Job Discussion Forums

ESLMaster · Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 20

One of my favorite professors at university once told me that when it comes to posts online about ESL positions:

"Where there is SMOKE (posts), there may be FIRE (real problems) ...
But realize that 90% of the time, only disgruntled people make posts... Happy people just do not take the time to say, "HEY, WORKING HERE IS GREAT! EVERYONE COME!""

So It makes me wonder, could teaching in Singapore be THAT great...
there are so FEW posts, one way or the other, about teaching there...and the EFL job market does exists...so what does anyone else think about this? Any info on teaching in Singapore???

gerard · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 581 Location: Internet Cafe

True people are quicker to post when they are PO'd . Some think it has to do with entertainment options -hence Korea with less teachers than Japan has a much bigger board...Maybe Singapore is a well kept secret....

tjpnz2000 · Joined: 22 May 2003 Posts: 118 Location: Japan

Put it this way:

When was the last time you saw an ad in the job postings on this site for Singapore?

I have visited Singapore a couple of times and as far as I can see they don't need ESL teachers because they all speak English. Not the greatest English you ever heard but it is English.

Yellowseaman · Joined: 03 Jun 2003 Posts: 6

Howdy Partners, I work in China and am making a move in a month one of the options was Singapore because A good friend of mine here is from there, he seemed very positive that someone like myself with experience and a degree but no tefl/celta could get a job there.I asked him why he thought this and he informed me that a lot of chinese students study in singapore.Anyway I have searched the internet and found nothing in the way of advertised jobs,my friend said when you arrive get a cheap hotel and buy the newspaper on the one day a of the week it lists teaching positions.He seemed to think it was easy, as for saving money he said someone like myself who lives on a weekly shop from a supermarket should have no trouble saving with an hourly rate of 50$ singapore an hour.

This could be a load of rubbish though who knows.

I have decided against it because I enjoy cigarretes and beer too much to live in that sterile environment.Also I have been known to forget to flush the toilet which is criminal in that country.

kozo · Joined: 29 May 2003 Posts: 11

I'm just laughing myself after reading that. From the looks of this group, nobody's going to read this anytime soon, but I have to post.

I've no idea what the situation is for English teachers in Singapore. My guess would be, not very good. But getting to the "Sterile environment," it's hardly sterile. If you like beer and smoking, then you'll be fine in Singapore. And as far as flushing goes...that's one of Singapore's dirty little secrets. Try finding a public toilet that doesn't have piss all over the seat! Good luck! I was unlucky enough to eat some bad curry and had food poisoning for a week. I swear I could have strangled someone when I had to make a mad rush for the toilets only to find urine on every seat. On more of a sociological level, that should tell you that even though singaporeans are forced to be clean (cleanest city in the world?) if it weren't for the laws, it wouldn't be all that clean.

Point of this post: No point

KoZo

Mish · Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Posts: 3 Location: Hungary

I haven't tried applying for jobs in Singapore, but I hear (from my Singaporean friends) that the Ministry of Education is desperate for teachers (any subject).

For non-Singaporeans/non-residents, there is some red tape involved of course, but if you can get a credible employer to push your papers through for you, then most of the work is at their end.

Try www.moe.gov.sg (I think that's the site for the Singaporean Ministry of Education, which may be able to provide you with more info or job postings for government schools).

Trivia : Gum-chewers may find the going tough in S'pore. Chewing gum is not sold in public and is frowned upon by the authorities. If you have to chew gum, you are allowed to bring in a small supply for your own consumption. A larger supply may arouse suspicions that you may be planning to sell it on the streets illegally!

just me! · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 12:54 pm Post subject:

Wow! So nobody in the entire cafe teaches in Singapore? I was actually considering Singapore, but like most of you mentioned it is hard to find a job offer from Singapore anywhere...at least where I've looked. I do know someone who teaches there (actually has been there for a while now) and she seems to like it...so who knows. Maybe Singapore is just a well kept secret like gerard mentioned.

