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CheekyL
Joined: 27 Aug 2004
Posts: 7
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 Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2004 10:51 pm Post subject: Student Loans and ESL |
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I've lurked on this site for a while, and have a few questions so here they are:
I'm 22, Canadian, halfway through my co-op degree. So far I've managed to not acquire any student debt, but this is about to change as I'm leaving on a year long French exchange program in a couple of days. Anyway by the time I'm finished I expect to be $5000-$10,000 in debt, which I know is nothing compared to some students.
I've been under the impression that obtaining a well paying ($30,000 US tax free and free accommadation ) ESL job in Asia is quite easy upon graduation after quick certification. This is my plan so I can quickly pay off my debt and save some money. Anyway, I'm wondering whether it is as easy as I've heard? - Not the job itself, which I know is challenging, but rather quickly obtaining a job. - Also, is teaching ESL abroad to pay off student debt quite common?
Thanks. And I've lived abroad before, so as well as the challenges I can imagine of being an ESL teacher, I am also quite aware of the challenges of living in a different country where you don't know anyone. |
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ls650
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 3484
Location: British Columbia
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| Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2004 11:03 pm Post subject: Re: Student Loans and ESL |
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| CheekyL wrote: |
| This is my plan so I can quickly pay off my debt and save some money. |
This is the worst possible reason to enter teaching.  TEFL generally doesn't pay well; you should teach because you want to _teach_ - not because you want to save up money.
I honestly think that if you need to save money, you'd be better off getting a McJob after college. Pay off your debts, and then teach overseas if the job sounds appealing to you.
| CheekyL wrote: |
| Also, is teaching ESL abroad to pay off student debt quite common? |
I've met perhaps two or three people trying to pay off student debts. One had a well-paying job in Japan and was able to save up about $10,000 US in a year - but this kind of job is the exception to the rule. The other two teachers were barely able to pay the interest on their student loans. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2004 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I've been under the impression that obtaining a well paying ($30,000 US tax free and free accommadation ) ESL job in Asia is quite easy |
The fact that it's US-tax-free is true. How this affects Canadians, I wouldn't know. Plus, you still have to pay Japanese taxes.
Making any amount in US dollars (or any other foreign currency, for that matter) is a tricky thing to state because the exchange rate changes every day. At present, it is about 110 yen/US dollar, so a conversation school instructor who makes the standard pay of 3 million yen/year would be able to translate that into US$27,000, assuming the exchange rate never changes.
Finding such work "easily" depends on many factors. When you apply? Where? Whether your visa is sponsored or not? What type of visa you get (work visa vs. working holiday visa, for example). And more. If you could clarify what you have heard about "easily", it might be better for us to address any related issues.
Free accommodation? Not in Japan! This is an extreme rarity. Expect to pay 50,000-80,000 yen/month, plus utilities, on average.
| Quote: |
| This is my plan so I can quickly pay off my debt and save some money. |
Depending on your lifestyle, trips back home, rent, and location, you might expect to have about 70,000-90,000 yen left over each month after paying for basic necessities and having a conservative nightlife. Those figures will be what you have to pay for everything else in your life, from postage stamps to sightseeing to emergency medical care not covered under insurance to video\DVD rentals to long distance phone calls, etc. (including paying off student loans). Look at an old thread labeled "cheapskates" to see what advice others have offered to save money. Paying off your loans can be done, but you will obviously have little left to play around with. Many do it, but in Japan, you will have to live frugally to accomplish it in short order. |
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CheekyL
Joined: 27 Aug 2004
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 1:40 am Post subject: |
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| This is the worst possible reason to enter teaching |
I should have been more detailed, and I agree this is a bad reason to go into teaching if it's the only reason. However, I am interested in it for a short period of time, as I have taught swimming lessons for a number of years, and have enjoyed it. However, I am not interested in it for a long term career. Also, I have worked abroad before and enjoyed the challenge, and travel and cultural exchange is very important to me. All of the above are additional reasons for my interest in ESL, aside from paying off bills. Nonetheless, if I am being naive, I appreciate your bluntness.
I should have also been more clear when I refered to Asia, I have heard that Japan is not the best place for saving money because like was mentioned, the cost of living is high. When I said Asia, I meant Taiwan or Korea, as I have heard both provide free accommadation, but that Korean schools have a bad reputation for ripping their employees off. I probably should post this on the Asia branch. Also, the Canadian dollar is, as usual, week. So $30,000 USD translates into almost $40,000 CND
Anyway, I appreciate your answers, and I would be prepared to sacrifice, by living like a poor student for one more year, if it meant my peace of mind for getting rid of my debt.
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| If you could clarify what you have heard about "easily", it might be better for us to address any related issues |
By easily, I meant get the certification the summer after I graduate and have a job lined up starting that September.
Thanks again. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 2:06 am Post subject: |
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By easily, I meant get the certification the summer after I graduate and have a job lined up starting that September.
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Depends on how long the TEFL certification course is. Two days? Six months? There are plenty of them out there. The wisest (and obvious) course is to plan well in advance for coming here. Many don't. They seem to want to get on a plane, and in a day or two be working.
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| I am interested in it for a short period of time, as I have taught swimming lessons for a number of years, and have enjoyed it. |
Not to sound too brusque, but do you realize just what it takes to teach a foreign language to people in a foreign land? It is a far cry from teaching swimming (presumably to your fellow countrymen). I realize that this is one reason to get the TEFL, but I just wanted to give you a real heads-up on this, even if you are planning to come here short term. Many foreign teachers are not professional ones, and too many act that way, which puts the rest of us in a bad light. |
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TEAM_PAPUA
Joined: 24 May 2004
Posts: 1679
Location: HOLE
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| Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 3:13 am Post subject: * |
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| Quote: |
I've been under the impression that obtaining a well paying ($30,000 US tax free and free accommadation ) ESL job in Asia is quite easy upon graduation after quick certification
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I think you may find it will be a little harder than you think to simply land a well paying job with free accomodation etc. Companies do ask for experience! And there's also a lot of other teachers out there searching & competing for the same positions.
Good luck, as I think you will need it.
T_P  |
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mesmerod
Joined: 19 Jul 2004
Posts: 106
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| Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 1:05 pm Post subject: |
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or you could just ignore your debts and not pay them. the worst thing that happens is you get bad credit rating.....oh well 
sure, it's irresponsible....but it IS an option |
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