Job Discussion Forums

melssa · Joined: 27 Apr 2010 Posts: 19 Location: Chicago

I am currently working in the Middle East, but due to the unbelievable behavior issues at the schools am leaving. My friend and I had a vacation to Thailand planned, and so we are going to leave in a week or so for Thailand, but want to move on to either Japan, Taiwan, or a country beginning with K after that time in order to find a position. Neither of us are partiers.

These are our qualifications. I am an American single female, 30, white and not bad looking (which I mention because in my experience it DOES seem to make a difference). I have a Masters in Education, and my experience is as follows, from most recent: 3 months teaching English, Maths, and Science in the UAE, 5 months longterm subbing, 7 months teaching lessons to EFL children in an afterschool/preschool/daycare program, 1 month longterm subbing, and interspersed subbing at different schools.

He is an American single male, 29, Bachelors degree but no educational experience or CELTA/TEFL.

This is what I know about that particular country beginning with K: you have to do your research to find a reputable place, once you secure placement you can get packages such as reimbursed airfare and housing. The low cost of living and the relatively high wage allows for a person to save some money. The children are relatively well-behaved, but the Koreans as a whole are less welcoming and somewhat racist. You are often seen as a 'white face' in the classroom and less might be expected of you regarding actual teaching than in other countries. It is possible for me to gain a public school position there and my friend has a good chance of landing employment without teaching credentials or experience. Large expat community.

Taiwan: doesn't offer packages although some will help you with reimbursed airfare/housing, not usually both and often neither. The low cost of living allows one to save some money but not as much as South Korea. There is a bit more expected of you in regards to teaching, sometimes necessary to travel to several locations to teach, and finding private students can often be more lucrative and rewarding. I could gain a public school position there and there are opportunities for my friend to gain employment as well. Quality of life is better in that the locals are more welcoming and less racist. Large expat community. Ability to learn Chinese which is going to be a bit more useful back in the states, there is more of a cultural experience to be found here.

Japan: my friend and I have lived here before, me for 6 months and he for a year. We both love the culture, have some familiarity with the language, and of the Tokyo and Kyoto area. However, competition for jobs is steep, it's difficult to save money (although we do have some idea on how to live more cheaply, having been there before). We prefer Japan but while I may have a chance to find employment, he has much less of one. There is a smaller expat community here and racism.

We don't have much interest in staying and working in Thailand, it's too difficult to save any money unless you have landed a great position. We are searching for a place with a good cultural experience, more laid back lifestyle (guess Japan is out!^_^), ability to save some money (I want to send about 300-400 home a month, and have something at the end of my contract), and good prospects for both of us finding employment.

Can anyone help us in providing their own experience and opinions as to where we ought to look first? Thank you so much!

creztor · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 476

Looks like it is T or K. If you want more money, head to K. If you want a better/easier life, then head to T.

melssa · Joined: 27 Apr 2010 Posts: 19 Location: Chicago

Thanks. Yes, I got that already...but I have been hearing from lots of people that actually WORKING in T is not so easy, although the lifestyle might be, and that working in K is actually easier...opinions?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

creztor · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 476

Do you hold a valid teacher's license? If so, then a public school job in Taiwan will be easy to find, but your friend will be stuck working in cram schools. They are OK, but become boring very quickly and the quality of them varies greatly. Work is easy to find in Taipei and can still be found outside of Taipei, but it does become increasingly more difficult to find. I would strongly recommend K over T, simply because you will earn a boatload more money and there is plenty of work. Taiwan is still doable, but your friend will find it harder to get work than you will.