Job Discussion Forums

[Deicide]

[johnslat]

Dear Deicide,

So true - there's also ESL.

Regards,
John

[carmo85]

That's good news Stephen. That's what I want. I have intentions of doing a masters in September so if TEFL doesn't work out I can go home and do a masters there. I am currently trying to source a great European place to work. From my findings I can see that Prague is over saturated. Madrid has some scope for teachers but I have little to none experience and my CERT is not great. Where else is likely to be productive? I would love to go to Spain or anywhere in the Mediterranean for that matter.

[Deicide]

[carmo85]

Money is very light on the ground I'm afraid. I just came from Portugal, I loved it there. But what are you saying? It is very hard to get a job there?

[Glenski]

If you want to make just enough money to get by, that will be no problem, especially in the lesser developed countries.

If you want to have a "whale of a time", that's too subjective, but it rings of having an outstandingly good time, and nobody can promise that. My advice is to choose a country or two that seems interesting and that you are suited for visa-wise, research the markets there, and ask the forums for advice on the type of jobs you can expect and what cautions they advise.

[evolving81]

I think Justin is right. People often come on here to vent or seek information. However, there are people who are happy with their jobs but they might not be posting about it because they are just so damn happy.

Dude...go to South Korea, make some money and friends, have some fun... (famous last words? ) The OP is 24 and willing to experience something different. I think that's honorable. In 24 more years he might regret not doing it. Although if he does go abroad and teach and hates it he can always go back home and move on with his life.

[denise]

It's not all doom and gloom. Believe me, some of us enjoy TEFL.

You mentioned the Middle East--where did your friend go? The money is in the Gulf. That's where you'll get airfare, housing, etc. Do you have a TEFL certificate? (Apologies if you've mentioned your qualifications already--I've scrolled past what I presume to be all of the negative posts and might have missed some of yours.)

You want to hear positive experiences? Well, I started teaching 10 years ago and have not once regretted it. It's a job that I truly enjoy, it has allowed me to see parts of the world in ways that tourists can only imagine, and, thanks to my current job, it has allowed me to save some money. Sure, there can be daily frustrations--dealing with administrators from another culture who speak another language, being stared at (or worse for us gals) because you're a foreigner, etc.--but there are daily hassles back home, too.

I think the key is to go with balanced expectations--there will be things that you will love and things that will piss you off. You may have to choose between going to a place that appeals to you and going to a place that offers more money. As long as you can adapt either way, you'll do fine.

d

[basiltherat]

There is some positive stuff on Cambodia. Maybe look in that forum to see what people say in detail about it.
Best
Basil

[gaijinalways]

You really do have to consider what you're interested in. I was initially interested in Chinese societies, thus I lived in Hong Kong and Taiwan before coming to Japan (where I still am). This is my 18th year in this business, and yes, you can make very good money, but not sure you'll earn as much as your friends (nor work the hours they keep). Some of my colleagues make over 100k (USD) a year here, but they do put in some hours and some make more with fewer hours (seniority does have its benefits ).

But for you, a year and a half is very doable and you may change your mind (it can be very addicting) and decide that you like working abroad (and you can even do the same kind of work in Ireland, if you so choose in the future). Funny that you say 24 is young and you haven't decided what you want to do....

But then again, I'm approaching the half century mark, and I still don't have a clue , well most days anyway . But I enjoy what I'm doing now most days, so until I think of something more lucrative and interesting (have to pay the bills, married with a cat), here I am.

Thailand, Taiwan, etc are good. Europe would be okay too for you as your visa would be easy to arrange.

Take a globe and spin it and throw a dart at it, that should make it interesting (assuming your aim is good enough to hit the thing ). Though I have heard there are EFL jobs opening up in space...

[Deicide]

[johnslat]

Dear Deicide,

" . . . You will just be a dancing white monkey."

Hey, but you WILL be dancing.

OK, one more time I feel compelled (Stop me before I do it again) to note that just because an individual has a bad (or a good) experience in one place, guess what - that does NOT mean that every other individual will have the same.
Believe it or not, I actually had a GOOD experience in Saudi Arabia. But I am most certainly NOT laboring under the delusion that just because MY time there was satisfying, everyone else's will be, too.
In fact, being realistic, I'd say that the likelihood of that being the case is
NOT good.
But it all depends almost completely on two factors:

1. Where you work

2. Who you are

and we're all different.

Regards,
John

[nickpellatt]

Ill add another positive voice for you. I also really enjoy ESL/EFL, and perhaps like you ... the appeal lies in the travel and adventure associated with that.

I would imagine that staying in one country long term might be difficult, but if you are staying for a year or 18 months, you probably wont be concerned with saving up for a car, supporting a local wife/fiancee/girlfriend, and any other longer term expenses.

If you are willing to sample lots of local life and foods, you can live like a king in some countries, although I imagine this is less likely in the EU. I spent 18 months in China at one of the lowest paying jobs ever, but without any long term 'In China' expenses ... I was earning enough to eat out in restaurants twice a day, smoke, and go out pretty much anytime I wanted.

I also had some wonderful adventures and experiences along the way too ... which is probably just what you are seeking. Im actually heading back to China in a month for what I hope will be more of the same!

I have been working at summer schools etc in the UK this year ... I tend to get a lot of work from Easter - September ... and that paid well enough for me to visit Tanzania and climb Kilimanjaro last month, as well as pay for my flights out to China next month.

Go for it, I couldnt recommend it enough. For me the lifestyle has been great, and more importantly, I really enjoy being in the classroom too.

[carmo85]

You guys are great! I think a lot of you do underestimate my synopsis of ESL. I know that it is hard, and if I wasn't t he type of person that wanted to see new places and taste new food I would not even be here. This is why I feel ESL is good for me. I am confident, young, enthusiastic and I love to see the world. I am not pursuing this as a career ,, If you want my full story well here it is. If not, just skip to the end.

I have recently broken up with my long-term girlfriend and moved home after spending the last year in between Australia and Portugal. I am now faced with the blunt decision about what to do with my life. I think I want to go into development economics and help the developing world (albeit from a comfy office chair, but I never elude people into thinking otherwise). For that, I need a masters and some experience. I do not have the money or the connections to get an internship or relevant volunteer positions (please, don�t try and convince me otherwise, I�ve spent weeks researching this). Then I had the idea of going to Ecuador and teaching English whilst volunteering, learning Spanish and earning (3 birds, one stone right?). So the more I looked into it the less it appealed to me. Then, my local Govt. told me that they would pay a maintenance grant to do my masters (because the Irish economy id in dire straights) in September '10. So, then I decided to try somewhere in Europe until August so I can be near home if I feel that the masters is the best thing to do. If not, well I will have a small bit of experience and enough to get me a more lucrative job abroad (ME, China etc.). And here I am...


Thanks for all your help and please keep it coming. I am currently thinking about Spain but I change my country of choice every 6 hours! I want to learn Spanish as it would be an advantage in my development role if I chose to pursue it. I believe that I am over-thinking it and I may well need to just "spin a globe" and go!

[Deicide]