Job Discussion Forums

JonathanRossWC · Joined: 05 Dec 2011 Posts: 36

Thanks for the insight Glenski. I am definitely looking at Japan, and appreciate the knowledge about visas and start-up funds. Smile

Jonathan

chezal · Joined: 25 Feb 2009 Posts: 146

You have heard correctly in terms to what is now required to teach in Indonesia. It is required that you have a degree in English to legally be able to teach ESL. The law on this is becoming more and more strictly enforced. In some areas more than others though.

While it is still be possible to find work without a degree in English it would at some of the dodgier schools would pay peanuts.

JonathanRossWC · Joined: 05 Dec 2011 Posts: 36

Thank you for confirming that Chezal. I think it's a good step for Indonesia, if they can pull in enough EFL teachers with degrees in English. Unfortunately, I won't be one of them. Sad

Jonathan

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:04 am Post subject:

In your shoes, you are free and able to explore as you see fit. Nothing wrong with just going with one of your choices and seeing how it works out. If you have a nice chunk of change saved up, you can always catch a flight to the next EFL hotspot on your world tour list.

Indonesia, is a place I have heard some very good things about, and also some negative.

Latin America is a cake walk compared to many 3rd world countries. 7 years in Mexico, and I have seen both the good/bad sides.

I like both SE Asia and Lat. Am. as it is quite easy to hop on a bus or plane and be in someplace new in a short time. Lat Am is great cause Spanish is spoken from the Rio Bravo (Grande) to Tierra del Fuego. One language, so many diff cultures, cuisines, dialects, adventures... Cool

MotherF · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:46 am Post subject:

Isla Guapa · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 3:57 am Post subject:

reddevil79 · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 3:25 pm Post subject:

Not to mention Belize, Guyane fran�aise and Suriname Razz

MotherF · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 3:29 pm Post subject:

Yes, I was assuming people would know that. I was thinking more along the lines of the people who speak Quechua, Aymara, Tzoztil, Mixteco, etc.

I'll never forget the day I turned to the person I was interpreting for and said--"I can't talk to him, he doesn't speak Spanish." And he was complete blown away by the fact that there were Mexicans who can't speak Spanish.

JonathanRossWC · Joined: 05 Dec 2011 Posts: 36

Wow, thanks for the flurry of posts MotherF, Prof.Gringo, IslaGuapa and reddevil!
I am actually strongly considering Latin America, as I speak enough Spanish to get by (and can easily become near-fluent in a few months...it's just a matter of remembering some Spanish that I've lost by not speaking it).
Indonesia seems nice, but there is a new law there requiring a degree in English (mine's in Economics and Finance), and if I can scrape by in Latin America, I'd prefer it to Indo.

I think I am going to post a poll in the General Latin America forum to get any more information on different countries there. From my initial research, it seems like Mexico (D.F.) and Colombia (Bogota) are two decent places to go, and possibly Uruguay (although I don't know much about the job market/visas there).

I have absolutely no problem breaking even for a year or longer, and working my way up to a more comfortable pay and lifestyle. That could be the case in many professions, even in the USA. Smile

Jonathan