did they pay the flight and one month's pay as severance?


No. That's only Korea that pays for apartment, flights, and one month's severance for each year worked.
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Hsinchuguy



Joined: 09 Apr 2003
Posts: 109
Location: Toronto

PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 4:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Trinley wrote:
What was the pay like in Oman? Did they pay the flight and one month's pay as severance?


They paid for the flight, as well as a three day layover (hotel and food) in Abu Dhabi. There wasn't one month severance but there was a furnished apartment and no taxes, payroll or sales.
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Iceman33



Joined: 08 Nov 2009
Posts: 91

PostPosted: Sat May 07, 2011 7:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

How about Japan? The money there can be quite good (depends on qualifications, school, etc). Plus, you have all the freedoms you want, unlike the Middle East.

I hear lots of negative things about South Korea (not the money, of course). But, you can hear something negative about any country, city, etc. It ultimately comes to what you want (interest in the country's culture and language, safety, politeness, general salaries ,etc)

South America generally pays very low salaries (I have zero interest in going there).

Europe isn't bad if you can get a visa, but I still think the Far and Middle East are by far the best places for the moola.

China pays a decent salary when you're in the country, but when you convert the money into your own currency...

The pay is just too low for me to to go to Russia right now, despite my interest in the language. Turkey is a bit better in that regard, but not great, either (culture and languages interests me there, too). I have to go somewhere where I can make a decent salary when converted into American dollars. So, I'm seriously considering Japan (love the language and culture as well; can't go somewhere where language doesn't interest me).

(PS: Thailand and China were also being considered, but don't seem too realistic for me right now.)


Best of luck! Very Happy
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Teacher in Rome



Joined: 09 Jul 2003
Posts: 1286

PostPosted: Sat May 07, 2011 8:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Europe isn't bad if you can get a visa, but I still think the Far and Middle East are by far the best places for the moola.


Forget Europe if you want to make money quickly. It would take too long to build up the contacts, and an MA won't open you any doors.

You can live well in Europe (I do!) but I'm not entry-level, and I speak Italian, know people, get offered more work than I can take on, and spend more than half of my working hours on my own projects rather than teaching. It's taken me ten years to get to this position. If you were more focussed than me (I kind of faff about) and had "a plan" then of course you could do it in less. But just saying that it takes time.

On the flip side, Italy offers opportunities - don't get me wrong. There's a lot going on right now that should appeal to English teachers in different sectors. It's a boom time for English; there's money being thrown left right and centre on English provision; there's never been a better time to teach or learn English here. If you had a great idea for getting English out there to the masses, you'd need one or two people max in prominent provincial goverment seats to fund you, and you could really clean up. Get them to fund an elearning course, roll it out to schools... the sky's the limit. But you need time, contacts, chutzpah, Italian language skills, and did I mention the contacts?

But if you can't get a visa, or don't have the cashflow...
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