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Mrs McClusky
Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 133
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 Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:24 am Post subject: |
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| sabina wrote: |
| Mrs McClusky wrote: |
For social fun nothing beats Bangkok and there is some nice work there too.
Thai kids are really cute, adorable and very respectful of teachers. The teenagers I wouldn't touch with a barge-pole and university gigs are like modelling agencies.
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What do you mean by uni jobs being like modeling agencies? |
I meant that the university uniform leaves a lot to be desired and tends to be exploited somewhat. |
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Mrs McClusky
Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 133
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| Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:29 am Post subject: |
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| rafaella wrote: |
Sabina wrote:
What do you mean by uni jobs being like modeling agencies?
I took it to mean that a person was likely to be hired based on whether he/she looked the part rather than on experience and ability. |
See my above post |
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santi84
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Posts: 1317
Location: under da sea
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| Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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rafaella,
My experience is teaching French-Canadian and Korean/Chinese students in Canada (not the same, but somewhat similar as you teach in France, correct?). French students are much more verbal, outspoken, and opinionated (although I'm sure my Asian students have opinions, but they rarely voice it). Getting the Asian students to actually speak is like pulling teeth, whereas my French students will talk long after the class ends. On the other hand, my Asian students tend to take their actual homework assignments more seriously (*although this is not saying much!! The French students never did their homework).
Sorry, no actual information on teaching in Asia itself from me! |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 11:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Mrs McClusky wrote: |
| sabina wrote: |
| Mrs McClusky wrote: |
For social fun nothing beats Bangkok and there is some nice work there too.
Thai kids are really cute, adorable and very respectful of teachers. The teenagers I wouldn't touch with a barge-pole and university gigs are like modelling agencies.
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What do you mean by uni jobs being like modeling agencies? |
I meant that the university uniform leaves a lot to be desired and tends to be exploited somewhat. |
What uniform? Here in Japan neither students nor teachers in university wear uniforms. |
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Riviello
Joined: 12 Apr 2011
Posts: 66
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| Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 1:01 am Post subject: |
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In China, university students aren't required to wear a uniform, like they are in high school, but a lot if not most university "majors" have either a uniform or shirt. You'll see the kids wearing their class/major clothes every now and then.
It is kind of similar to students at the University of ? in the USA wearing shirts with the schools name. But, here in China the shirts/uniforms are always the same style & color, depending on the major. |
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Perilla
Joined: 09 Jul 2010
Posts: 792
Location: Hong Kong
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| Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 1:15 am Post subject: |
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| Mrs McClusky wrote: |
| sabina wrote: |
| Mrs McClusky wrote: |
For social fun nothing beats Bangkok and there is some nice work there too.
Thai kids are really cute, adorable and very respectful of teachers. The teenagers I wouldn't touch with a barge-pole and university gigs are like modelling agencies.
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What do you mean by uni jobs being like modeling agencies? |
I meant that the university uniform leaves a lot to be desired and tends to be exploited somewhat. |
I think Mrs McClusky is speaking metaphorically. |
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garybliss123
Joined: 20 Mar 2011
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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| I think the poster means, the Thai girls' uniform for university is very sexy. |
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Iceman33
Joined: 08 Nov 2009
Posts: 91
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| Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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If you're wanting something exotic, then Asia is the place, imho, unless you're attracted to Europe for other reasons (languages, culture, architecture, etc). Turkey, I suppose, is a somewhat exotic, but still Western (philosophies, religion, etc).
I thought of going to Thailand (like the culture, food, exotic feel, etc), but the low salaries (not a huge fan of extreme heat, either) seemed to have pulled me away from further consideration.
Europeans remind me too much of back home (already lived there, so).... I want something different, although I love French, German and Russian languages.
Japan seems exotic, too, but it appears much more uptight and unrelaxed (perhaps less in in Hokkaido, rural areas, etc lol).
Who know where I will end up? Probably Asia, but...maybe...Turkey...lol |
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Hod
Joined: 28 Apr 2003
Posts: 1613
Location: Home
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| Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| Mrs McClusky wrote: |
| sabina wrote: |
| Mrs McClusky wrote: |
For social fun nothing beats Bangkok and there is some nice work there too.
Thai kids are really cute, adorable and very respectful of teachers. The teenagers I wouldn't touch with a barge-pole and university gigs are like modelling agencies.
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What do you mean by uni jobs being like modeling agencies? |
I meant that the university uniform leaves a lot to be desired and tends to be exploited somewhat.