AndyinHK · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Posts: 98

I started in Korea. I learnt a lot. Stay away from the big cities and start off small. Experience the culture and the slightly slower pace allows you to put into practice what your learned during your cert. It allows time for lesson planning and reflection.

Just my humble opinion.

Kathvit · Joined: 22 Feb 2004 Posts: 7 Location: Singapore

Dear all,

Is Singapore a well-kept secret? Umm. As I'm typing this, I'm not sure what my answer is. I guess I'll just keep on typing, and by the end of this post I might have an answer for you.

I've been teaching in Singapore since 2000. Before here, I taught in Malaysia, Australia and Japan. I love it here. Why? Yep, it's sterile, especially compared with Malaysia, but gee, it's so comfortable here. There are clean (for the most part) streets. I can go jogging at 10 pm and not get mugged or raped. There are more playgrounds per capita here than anywhere else in the world (it seems that way, and it's important with 2 kids). And if I crave chewing gum, I hop over to Malaysia and buy some. (on an entirely different note, contrary to popular belief, the food in Malaysia is 100 times better than that found in Singapore)

But I really think this is the main reason I'm here......

.........After living for 4 years in Japan where I (at first) had non-existant Japanese and couldn't understand a thing on TV (this was pre cable) I can now read the newspaper, have a conversation with the "machi" at the kopi tiam, and tell the taxi driver which way to go. All in English! Now when I was a young sprite in my twenties, this wouldn't have bothered me. Now I'm getting old (hitting my mid 30s) it's a big deal. I really like being able to understand the news, and having access to a public library system with English language books. It's comforting. And I can send my kids to local schools, because it's all in English.

What about the teaching situation? I teach young learners. There is quite a big ESL market here, especially for secondary students - exam prep courses- such as GP (general paper or A levels) or Primary 4 streaming preparation and PSLE (primary school leavning exam) Actually, a lot of the kids in these classes are native English speakers, so it isn't ESL or EFL . I also do enrichment courses. There is some part-time general English ESL and full time EFL with lots of students from Indonesia and China. Also, you have to have the relevant qualifications (B ed, BA + CELTA + DELTA or MA, or PGCE) in order to be registered with the Ministry of Education. Money can vary.

Here I am at the end of my post. Is Singapore a well-kept secret? For me it is - but I think it's not for everybody. If I had come here when I was single and didn't have a family I would have thought it the most boring place on Earth. Japan was a much better place for socialising and hanging out. If you crave excitement and get claustophobic, then this isn't the place for you. There are only so many times you can hike up Bukit Timah hill and visit Sentosa. But if you're an old fogey like me, come on down!

nonganT · Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 9 Location: singapore

Dear All,

I have read all your messages here. I am not quite happy about some of the comments here. I don't think is not fair for anyone to write somethings like what some of you did here.

I think what ever that happened in Singapore might also be happening in your country. It might not be as clean or as wonderful you think it supposed to be but can you name me a place that you don't even find urine on the toilet seat? Can you name a place that is 100% clean? I doubt you can. Not even in Japan.

You are here to seek job advises and some information. Ain't you?

I have been to a few Asia countries and no matter how bad they appear to be, I never utter a word because each country has their difficulties. So, who am I to comment so much when I can't even help or able to live in that country long enough to understand its culture. Don't listen too much. Why not just come and see for yourself. Just because you ate some dirty food and you started to make so much noise about this and that. I had ate some dirty food while in China. I could only blame myself for it. Then I can choose not to eat while I was in China but I did not therefore I got it and I fell sick. Don't tell me your country food are all very clean? When there are people, there will have problems.

The only message I think this person is being fair is the lady whom has been living in Singapore for 4 years. The rest, is like....I think you know.

I live here long enough to know what is going on. Yes, it might not be as wonderful or as exciting but I do know that this place is safe and peaceful. People here might not be as friendly but at least I know that people here are hard working.

All of us lead different life and style nobody has the right to make such a negative comment about the people in this country. If you do not live here long enough to see anything, I think you should think otherwise or speak lesser.

