Job Discussion Forums

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

Hi shift_

tedkarma's absolutely right.

TEFL isn't always a ticket

to the poorfarm.

Personally, I left the States 17 years ago -

in debt and with a fairly serious coke habit.

My well-paid job had become routine

and generally unrewarding.

Seventeen years later ...

I can honestly say I'm glad I left.

I enjoy the teaching & globe-trotting TEFL life.

I look forward to getting up in the morning.

I'm also completely out of debt now,

gave up the snortable brand of coke,

learned a thing or 2 about the English language,

and have been completely around the world twice.

I also have a permanent suntan at the moment,

courtesy of life in The Big Mango, a.k.a. Bangkok.

I never look back at the money.

Well ... almost never. Wink

I miss my red Ducati, dammit,

and could not afford that kind of luxury

on $1,000 per month, which I earn in Bangkok.

To cut straight to the chase;

TEFL isn't Paradise on Earth, but ...

it has helped me to clean up my life

and to discover the BIG world around me.

By accident, I've also discovered a hidden talent;

I seem to pick up new languages fairly quickly,

and thrive on the challenge that presents !

In a very real sense, I've managed to replace the $$$ I gave up all those years ago

with 'the adventure' - one whose value cannot be so easily pegged to the dollar.

Perpetual Traveller · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 651 Location: In the Kak, Japan

Alternatively do what I did, spend a year or so working in an even lower paid industry (the horse industry for those who don't believe there is one and oh yes it is) so that when you begin your TEFL career you are bowled over by how much people are willing to pay you Razz

PT

Will. · Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 783 Location: London Uk

As long as you don't expect to make lots of money you will enjoy spending it because in general eflers earn more than a local wage just about everywhere and with a little local savvy( a "friend") your monet=y will give you a good time while you are there. With experience there will follow money in greater quantities intil then kick back and enjoy the job , the people and the life.