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What uniform? Here in Japan neither students nor teachers in university wear uniforms. |
Now it's possible the Bangkok and Thai stuff were throw away comments, and Mrs McClusky was actually referring to the uniforms worn at the University of Ulaanbaatar following a recent secondment there. I�ll stick my neck out, though, and guess he was referring to Thailand? |
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isitts
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Posts: 193
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 6:07 am Post subject: Re: Teaching in Europe v Teaching in Asia |
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| rafaella wrote: |
| As someone who has taught in Europe and is considering teaching in Asia, I'd be interested to get opinions from teachers who have taught in both regions. What types of differences have you encountered? I'm thinking about matters such as students' behaviour and expectations, learning style and appropriate teaching methods, etc. What types of problems did you have? Did you have to adopt new methods? |
I haven't taught in Europe but the majority of my students in my TEFL course were from Europe. They are far more outspoken and willing to answer questions and make mistakes than Asian students. And they do tend to ask more specific questions about why one grammar form is used over another.
Asians tend to be much shyer and far more afraid of making mistakes in class. You would probably need to work to make them feel more comfortable making mistakes. Once you do that, they�ll open up more.
There are some exceptions, though. When I taught adults in Taiwan, many of my students did have very specific questions concerning grammar. The English ability in Taiwan was considerably higher than in Japan or Korea (though, in fairness, I didn�t teach adults in Japan or Korea. But I base this on the adults I did speak with in these two countries).
I would guess that if you wanted something more similar to Europe (with regard to teaching), then maybe teach in Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Singapore (though the latter two might require more than a TEFL cert to get good pay).
But if you�re leaving Europe for financial reasons, then I�d say Korea, Japan (depending on location and accomodations of the job), or Taiwan (at least after getting connections in Taiwan) would be more to your liking. Though, China might be a good deal now, too. I�ve seen some pretty high salaries offered there.
That�s just the job itself. Life outside of work, well that�ll be different. I�ve been to Prague once, and that was just really different from anywhere in Asia I�ve been. But it�s all interesting to me. |
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Aristede
Joined: 06 Aug 2009
Posts: 180
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| Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 8:30 am Post subject: |
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| Iceman33 wrote: |
Who know where I will end up? Probably Asia, but...maybe...Turkey...lol |
It has been a similar quandary for me recently. I finished a year in China last month, and would like to go somewhere very different while still being able to save some earnings.
All things being equal, I would choose Turkey without a second thought. I've been considering Thailand and Vietnam as well, but as you said, extreme weather, not great pay, etc.
For me, what seems to be the dealbreaker with Turkey is the cost of both temporary accommodation and long-term housing. From all I've read, these are expensive in Turkey. The prospect of staying in hostel dorms or living with roommates does not appeal to me, and I don't see other feasible options, particularly in Istanbul.
It is too bad, because much about Turkey appeals to me. Another stint in Asia seems likely, though. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 8:56 am Post subject: |
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| The pay in Vietnam is actually pretty good from what I have heard. |
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Iceman33
Joined: 08 Nov 2009
Posts: 91
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| Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 1:12 am Post subject: |
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[quote="Aristede"]
| Iceman33 wrote: |
It has been a similar quandary for me recently. I finished a year in China last month, and would like to go somewhere very different while still being able to save some earnings.
All things being equal, I would choose Turkey without a second thought. I've been considering Thailand and Vietnam as well, but as you said, extreme weather, not great pay, etc.
For me, what seems to be the dealbreaker with Turkey is the cost of both temporary accommodation and long-term housing. From all I've read, these are expensive in Turkey. The prospect of staying in hostel dorms or living with roommates does not appeal to me, and I don't see other feasible options, particularly in Istanbul.
It is too bad, because much about Turkey appeals to me. Another stint in Asia seems likely, though. |
Thailand appeals to me on so many levels: exotic feel, the friendly people, food, no religious nuts (well, friendly Buddhist monks lol), relatively safe, "anything-goes" attitude in Bangkok (no, I'm not into brothels, drugs, etc lol). The housing conditions are pretty good, I hear (Thais are pretty clean, or so I hear). But, the low wages (live decently while there, but nothing when converted back into US dollars) and the extreme heat are downsides. I suppose there is no perfect place.  But it's so exotic, friendly, and safe, and that I like!
It's not likely I will be going to Turkey, even though there are things that are a bit appealing, particularly in Istanbul (the Mediterranean climate, language, exotic feel, some of the foods, etc). There are just too many issues with getting a valid visa (tons of red tape, but folks do work there illegally), high cost of living for wages, lots of shady schools, etc... And even in big urban areas like Istanbul, which is very modern and free, there isn't that overall relaxed, I-can-do-what-I-want feel like in Bangkok, and others areas of Thailand, The rest of Turkey is too conservatively Muslim for me. It just wouldn't work (some others things, too, I don't like about the culture, but I won't go into detail).
It's either Japan for a year or Thailand for a short-term gig. Russia just has too many downsides, despite my interest in the language. But I could go to Russian short-term ...maybe...after I muster up some experience in Asia lol
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