Job Discussion Forums

[Guy Courchesne]

[MELEE]

I'll play, but my answers are very similar to another poster who works at one of the sister schools of my school.

location: Mexico, deep in the hinterland!

employer: Public University Language Center

teaching hours/week: 15 (+ lesson planning, marking, office hours, exam writing, Dave's, etc. to make up a 40 hour work week.)

pay range: about US 1,200 a month, 14 months a year!

transportation to work: car--15 minutes, but I drive because I drop my twins off at day care and its the only way they would be able to ride in safety seats. I used to walk (5 minutes, I lived nearer work then) or take a bus. The bus would be 30 minutes from current house.

monthly expenses: including live in housekeeper's salary, about 1000 a month! Before kids it was much less, around 600 a month (about 50% of salary).

how's the market: great, in the state we need more teachers, if you are qualified and experienced, and want to live in rural Mexico, give me a shout!

teacher get togethers: There are 15 native speakers on staff, the single ones tend to socialize a lot together. I also try to attend a national teachers conference every year.

what kinds of English do you teach: general English to non-English majors from true beginner to TOEFL prep classes

how long until you had your first job in that town: It was pre-arranged over the internet, I would never have found my way here otherwise!

how long will you stay there total: indefinitely (8 years and counting)

AND

why are you there:
Well, I came here because I'm a Latinophile and after a year and a half in Japan I wanted to get back to a Spanish speaking country. I choose Mexico because most of my previous experience, both in living in and studying about Latin America was in the Andean region. I wanted to branch out and learn more about Mexico, which had been my first taste of Latin America way back on a short high school exchange.
I've stayed here because I fell in love, with the place, the job, and oh yeah, a guy who was born in this town.

[sidjameson]

location: Osaka, Japan

Employer: National university

Teaching hours a week: 9. No office time, meetings etc. Teach and go oon 2 days.

Pay range: Including the housing allowance, bonus etc, 8 million yen a year. About $5000 a month take home.

Transpotation to work: 5 mins to station. 35 mins on train. 15 mins walk to uni. Transportation paid for.

Monthly expenses: $1500 covers all my needs and entertainment.

Market?: Everybody wants these uni jobs so competition is fierce. Saying that, people who really try seem to find a post though.

Teacher get togethers: None. Never met any other native at my university. Lots of bars though to meet other teachers in other jobs.

What kind of English do you teach: Writing, Higher speaking, Int speaking

How long until you had your first job in that town; Pre arranged from net. But this job took 8 years to get. Right contacts.

How long will you stay: Was planning on leaving this year, but when I was offered this job everything changed. Could be here forever now.

Why are you here: I Like Japan. Life here is very nice. But really it's the job now. The most money for the least work that I have ever done. Travel in vacations.

For the balance between lifestyle and savings I really think that working at a university in Japan can't be beat.


[/b]

[travelingirl68]

Location: Bangalore, India

Employer: IT Support Center

Teaching Hours per Week: Teaching? Hmmmm... Occasional classes and coaching... 40 Hour work-week, Mon.-Thurs. late afternoon to 2am-ish.

Pay/Benefits: Housing is covered (flat/apartment/house), free meals while working, free transport to and from work, first year about $1,000 monthly, nice increase (I hope!) for second year.

Transportation: shared car service provided by employer, about 15 min. door to door, a bit more depending upon time of day.

Monthly Expenses: around $500, but that includes travel in India, dinners out, etc.

Market: hiring!

Teacher get togethers: Among a staff of 30, smaller groups of friends have developed - as often as you wish!

Types of English: more cross-cultural communication strategies, some pronunciation and grammar.

How long until I had this job: pre-arranged via the net, a few months of pre-processing, interviews, making connections on Dave's!

Why you are here: The best paying gig in India - a country I wanted to take my time exploring.

How long I will stay: one more year, depending upon salary increases and personal relationship development.

[guangho]

Updates people!

[Ai]

location: A suburb of Tokyo

employers: A regional eikaiwa chain

teaching hours/week: 23

pay range: 260,000 yen a month

transportation to work: train (paid for by company)

monthly expenses: I could get by on about us$1200 but i spend more and end up saving about us$500 a month

how's the market: the market is good if you're willing to work at an eikaiwa, and fairly good if you want to work as an assistant language teacher in a public jr/sr high school. If you want get into something more professional (private highschools and universities) the competition is pretty fierce.

how long until you had your first job in that town: I stayed at my first job 4 months and that was 4 months too long.

Teachers get together: There are thousands of foreign teachers in Japan. It's more of a challenge to get away from them than it is to get together in the Tokyo area.

how long will you stay there total: I've been here for a year and the length of my stay will depend on whether or not i land a uni job for the next academic year.

why are you there: Good question. I plan on doing tefl as a career and japan seemed like a safe place to start. It's a great place to live, very convenient, safe, great food ect. I'm very glad i came.

The Students Working for an eikaiwa you get everything from 2 year olds to 70+ year olds, salary men to housewives.