Job Discussion Forums

[think_balance]

First, a grammar question:

Is it "One's Way" or "Ones Way"? Pronouns don't use apostrophes to show possession, but is "one" a noun or pronoun in this instance?

As for my real question:

Given this hypothetical situation:

- Age: 40
- U.S. citizen
- Finances in order (no debt, has a safety net and start up costs plus extra padding in savings)
- Three years experience teaching ESL at university level in the U.S.
- M.A. TESOL, B.A. English
- Ten years at high profile tech company as a trainer and technical writer (for the sake of teaching business English or side work as a proofreader, etc.).

Assuming I start in Japan and spend five years there, how would you plot a career path teaching around the world from there - say three to five years in each region / country retiring at age 65.

Are there countries that are better left for the later part of ones career? Regions one should definitely live in - even if just for a year? What career challenges should one expect as one ages? What can one do to supplement ones income to properly prepare for retirement, buy a house, etc.

What are the benefits to teaching ones way around the world vs. picking one country and working there until retirement?

Are there many people on these forums who have been able to do this?

Thank you.

[naturegirl321]

I've seen one's, but I'd just go with your

It's hard to say, because things change so much such as economies and visa restrictions due to age. I'd say if you start in Japan, just head to the Middle East and stay there if you could. More money and benefits. Harder lifestyle, but there are a handful of countries in the ME that you could choose from.

Remember that when you hit 50 or 55, some employers will stop hiring you. So if you're already working for a company, then it's often easier to keep working for them, rather than up and try to find a new job and run the risk of not getting hired.

I taught in Latin America and can say that life is hard there. Salaries are decent compared to cost of living, but large parts of latin America are second and third world, so even if you're making decent money, you're still living poorly. Where I was was a third world country. I hope to never go back.

As for preparing for retirement, look to places like Thailand, Malaysia, and Mexico. You could retire there pretty easily and live well. Malaysia is the most expensive of the three as far as requirements go for the visa.

If you can buy propety and earn money from that, that will help as well.

Some people go home, lik scot47 and johnslat.

[sistercream]

When I went to school (even longer ago than you did) it would definitely have been "one's".

I agree that increasing age does narrow one's choices, no matter how physically and mentally healthy one might be.

As you wrote about saving and buying a house, another big consideration is that many countries pay foreign teachers good money by local standards, but it doesn't translate into much left over for your home bank account (specially if you keep heading to the Imports store for comfort food).
Apparently some of the "oil states" in the middle east pay seriously well, and if you are prepared to teach middle/ high school then Hong Kong's NET scheme will provide well.
Sometimes Australian states also discover that they don't have enough teachers, and welcome them from abroad, but what look like god salaries on paper are largely eaten up by horrendous taxation and high cost of living.

I'm prejudiced, but I would put at least a couple of years in different areas of China on the "must do" list: the contrasts in environment, culture, food, whatever, between areas are huge!