Job Discussion Forums

[matcauthon]

ok, I`m coming to the end of my 2nd year in Japan and I`ve decided enough is enough as far as Japan is concerned. I`ll nearly be 29 when I leave Japan so I want to spend one last year abroad before I go back to England to do a post-grad and settle down. Initially I was tempted to go to South Korea but I`ve decided that would be unwise due to the sheer quantity of negative feedback I`ve read about teaching there. I`ve come to the conclusion that life is short, it will be my last year living abroad and I might as well not worry about the wage and just choose a really lovely country to live in for a year before I do the conventional thing and hang up my backpack.

I want to go a large city somewhere with good food, nice weather, emotional people and charm and character. Pretty subjective I know, but I would be interested in hearing what you have to say. I want to start a contract in the end of aug/early sep. I`m not worried about the salary as long as I can break even. I want to go to a country I`ve never been to before. I`ve taught in Poland, England (summer school) and Japan and I`ve been to Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Thailand, Hong Kong and Laos, so these countries are automatically void.

Thankyou for your time. Yes, I have researched lots of countries already but it`s nice to hear some feedback from random people who like to type on message boards. I`m actually thinking of Argentina, Brazil (problematic apparently?) Italy, Mexico....but I`m still confused!!! Latin America would be cool actually because I`ve never been there before. Oh, I have a UK passport, a BSc and a CELTA and 3yrs TEFL experience.

P.S. Yes, I know Italy isn`t in Latin America but I think it fulfils my afore-mentioned criteria.

P.P.S. I would like to teach students at the Elementary and Pre-Intermediate levels preferably.

[denise]

I've also had enough of Japan and want to spend another year or so overseas before heading back home to the States. I have decided on Chile. Why? Loads of reasons. I chose my current job based on the job itself, not on the country. No offense to anyone who feels otherwise, but Japan never really interested me. Now I want to go to a destination that appeals to me. I had always wanted to go to South America because of its more lively (according to the ol' stereotype, at least!) culture and because I've studied Spanish. And because when I get back to the States and start looking for ESL jobs, I want to have experience with several different backgrounds of students. I've already taught in Europe and Asia. South America is next on the list.

I admire you for not caring about the salary. I've got student loans to pay off--hence my job search in Japan a couple of years ago. I've decided that (temporarily, at least--I think I can afford a year at a reduced salary) happiness is more important than money.

d

[Guy Courchesne]

What about Peru? I think Argentina would be great...dying to get down there myself. Peru is also a place I'd love to go to see the sights, and if you aren't worried about earnings, it might be nice?

Mexico has a lot to offer...perhaps a colonial or beach town?

[Sheep-Goats]

South America somewhere or Phnom Phen.

[dmb]

try Turkey

[Nicola H]

Tahiti- but I guess the EFL scene isn't so big down in that part of the world. I saw a job advertised in the Galapagos Islands recently, but it was voluntary and i'm sure you'd end up out of pocket.

The British Council are advertising for Penang at the moment, I can't remember the start date but I think that it's probably a two year job, although they often subsidize further study- DELTA or MA (I guess the MA has to be Lang related which may not suit you). I think Penang would be a fairly chilled place, yet George Town is meant to be a city of reasonable size. BC are also advertising Turkey (Istanbul or Ankara).

Have fun with your decision!

[nomadder]

Hi Denise. Just curious. Why do/did you find Japan unappealing?

[zaneth]

How about one of the southern former Soviet Republics? A bit off the beaten track.

[DaniRome]

ROME! good food good people amazing weather fun city lots to see

[poro]

I don't get this.

You want to spend a year in somewhere really nice, and then move to England?

Why don't you just spend the rest of your life in somewhere really nice

[Gordon]

[carde]

Surely that's a very subjective matter. England has a lot to offer in terms of culture, scenery etc - I might even go so far as to say parts of it are 'better' than Vancouver! (and I'm Scottish so that was very difficult to say )

[Gordon]

[tedkarma]

You can't beat Thailand if you want good weather, pleasant people and a good time. Why else would so many people work there for peanuts!?

Personally, my opinion is that Phuket is the place you should check out. You might find that you'll never get back to the UK . . .

[biffinbridge]

I'd recommend Libya as it will put you off tefl for life.