Job Discussion Forums

[paigemel]

For months I have been planning to teach esl in Thailand in the hopes that I will be able to save enough to seriously reduce my student loans. But I recently have been reading forums that suggest this is definitely not the best country in which to do this.

I have no experience teaching esl, but am a certified and college educated, 20 something, white female. If I am interested in paying off debts with my income earned teaching esl, what countries would you recommend? In Korea or Japan will the living costs be too high to save?

I hope this is a realistic plan, because I have already made up my mind to go. The more detail one can share the better. Thank you.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

I would think Korea would be a good place to try and save. Also, Vietnam can pay pretty well compared to the cost of living.
I worked in a call center in India, and we had a very nice package.
Of course, much of the discussion has to do with how much you expect to save, and how much you have to pay in debts.

[paigemel]

Thanks for getting back to me. I have about 60K american in loans. I heard a fantastic story about a girl who paid off about that same amount in two years teaching ESL in an Asian country. Even paying off half my debt would be great.
I had my sights set on Thailand based on the income vs cost of living. But now I am finding that the starting salary (20,000-30,000 B/mo) is not such high pay and the "respectable" status of teachers is actually the reverse.

Apparently, it's quite high stress over there. My current career is a highly stressful one (mental health counseling) and I would like to avoid the cultural and professional stresses some are saying relate to jobs in Korea and Thailand.

I'd value a culture I can relate to, as an optimistic and somewhat outgoing American woman, and to find my specific type of birth control (micronor). Go figure. Party life is take it or leave it.

I would be open to Korea or Vietnam, although I may be more comfortable in Japan.
I would also be open to living/teaching in S. American countries, if any provide competitive salaries.....eh?

[tttompatz]

For non-licensed (do not have home country teacher's license), fresh-off-the-plane, newbie, ESL/EFL teachers the BEST opportunity for saving money and paying down your student loans is in Korea.

The cost of living isn't that low (it is a developed country) but with remuneration packages that include airfare, rent, severance and low taxes your chance to save is high. (typical newbies bank $10k per year and those who network into better positions can bank $15k per year and still have a comfortable lifestyle with occasional trips to other SE Asia destinations during their holiday breaks). Start-up costs are minimal (about $1000 for living expenses and $300 for documents and visa related costs). Go register on the Korean forums.

Japan is OK but the market is COMPETITIVE and your start-up costs are huge ($5,000 is not out of the ballpark).

Taiwan would be similar to Japan in earnings, savings and setup costs, and jobs are usually easier to find but they are not always full time (hourly wages rather than monthly salary is becoming more common).

In Thailand, fresh off the plane newbies won't save anything in their first year. Salaries are low ($1000-1200/mo) and the costs of living in the big Mango aren't that low (rents of $300 + all your other living expenses). You won't save anything in your first year.

China might be worth a 2nd look. Hunt around and you can find jobs in the 10k CNY range that also include benefits like housing, end of contract bonuses, airfare allowance, etc. This may not sound like much $1200-1500 but the net savings of about $800-1000 add up in a hurry.

.

[Glenski]

[paigemel]

@ttompatz: great advice

@glenski: I currently pay $6-700/mo and would like to pay more.

[naturegirl321]

[Glenski]