Job Discussion Forums

[XIII]

I have a B.S. degree and am going for my TEFL certificate. I'm married and in debt. I was looking into Thailand to teach English, but is the monthly salary enough for my husband and I and paying off debts in Thailand or should I teach elsewhere? If so, which countries are best? My husband won't be working just going to school to complete his B.S. and we have no kids.

Thanks for your input.

[JosephP]

Your best bet is is to forget about Thailand if you need to pay off debt. Try Korea. Japan maybe, but give it several months before you are up and running. The UAE looks like a money spinner, but I am guessing a M.A. is a prerequisite. Or do like me, invest in Lotto tickets and hope for the best.

Thailand is lovely and you'd meet some unforgettable people, but money-wise -- TEFL ain't going to pay those bills.

[sigmoid]

Thailand is a good place to get into debt, not out of it.

Check the Job Info Journal for more INfo:

http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?Thailand

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Dear XIII:

In terms of paying off debts and cost-of-living, I would also recommend Korea. Although teaching Korean kids all day can be hectic, you can save up to US$10,000 in one year --- and still live in relative comfort.

You'll earn about the same salary in Japan as in Korea, but probably save a bit less in Japan due to the overall higher cost of living.

So --- as much as I'm enjoying Thailand, I have to agree 100% with Sigmoid and JosephP. Even on a slightly better-than-average salary of 40,000 Baht per month, I can't realistically save more than about $100 per month.

Based on the info in your post (i.e. working to support your husband while paying off a debt) --- you should really forget Thailand for the moment.

Teach in Korea, Japan or Taiwan - and visit Thailand on holiday. Lots of people do it.

After your debts are paid off, you and your husband could return to Thailand and live quite comfortably, assuming both of you are teaching full-time.

[Sheep-Goats]

Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong are where those at the lower end of the TEFL business go to earn decent cash. Thailand is where they go for a vacation or to retire.

Korea will be the easiest place to find a job and probably has the biggest potential for working down your debt. Hong Kong will be the most expensive. Taiwan won't give you quite the same cash the other two might, but people generally enjoy living there more than Hong Kong or Korea.

Put your husband to work, too, by the way.

[oxfordstu]

Although Thailand is a great place, you probably won't make a whole lot of money there unless you have a lot of credentials and get hired at one of the international schools or land a university job.
I'm teaching in Korea right now, and although the money is good, it is quite difficult. I'll actually be going to Thailand to work as soon as my contract is up.
Although you can make a lot of money in Korea, don't come here just to make money. You will be miserable. If you can deal with the culture shock, the enormous language barrier, and teaching little kids, then perhaps Korea is the place for you. Otherwise, try someplace else; it's just not worth a year of misery.

[Rice Paddy Daddy]

[Rice Paddy Daddy]