Job Discussion Forums

Cardinal Synn · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 586

Why not just do the CELTA - you obviously feel you are likely to be suited to teaching or you wouldn't consider it - then just take a deep breath and sign up with as decent a school as you can find? With your degree plus a CELTA, you could find a good job once you've arrived in Jakarta. I've done the short stay visa thing before and it's a pain in the butt plus a worry. You like Jakarta, so what harm would a year do? Go for it.
However, if you do decide to just chance the 3 months, you're best bet is to do a lot of knocking on doors or phoning. You could go directly to schools, ask to see the DOS and see what happens. The Jakarta Yellow pages has loads of schools listed.

Salam · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 3:32 pm Post subject:

Here at my university CELTA costs about $A2900. That's no pocket change for a student such as myself.

Cardinal Synn · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 586

I don't know, you seem to be making it difficult for yourself. Every bit of advice you're given you just counter with something. Why ask for help?
I give up.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Salam · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 4:40 pm Post subject:

Sorry I didn't realise it would be so hard to find some part-time (temp) work in a city that I thought was crying out for native english speakers.

I don't have the kind of money required to do Celta - yet. I'm not going to find that money until I've at least tried working in the field and am 100% certain that it is my career choice for the foreseeable future.

I also am not prepared to pack up all of my household furniture etc and put it in storage in the 'hope' that everything will work out fine. Call me cautious, but I want to be sure of my choice and sure of my career. I MAY not be well suited to teaching and wont stick out a whole year, ripping off the students, who deserve an enthusiastic teacher who wants to be there. Apart from teaching english I have no other real qualification so have no idea what other kind of work I would be able to get in Jakarta (not being fluent in Bahasa)

Apologises if it sounds like I am countering every suggestion, I just thought that a trial period of three months was a wise decision before making the rather large decision to move my entire life to another country. Perhaps it was easy for you the first time, but I'm not one to live out of a suitcase, I find somewhere I am comfortable and I set up shop for a long time. Yes three months is a non-standard way of doing things, but if all worked out fine then I'd probably be there for the next 10+ years.

willy · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 4:43 pm Post subject:

as of jan 1 2005 only 30 visas.
and a work visa is 1,200US$ to manpower and another 2-10mil for fees.
a flight to Singapore is 575US from here in nowhere land and the return is the next day.

Salam · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 4:45 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the advice ls650. It is not that I would "want out of the country after three months". I love Jakarta and plan on spending the majority of the rest of my life there with an indonesian wife. The only reason for leaving would be:
a) I am not suited to the job - let's face it, not everyone is.
b) I do not like the working conditions of my employer.

Now "bolting" from reason A wont make a great deal of difference as I wont be doing that work again anyway. But what about if I am not happy with the school? I am required to work out the whole year? Frankly I'd rather pay for my own airfare, visa, KITAS etc and work without contract. Is such a thing possible?

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

I think the "volunteer organization" route may be your best option. I do know that programs providing free English classes in small villages do operate in Indonesia. Maybe there is some opportunity there for you..?

Salam · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 4:51 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the figures Willy. I know return flights to SG from JKt are much cheaper when you are there. I'm very good friends with the consular staff here in Perth - I might pop in tomorrow and discuss with them what's required for a working visa and what it costs on this end. The one bright note about them is they are not corrupt so there should be less "fees" if you know what I mean.

eddie honda · Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 59

Volunteers Needed: Bali and Java, Indonesia

Posted By: VIBE <[email protected]>
Date: Tuesday, 29 March 2005, at 8:23 a.m.

The VIBE Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Bali, Indonesia. At VIBE, we are dedicated to providing free educational services to rural areas in Bali and western Java. We are currently looking for dedicated volunteers to join our programs this August 2005. We have openings for the following positions

1. ESL teachers for Bali and western Java
2. Teacher-trainer to work with local teachers
3. Children's creative art program coordinator
4. Environmental-awareness program developer for schools
5. Various other internships with our partner programs, including SOS Sumatran Orangutan Society, IDEP Foundation, SOS orphanage, and several health care clinics.

For more information please visit our website at www.vibefoundation.org or email Jenny at [email protected]

Please only serious inquiries. All positions are for a minimum of 4 months. We have a program fee to cover our running costs.

Salam · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 5:41 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the information.

I think I'll just sign up for a 12 month contract and see how I go. Anyone want to recommend any schools in Jakarta?

What teaching methods do they use? Anyone able to PM me and give me some information? Do most schools have a training time before throwing you in the classroom?

route67 · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:11 am Post subject:

Dude, why not just sign a 12-month contract and, if things ain't going as swingingly as you thought, bail out after 3 months? Forget ethics - the average Indo school manager wouldn't think twice about stiffing YOU, so why should we care if the boot is on the other foot?

guruengerish · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Posts: 424 Location: Australia

"Sorry I didn't realise it would be so hard to find some part-time (temp) work in a city that I thought was crying out for native english speakers." Your quote

I thought the whole point was that Indonesia needs trained native speaker TEACHERS, not native speakers.

I've said it before and I'll say it again; no matter what your degree, (other than education) there are few people who can waltz into a classroom and teach English if they've never had any training.

It's easy enough to speak to another English speaking person, but the methodology, the techniques, the ideas, need to be put in a clear, logical manner to non-English speaking students. That's what the TESOL training is all about!

Give everyone a break, get some training, and then come and teach. Twelve months in Jakarta is not the end of the world, and as someone has said, get some training with EF and go out and teach! Very Happy

Salam · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:43 am Post subject:

I agree, training is essential, both at university and at the individual school.

I stated before that I am doing a TESOL minor for my degree (Communication and Cultural Studies), I would have made it a major but I've already completed that. I'm also going to be doing some volunteer teaching at a local high school (mostly foreigners) so that I have some sort of experience. I do not have any delusions that anyone can just waltz in and start teaching - and be any good at it. In fact some people even after training are still no good (I'm sure each of you have met someone like that still teaching), which is why I wanted to try my hand at it first to make sure I was going to be any good at it. Thought it was a wise precautionary move.

As for 12 months in Jakarta I plan on spending the rest of my life there, so no problems. You mentioned EF, I realise they don't pay the best but what is the teacher training/support like? I know the schools vary, I mean on average, or ifyou could recommend a certain school that woudl be great.

Looks, thanks to all those who have helped out here. I know my idea was out of the ordinary and much advice has been given and taken to heart. Please don't think anything has been discarded or ignored if I play a little 'devil's advocate', just want to make sure that my move is a permanent and hassle-free (as much as possible) one.

So thanks again!

phis · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 250

Dear Guruengerish

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You have said it so well. This person has no real interest in teaching, or in Indonesia. English teaching is not just an 'easy option' for spending a finite or infinite period of your life in doing 'other things'.[/i]