Job Discussion Forums

joesnoopy16 · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 6 Location: Louisiana, USA

Hello everyone Smile

I have been reading and researching TESOL jobs and info for several months, and it seems that the more I learn, the more I realize how little I know. Would it be fair to say that this field is as open as the wild west? I've found no regulating or accrediting organization of any type for the language schools. How can a guy find an honest school? I have been mainly interested in Russia and Eastern Europe, but there seems to be a huge disparity in salaries between those areas and most of Asia. I know enough not to expect to make a bundle, but can people really live on what amounts to about $500-$600 U.S.? Any advice would be appreciated.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

[Would it be fair to say that this field is as open as the wild west?

Yes]

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

[Would it be fair to say that this field is as open as the wild west?

Yes]

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

In certain areas (Japan, for example), you will make enough to live comfortably and save. In other areas, you will make enough to live comfortably--on "local" standards. You should be able to eat out, travel within the country, and enjoy yourself, but going to the most lavish of restaurants (the "touristy" ones) and going on major shopping sprees will hurt you.

As far as finding honest schools--start with those that look for honest qualifications, minimally a BA (whether it's the school's or immigration's requirement) and a TEFL certificate.

d

dyak · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 630

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

1) Which places in Southeast Asia are you referring to?

2) When you say "a few hundred dollars" exactly how much do you mean?

3) What do you mean by "very comfortably"?

I'm not trying to say you're 'wrong', but I think we may have radically different definitions of 'very comfortable'. Smile

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

Oh... Indonesia. Fair enough. Thanks for the clarification. Smile

Gregor · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 842 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

Where in SE Asia can you "live like a king" (VERY small exaggeration) on a few hundred dollars (US) a month:

Indonesia
China
Viet Nam
Thailand

That's all I know for a fact. I also know that Singapore is quite the reverse, and suspect that Malaysia is as well.

Korea and Japan are not in SE Asia.

TEFL has a lot in common with the Wild West, and one of those things is why people choose to enter the field. It's rarely for money. It could be anything from general discomfort in the native society (that happens often, these days and historically), wanting a more adventurous or less mundane and predictable lifestyle, etc.
As for advice, go along with denise's. That was pretty sound.

Oh, and thanks for the cool simile!

tedkarma · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 1:36 am Post subject:

What it takes to live comfortably is a highly subjective area - but I tend to agree with Sigmoid on these issues.

Note that Is650 says, "My share of the rent and utilities was about $75 US per month" - to me that is unacceptable. I don't SHARE housing. TEFL is my career and I want/intend/do live comfortably and well. But, to do that - I can't and don't work for a "few hundred bucks" a month.

A lot depends on your age, previous life experience (and level of comfort/affluence), if you consider TEFL a lark for a couple years or a career, if you have other responsibilities or debts (one of which is preparing your finances for old age), and many other factors.

Fact is, in some countries - you can make and save a "bundle" - many of us have done that - or are doing that right now. Live like a king!? No! But, I have lived pretty well, traveled a lot, had scads of vacation time, saved and planned well for retirement. But . . . even that is quite subjective.

VanIslander · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 2:45 am Post subject:

You can live like a king on the typical wage in South Korea, a Korean king that is.

Eat at a different Korean restaurant every night, all the while drinking alcohol to your heart's content. That includes travelling around the country by bus and train on weekends and staying in motels.

Every night of the month, and still save money.

It's remarkable.

But as soon as you want to eat the more expensive Western imported foods, drink Budweiser and whiskey, fly around and stay at the Hyatt. Then your paycheque will be gone by, say, the middle of the second week.

I eat out three times a week, travel to other provinces twice a month, dryclean my clothes, have a mobile phone, fast Internet, new books purchased weekly, and rent or buy movies whenever, and I still can't help but save a $1,000 U.S. on a very typical basic Korean ESL teacher's wage. I could live like a king, but don't. At least, not often.