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cynthialynn
Joined: 11 Apr 2004
Posts: 10
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 Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 6:15 am Post subject: WHERE TO GO???????? |
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Hello,
I am a 24 yr old female looking for my first ESL teaching position in Asia. I though S Korea is where I wanted to go because of fairly high wages and lots of job oppenings for us "newbies". The only problem is after reading posts in the Korean forum I am not so sure it is the place for me. I realize not everyone that goes to Korea has a bad experience, but a lot of schools there don't seem to be as much on the up and up as school's in other countries. I also here they treat American women somewhat poorly. I realize that I am steriotyping to a certain extent and in every country there will be culture shocks that you have to adjust to, but I can't help feeling maybe another country in Asia would be a better fit!
I have had a lot of experience in childcare, but no formal teaching so I feel like Japan might be hard to get. Any suggestions as to where to go...and if so what schools or recruiters in the area to go thru? Please respond ASAP as I'd like to make some headway soon.
Thanks for your help  ,
Cynthia
P.S. If you are a female teaching in Korea please let me know if I am way off in my thinking!! |
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nolefan
Joined: 14 Jan 2004
Posts: 1458
Location: on the run
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 7:16 am Post subject: china |
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Hi Cynthia,
I would highly recommend China for your first experience if money is not a concern of yours. What I mean by money is that you have no debts.
You can get a cushy university job working about 14-16 hours for at least 4000 RMB and be comfortable. heck, if you don't splurge on foreign goods, you might save a couple of hundred dollars a month.
I am a computer geek with very little teaching background and I have had no problems since I arrived two months ago. The fact that I teach at a Teacher's College is great becasue most of the students are motivated. I am doing this as a test to decide wether or not I want to get a MS in education...so far so good!!!
Please, please, take all of our opinions with a grain of salt. One person's heaven is another person's hell. The stories you have heard about Korea are tre, for the most part. But if people were really that beat up in there, what prevents them from packing up and going elsewhere?
Good luck! |
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cynthialynn
Joined: 11 Apr 2004
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 7:36 am Post subject: |
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Hello Noles...
Thanks for writing. I wouldn't mind China but that is one thing I am concerned about is the financial aspect. I do have about $20,000 in student loans that I am looking to pay down. While money isn't my utmost concern it is still a concern. I do take all opinions with a grain of salt...and realize that 1 persons hell is anothers heaven, but I have heard a lot of people in the same hell and situations time and again. There are just certain part of each counrtries culture that you will have to accept, I know. But I am wondering how ethical a lot of the schools are if ESL teachers are having to "fly by night". I'm afraid I'm going to get trapped in a situation like the movie "Brokendown Palace" I guess...haha  . I know I'm being overly parinoid but once you get there if you get trapped in one of these nightmares you might not get out for a while or without your sanity. Any other suggestions from anyone on a safe place for American females to teach, be respected, and still make good money?
Thanks |
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nolefan
Joined: 14 Jan 2004
Posts: 1458
Location: on the run
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 7:54 am Post subject: hum |
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20 grands in student loans is a bit high to deal with... I assume you're from the states so there is a way for you to deffer your payments for a little while.
Honestly, how much can you pay them back if you are fresh out of college looking at a 25K/ years salary (good case scenario) ?
Korea will give you the most mullah for your money. In China, you can earn about 8 or 9 thousand RMB a month easy if that is what you want...
IT all depends on your priorities.  |
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august03
Joined: 13 Oct 2003
Posts: 159
Location: Jiangsu, China
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 9:05 am Post subject: |
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I second China! You'll have no problem getting a job, and because everything is usually included (apartment, fully furnished, utilities paid for, return airfares, holiday pay, travel allowance etc....) plus a wage on top, you'll be able to save. Starting wage is from 3500RMB per month up to 10,000RMB, if you live in a small city you'll have trouble spending 3500 per month, more like 2500.
Yes, American girls (and girls from all nationalities) are welcome here.
Give China a try, it's great! |
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Shaman
Joined: 06 Apr 2003
Posts: 446
Location: Hammertown
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 10:54 am Post subject: Re: WHERE TO GO???????? |
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| cynthialynn wrote: |
| I have had a lot of experience in childcare, but no formal teaching so I feel like Japan might be hard to get. |
Not entirely so. Japan still remains one of the countries where newbies cut their teeth, so to speak. Teaching children - sometimes babies - remains the trend, so your aforementioned experience would be to your benefit.
Good Luck.
Shaman |
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Roger
Joined: 19 Jan 2003
Posts: 9138
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 11:52 am Post subject: |
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I don't second China for someone who has debts and is green.
I think it's immature for people with debts to look for jobs in foreign countries. Maybe this is a national psychological characteristic - apparently the U.S.A. has adopted the philosophy that the future will take care of its huge debts, but for an individual this is worse.