I have been to Thailand so many times but I never once did say anything negative about this country because I focus on the good things. This country has it difficulties/problems too. If we can't help, we should just keep quiet. Don't just blah and blah non-stop.

Think and think again....who are you to make so much comments? Living on this world is hard enough. Don't make it worst!

johnslat · Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2004 5:38 pm Post subject: The good and the bad

Dear nonganT,
Well, you could always start an

"In Defense of Singapore" thread.

Seriously though - if you think there are some harsh comments and negative impressions of Singapore here, just go up to the General Forum and take a look at the

"In Defense of Americans" thread, now on its twenty-second page.

Many teachers come to these forums to read both the good and the bad about different countries. And most also realize that one poster's feelings about a place are just that: one person's opinion.
But every place has its positives and its negatives - and Singapore is no exception. To write that posters don't have the right to make negative comments about a place and its people is worse than unrealistic - it's useless. People are always going to have good AND bad things to say about places, whether those comments are justified or not. You really need to be less thin-skined about hearing the negative. If you disagree with such comments, then refute them - but don't try to censor people.
Regards,
John

nonganT · Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 9 Location: singapore

johnslat · Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2004 12:49 pm Post subject: Nobody has the right

Dear nonganT,

nonganT · Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 9 Location: singapore

John,

I think I should end everything once and for all. SIGH....

I am not here to seek any "fight" with you nor anyone. I know that I sounded very defensive over my country and my country people. This is a very natural instinct. I am brought up here. This is my home.

You can go round and round with me and with your theories. What you wrote from the previous(2) messages were right and you got your points(at least in your eyes). You are trying to make me see things. You are trying to feed me with the so called correct "attitude". Thanks. I appreciated it. But I can choose not to listen to you however I did not. You can pick up any information from this message again and "throw" it back onto my face. You can questions me again and again but the next round when you replied, I won't write no more. This message will be the last replied. It is not that I have lost my defence skills or what but I think this thing is getting nowhere beside which may lead to another endless "fighting".

When I wrote "if anyone write anything untrue" It means: Anything which I know it is not happening in my country. You see, there are people whom just simply hate someone for no reason. I don't hate anyone here or even you. I just feel that I should stand up for my country when people are not being "Fair" but then again you wrote so much about the realitic stuffs here and about "the good AND bad things" here. Ok, you got your points. You do sounded that you did a lot of travelling around and you are matured to see things. You have a good skills too.

I thought that the last replied I wrote would have ended everything but it appeared not to. If you have a problem with me and my attitude then I have nothing to say. If you think that being defensive over your own country is a so called "Sinful" things to do here then by all mean just commdemn me. If you think that I am not very sure of what I am doing then just keep thinking that way. If you think that I am beginning to sound realitic then keep thinking that way. It does not matter to me. All I know is that anyone will defence their country if any(aliens) try to be funny.

Singapore might not be a perfect place to many people but to me this is the best place on earth. This is my home!

I am here to seek information just like anyone. So, I will keep doing so. If you like to keep me in "touch" please continue to do so. I might ONLY respond when its a friendly hello thing.

So, you take care and if I may have upset you or make you real pissed off then pardon me. Because whatever you wrote previously I did felt upset too but at least I did not question you back. I hope you understand.

Yeah, if you are an American, happy belated 4th July to you.

Regards,
nonganT

johnslat · Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2004 2:34 pm Post subject: There's no place like home

Dear nonganT,
Here's a friendly hello.
I'm not upset at all, nor pissed off in the least. I think it's only natural that you should want to defend your homeland from what you see as unwarranted attacks.
Thanks for the Independence Day greeting - actually, it's not a belated one here where I am (Santa Fe New Mexico) since it's 8:40 am, July 4th now.
And an early greeting on your 39th National Day, August 9th.
Here's a very nice website on that, just in case it's unfamiliar to you:

http://www.ndp.org.sg/

Regards,
John