Job Discussion Forums

[Gawain]

Taught EFL a few years in Taiwan. Back in USA at over 40 years old. If I go back to globetrotting EFL, I've got to take finances seriously as an EFL Lifer. Would love advice from pro expat lifers.

Seems to me, biggest drawbacks to EFL life are bad work hours and bad pay. I'm thinking I would suffer a lot less stress if I brought enough $$$ to give me the bargaining power to refuse work. That means bringing life savings to cheap countries, South America, Argentina. Can't live off savings very long in expensive places like Japan.

Crazy strategy for EFL Lifer in 40's, 50's, 60's? Work temp office jobs in USA to build savings up to, say, $10,000, then choose a country and EFL overseas until the savings dwindles, return to USA, do it all over again....
Any EFL teachers you know use this strategy?

Some DavesCafe postings say EFL teachers mature into corporate editors, translators, trainers, because of money pressure. They say only chumps teach school forever. But it is hard to get corporate jobs when you don't know the local language, and besides, if I wanted something corporate I'd stay in USA! What do you think?

[zaneth]

Well, I'm still in my early thirties, but having a kid here, I might be a lifer at some point.

I live in Russia, which is one of those lower cost of living places. I would think having a nest egg but not using it if possible would be a good plan. Even in poor countries there are rich people. It only takes a couple of rich people in a town for you to make your income. Not having to work is nice, but I would try to work enough to cover my expenses. Shouldn't be too hard. Try to keep that nest egg as a cushion, as a retirement, or as an escape route. Get your nest egg, then work in your country of choice indefinitely, just covering your expenses.

Or you can use that money to allow you to do some really wonderful volunteer work or make a real difference somewhere where most people don't go and it isn't possible to make a living. Or to live somewhere really out of the way and interesting. Don't just use it up living somewhere where you could be working.

Just being an English speaker will give you the ability to refuse work and move on whenever you need. The demand is there, not going down any time soon.