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]

[SahanRiddhi]

With 60k in debt that you wish to pay off sooner rather than later, Korea is the one that makes the most sense. China is a possibility of you are of an enterprising nature. You would take a modestly paid university job and then track down lots of part-time work or private students in your spare time (which will be abundant if you take a university job). The startup cost for China are low.

I'd try one of those two options, with the former being more of a sure thing. The culture and people of the latter appeal more to me, which isn't saying much, but some do like the former.

[paigemel]

I think the fantastic story may have happened in Vietnam or S. Korea. I'm partial to Japan (in a cultural sense) and curious if I were to stay for 2 years in a country would S. Korea or Japan be the better alternative. For instance, would I be able to skip the high start-up costs if I stay a second year and therefore save about 5k in Japan. Or perhaps, the networking opportunities in S. Korea might lead to a better position and increased pay. Basically, how these factors change if my plan becomes more long-term rahter than short term?

[Shroob]

I thought I'd chip in with my thoughts, the pot of gold in the TEFL world can be the middle east. The drawback is that it often requires experience (possibly an MA) and for some people the lifestyle isn't appealing. That said, the money is fantastic. So one option could be to go to a country you want to visit first for a few years, you probably won't make fantastic money but you'd get the experience required to teach in the middle east. So you wouldn't pay off your loans in 2 years, but by the thrid year (in the middle east) you could earn quite a bit.

[paigemel]

Everyone, thank you for all your input so far. It was very helpful and I'm always open to new ideas.

[Glenski]

[Enrico Palazo]

I noticed that nobody said South America as a good place to save, nor Spain. Is it really that bad? Even the Lincoln School in Buenos Aires or American schools in Madrid or Bacelona? Are universities an option if I have an American teaching degree?

[lydia.bainbridge]

I was earning $1200 after taxes at a private university in South America, and I have the impression from what I've read here that I was making out pretty well.