Job Discussion Forums

[Lack]

I'm finishing up this semester in China, but then plan to get out in January. China's eternally grey skies are really taking a lot out of me, and I also happen to be living in quite a s***-pit. (I'm pretty sure that smoke monster thing from "Lost" has taken over my city.)

Time for a change.

So what I want to do is set up my next job in Asia while on the road. (I'm open-minded about which country to go next.) In other words, my plan is to travel in January and part of February and be ready to start my next job in late February or early March. (Yes, most likely a training school. Yes, I know. No need to say anything. Really.) Short term is preferable, but I'm open-minded.

What are some countries where I can do this? Has anyone ever done this before? I don't have original docs with me. I avoid countries that need those because it's silly. (Yes, it is silly. No, you can't change my mind about that. My country lets people in willy-nilly. Papers or no papers, docs or no docs. If a foreign country is worried about some first-worlder not having originals, I'll just say neeeexxxxttt. Chill. No, chill.)

I'm finding some short term jobs online that I could do this with, but most of them include fees for their program or are just flat out volunteer work (in which case I would just rather travel for fun, not to work for free. I always say this: since I can work for anyone for free, would I work for you? No, no I wouldn't.)

I know this likely means getting in with a low quality school. I'm fine with that since it's short term. Yes, I know that effectively would make me one of the Nicholas Cages of EFL teaching. (Hey, if he can star in a "Left Behind" movie, I can go to a crummy school for a few months. At least I'll still have some dignity left afterwards.)

As long as they are paying me and I'm not paying them, and I can set it up while on the road, I'm open to it.

Here's what is currently in the running:

Vietnam: I've read that one can work there for under 3 months without a work permit. But then I hear a lot of things about how things work (or don't work?) for Vietnam. Apparently things change there approximately every two days.

Thailand: Whooo boy. Yeah, from what I'm hearing, things are getting pretty bad there. But come on, it's Thailand. Bangkok. One of the most fun cities in the world, right? I know the state of EFL teaching there is as dismal as ever. (Perhaps to the point of making freakin'-Nick-Cage-in-a-Left-Behind-movie-look-dignified-by-comparison bad.) But if it's a country I can do this, I'm game. I found short term programs for this, but with a program fee, which is not cool, man, not cool at all.

Honestly those are the best two options that I see. Asia somehow got to be a small place.

Come on, Davers. Bring it on. Hit me with your pet shark. (I swear, that's what she's really singing.)

[kurtz]

Firstly, I don't think you're country hopping, you're just moving to another country after a bit of travelling; some of us have been doing that for years. I'd say country hopping is continuously changing countries after a year of work.

To be frank mate, your attitude is holding you back. If a country needs docs to work legally, then you have to suck it up. I'm not sure people can just turn up in a Western country and start a professional job without the right papers. You're taking a potshot at illegal immigrants I guess.

As you have realised, you'll be working bottom feeder jobs at a very low rate of pay, or, like many of the chancers out there, cobbling up work at multiple centres to make ends meet.

In short, try Vietnam, Thailand or Cambodia. Use Dave's or turn up in one of those countries and sniff out where the foreign teachers hang out; someone usually knows some school after a warm body with a pulse.

[EFL Educator]

To The OP,

Just hop on the EFL Bandwagon to Kaosarn Road in Bangkok....Thai schools are always looking for a falang with a pulse...expect Baths 30,000/Month...with a degree and TEFL certificate.

[Lack]

[sigmoid]