Job Discussion Forums

johnslat · Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 6:54 pm Post subject:

Dear Sasha,

No need - I am in awe of your mastery of dialectics and your supreme ability to produce the syntheses of theses and antitheses.

Hegel himself would be filled with admiration.

Regards,
John

contented · Joined: 17 Oct 2011 Posts: 136 Location: اسطنبول

Dear Johnslat,

So now we all know that you are in awe of Sasha's mastery of dialectics Laughing

, can you please tell us where your best experience was teaching abroad?

johnslat · Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 7:22 pm Post subject:

Dear contented,

Ah - but "best" is such a general term: 1. for surroundings: Indonesia (but the pay was poor); for money: Saudi Arabia (but the surroundings were bleak); for memories: Iran (but the Islamic Revolution cut short my stay there.)

So, it seems there's always a downside (or downsides) to offset the upside (or upsides.)

Except for my current teaching experience, here in Santa Fe; it's all good, but that wouldn't be the case if I needed a decent, steady income. However, at this stage in my life, I don't - so, I'm contented. Oops, sorry - you're contented

Regards,
John

contented · Joined: 17 Oct 2011 Posts: 136 Location: اسطنبول

[quote="johnslat"]

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Perilla · Joined: 09 Jul 2010 Posts: 792 Location: Hong Kong

My favourite teaching gig was South Korea, where I taught for two years on the EPIK programme '97-'99 - not because I enjoyed the teaching but because I didn't have much teaching to do. I enjoyed Korea because I liked the people, liked the food, liked the weather and had fun.

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

Italy.

contented · Joined: 17 Oct 2011 Posts: 136 Location: اسطنبول

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

Well apart from the lifestyle (which is pretty good - y'know, good food, sunny weather, nice people) students are great, and there's a lot of interesting teaching you can do. I've taught business English, teens, and uni students; done traditional classroom teaching and developed elearning programmes... a great mix and all challenging.

MotherF · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 6:06 pm Post subject:

I worked with some really great people (fellow foreigners) in Ecuador and had the time of my life, but teaching kind of sucked and I was living off savings. I enjoyed Japan a lot more than I thought I would, and I had more disposible income than I've ever had in my life (that was in the mid 90s). The teaching was just so-so.

But I found work satisfaction in Mexico, where I was really encouraged to develop myself as a teacher and deepen my knowledge of second language acquisition. And it continues to do so, nearly 15 years later. Outside of work, I also found love in Mexico. Razz

And I'm able to live a very comfortable life.

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

Get a few years of full-time service with any private sector or government employer, and you'll get more than two weeks of vacation. A lot of people I know have trouble using all of their vacation, and end up losing some of it, or being forced to take days off before year's end.

contented · Joined: 17 Oct 2011 Posts: 136 Location: اسطنبول

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

Shite. Yes. Thanks. Sorry about that. I'll repost.

contented · Joined: 17 Oct 2011 Posts: 136 Location: اسطنبول

MotherF · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 11:48 pm Post subject:

Good question.
Your question made me realize that I also left out something about the hours worked. In Ecuador I taught two hours a day and was only paid for those hours, had the rest of the day to do as I pleased. In Japan, I worked 5 hours a day, taught 4 or 5 of those depending on the day. Here in Mexico I have to be a work 8 hours a day (teaching 3 or 4 of those.) So when the work wasn't very rewarding, I only had to muddle through it for a short time. In Japan I was paid very well, and also did some private lessons enough to cover my expenses from privates, and all my language school salary was to save or blow on trips. Now have a family so my expenses are much higher and I'm less likely to take any kind of finacial risk because I have minor dependants. So I'd personally be a lot less likely to quit here unless I knew for certain that I was going to something better.