Job Discussion Forums

[sidjameson]

Yes I'm a slacker. Yes teaching is about giving. Yes teaching 20 hours a week isn't going to kill me.

Honestly, I still hope that I am considered a professional by those that know me. I still take pride in my classes. The thing is though that I have done my time at the chalk face, done the seven day weeks, whored myself in private classes and thought twice about buying toilet paper in the name of economy. Happily these things are all behind me, especially the toilet paper.

I am in a position to have a modest retirement and up until recently this was what I was planning to do. I am though only 37 and it's a possiblity that even I might find fourty plus years of doing nothing a little bit on the slow side. So what I am thinking of is working as much for a visa, a little structure and as a means of aquiring a social life as for the actual salary.

I am therfore looking at the easiest kind of schedule that I can find. Which countries in your experience offer the lowest teaching hours for a regular, and legal, contract? Salary really isn't an issue.

[Stephen Jones]

[Girl Scout]

In Taiwan you can work at some of the bigger chain school and have a really easy time. You will be teaching "little ones", but all the prep work is done for you. You can actually work only 20 hours a week. You will still make decent money at it. Hess is a good example. All you have to do is show up, be full of energy, and do what they tell.

www.hess.com.tw


Good luck

[dmb]

I've heard Sri Lanka because of all the religous holidays.

[anthyp]

If you are looking at it purely in terms of contracted hours, I can't imagine it gets any easier than China.

Say you sign with one of the millions of public universities across the nation. You will be given 16 classroom hours a week, with no office hours. Anything over that (up to 20) would be considered overtime. You would teach Monday - Friday, few (if any) weekends, with a comfortable lunch break at noon. Now this can vary but generally that's the deal, you put in 20 hours a week and don't have to be anywhere when you're not teaching. Sounds good to you?

Well, wait until you hear about the holidays. Currently we are coming upon Chinese New Year, for which most public schools are closed about 20 days. Last summer I had three whole months off (these are fully paid by the way), though eventually I started going a little crazy with all the free time (I'm perfectly sane now, I think). Then there are week - long celebrations like the one for May Day or China's National Day.

I had about 5 months off this year, and trust me it felt like it. The pay is not great here but you can live very comfortably. Seriously if anyone can top what I've just said here I'll buy that person a beer, but since nobody will be able to I guess I'll just have to drink it myself.
MOD EDIT

[Hod]

Morocco.

With the abysmal food, religious holidays that close bars for weeks, being called a white pig (in Arabic) in supermarket queues and the general dullness of the country, teaching comes as a relief.

[Chris_Crossley]

[Stephen Jones]

Your posts on Morocco Hod suggest that you are one of those who believes that if life gives you wine and roses you should turn them into vinegar and compost.

[Brooks]

Morocco has nice nice places to visit.
It is not as bad as as Hod thinks. As long as you treat them with respect, don`t dis their religion, and speak a little Arabic, you will be fine.

Sid I guess you want to throw in the towel. But you can work less in Japan if you want.
But for lifestyle I would say head to the Czech Republic or Poland.

[spidey]

How about this...

Mon.-Fri. 8:30-4:30 (Could leave early if I really wanted to)

Virtually no class preparation needed.

Approx. 3 months of fully paid vacations

Above average salary

Able to work in your free time

Rent partially subsidized

Excellent facilities both indoor and out

Able to live any lifestyle that suits you

Since I like to drive....the ability to afford a great sports car.

All this and able to bank approx. $1000US a month

You guessed it...JAPAN

But...

To each their own

S

[sidjameson]

Thanks for the replies. Yes spidey, I did guess that it was Japan. Actually I think I must be crazy to want to teach elsewhere as I have the same conditions as you. In fact more holiday and less hours.
I am just in need of a new experience. Therefore having had it so good for so long I don't want to increase my work load. I can accept a drop in pay, but not lifestyle. As I said though, I desire more of a retirement with a bit of work to keep my eye in and as a way of meeting new friends than a new working life.
China seems an option though. Basically 15 hours a week with no office time is what I am after. ANyone know of some other countries that offer this?

[Hod]

[shenyanggerry]

Last year at a Chinese university I worked 14 fifty minute periods a week. Some classes were cancelled. The year before I had 16 fifty minute classes. It's oral English so most of what I do is try to get them to talk, mostly in small groups. Another teacher here at Dave's, Rhonda Place, works 10 hours per week.

I live quite comfortably on my salary while I'm in China.

[XXX]

Poland. Enough said!

[nolefan]

another nod to China.

I teach 3 days a week for a total of 16 periods (45mn each) and have 4 days off in a row. Add to that the 5 months of paid vacations and you might understand why I'm really enjoying my life here.

I get to decide what to teach, my schedule, and haev freedom to do whatever I please. This kind of deal is pretty standard with most public universities.