What if all your plans come to nil? A new SARS outbreak could wipe out all your savings made in a few months in China.
My view is that undecided people should stay put and learn to accept the rigours of life. Once you have repaid those loans you can still give in to your urge. By that time, you may also have a vague idea of which country would appeal to you the most. |
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dmb
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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What a great idea Roger. I don't know the percentage of EFL teachers with debt. But I'd imagine that it was quite high. So if they stayed at home then the non in-debt qualified teachers would be in great demand. Therefore We could demand higher salaries  |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 11:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Roger wrote: |
| I think it's immature for people with debts to look for jobs in foreign countries. |
I'd have to disagree. I think Japan and Korea (and probably Taiwan too, but I haven't worked there) are great places to make some money to pay off student loans. Many people in Japan can save $800-1,000 US/month. That'll go a long way to help pay off student loans.
Last edited by Gordon on Tue Apr 13, 2004 12:32 am; edited 2 times in total |
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august03
Joined: 13 Oct 2003
Posts: 159
Location: Jiangsu, China
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 12:20 am Post subject: |
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| oh blah, blah, blah, the girl doesn't want a lecture on how to live her life!! She wants answers to her questions. Yes, I have debt back home in Australia; there you go I admit it! I manage to save at least $300AUD a month, sometimes more. I would much prefer to be here in China with a small debt, than to be back home paying it off, not traveling, not teaching. |
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ls650
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 3484
Location: British Columbia
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 1:07 am Post subject: |
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Yes, you CAN save up a decent amount of money while working overseas.
One of my current co-workers went to Japan immediately after graduating university and worked for a school for a year. She enjoyed her time away _and_ saved up about $1000 US per month. She was able to pay off most of her student loans by the time she returned home. |
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 3:15 am Post subject: |
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I have something like a $40,000 debt hanging over my head. I certainly don't feel that I am immature for running away to another country. In fact, I incurred the debt precisely so that I could continue to teach (i.e., after EFLing for a couple of years, I decided to go back to school for an MA).
Debts do certainly limit where you can go, but there are plenty of payment plans. I'm trying to get mine paid off in ten years, but I know people who are on 20 and 30-year repayment plans. Such plans would give you a bit more flexibility.
d |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 4:00 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| apparently the U.S.A. has adopted the philosophy that the future will take care of its huge debts |
Look around, Roger. The USA hasn't cornered the market on this type of philosophy. And, to equate governmental thinking on such things with that of individuals (ie, students), is pretty poor.
cynthialynn,
A Canadian co-worker of mine paid off his university debts in 3 years while living in Japan from 1996 to 2000. His first year wasn't very focused on doing so, but he still managed to make his monthly payments. He soon learned how to tone down his spending and still make ends meet and do sightseeing while paying off his debt.
As mentioned earlier, your childcare experience may be quite helpful in Japan. The Ministry is changing schooling here to allow or force the younger kids to learn English, and its ideas are taking place faster than the Japanese teachers can keep up. So, they will need help from experienced foreigners. Look into the places like ECC Junior or Peppy Kids Club, as well as the international schools and elementary schools. Your lack of formal English teaching may be a detriment to you at first only because you don't know precisely how to approach such a task, but your childcare experience will help. Learn how to teach English. Look into getting a TEFL certificate. Read what you can find on nursery schools, elementary schools, international schools, etc. here.
It might not also hurt to read the book Being a Broad in Japan, or the related web site. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 6:11 am Post subject: money |
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Only US$1,000 a month ?
"sidjameson" says you can save US$40,000 a year in Japan !
And he knows how toget a job there if you have no degree.
He probably knows how to teach pigs how to fly as well. |
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struelle
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 2372
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 8:51 am Post subject: |
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Ah c'mon Roger, first you tell newbies on the China forum to post here space, and now you're shooting them down in this space too! 
The OP has legit plans and good questions, unlike some of the chaff who talk about asking schools to advance their airfare.
| Quote: |
What if all your plans come to nil? A new SARS outbreak could wipe out all your savings made in a few months in China. |
This could happen but many other 'what ifs' are likely to. Just be prepared without being over-cautious. In my case I lost all my savings in Chian, that is over $5000 Cdn on a bike trip in south China last year. However it was my own mistake, as carrying large amounts of cash in a bag was pretty stupid. If SARS was threatening my savings, I could easily wire them out of China.
| Quote: |
| My view is that undecided people should stay put and learn to accept the rigours of life. Once you have repaid those loans you can still give in to your urge. By that time, you may also have a vague idea of which country would appeal to you the most. |
I'll disagree here. Teaching overseas is not going to attract many 'stay put' people in the first place, and working and living in a foreign country helps people mature as they overcome challenges.
We can always ask how you got into TEFL in the first place, and why you are so harsh on those who want to have an adventure abroad.
Steve |
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