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JesseM
Joined: 07 Jul 2005
Posts: 19
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 Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 3:45 pm Post subject: ADVICE NEEDED!! |
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Hi, i apologise in advance for the very general and not overly original content of this posting but here's the thing - i've just got my TEFL cert and have decided that i definately want to go teach in Asia, thing is, i don't even know which country would be best. I was looking at China, but would like to come home with a little bit of money saved. I've heard Hong Kong or Singapore would be good choices, but was hoping i could get some advice from experienced teachers and travellers here. Any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much.
P.S bear in mind i'm a 20 year old female travelling alone! |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2005 5:14 am Post subject: Re: ADVICE NEEDED!! |
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| JesseM wrote: |
Hi, i apologise in advance for the very general and not overly original content of this posting but here's the thing - i've just got my TEFL cert and have decided that i definately want to go teach in Asia, thing is, i don't even know which country would be best. I was looking at China, but would like to come home with a little bit of money saved. I've heard Hong Kong or Singapore would be good choices, but was hoping i could get some advice from experienced teachers and travellers here. Any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much.
P.S bear in mind i'm a 20 year old female travelling alone! |
Jesse do you have a university degree? Most developed Asian countries require that you have a university degree for the work visa.
I think the immigration laws in Hong Kong are different from the rest of China. I have never worked in Hong Kong but a couple of years ago I applied for the NET program (Native English teacher) where foreigners work as ALTS in Hong Kong high schools, and i think you needed a degree to work there.
With no degree your job options are fairly limited.
PS English is widely spoken in Singapore and its my guess you would need to be highly qualified and experienced to work there as an ESL teacher. A TESL certificate wouldnt make the grade re getting a visa. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 9:27 am Post subject: |
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Jesse,
What is your nationality? Certain countries have working holiday visa agreements with others, like Japan. No degree needed for 2 or 3 six-month stints (consecutive).
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html |
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JesseM
Joined: 07 Jul 2005
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:53 pm Post subject: Still no ideas |
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Hi,
Thanks for the reply - i'm Irish, and have degree in English, TEFL cert, and teaching experience. Still no closer to choosing a country though!
Jess |
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Mideatoo
Joined: 19 Jul 2005
Posts: 424
Location: ...IF YOU SAY SO...
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| Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 5:34 am Post subject: Re: Still no ideas |
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| JesseM wrote: |
| and have degree in Eglish, TEFL cert, and teaching experience. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 2:34 pm Post subject: Re: Still no ideas |
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| JesseM wrote: |
Hi,
Thanks for the reply - i'm Irish, and have degree in Eglish, TEFL cert, and teaching experience. Still no closer to choosing a country though!
Jess |
Start with the basics:
Have you met any Asian people? Koreans, japanese, Taiwanese, Chinese?
What kind of food do you like?
Do you have any interest in Sports? Football/soccer is big in Japan as is baseball.
Have you heard any of the languages spoken by these nationalities? Is there any language you want to learn?
(Both Glenski and I live in japan, I am fairly fluent in Japanese)
Do you like wide open spaces or crowded cities? Hong Kong is on an island and is very congested. Its a quite trip to the Chinese mainland though.
Singapore you can drive around in a couple of hours. Very clean and rather strait laced. Citizens are nannied by their government. Great shopping but i would get bored with it after a week.
Here is a link to the NET scheme in Hong Kong.
http://www.emb.gov.hk/index.aspx?nodeID=262&langno=1
Best place for saving money is Korea but Korean employers own your visa. You own your own in Japan (means you can move freely between jobs). Pay is low in China, about $1000 US or 500 pounds a month. |
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teacherger
Joined: 16 Sep 2005
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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| In Taiwan the school holds your visa. But you only need to work 14 hrs a week at the school legally, so therefore you can work at other schools to. The government just doesnt need to know about it. |
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chinwubachu
Joined: 02 Oct 2005
Posts: 32
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| Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 7:53 pm Post subject: |
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Hi, I am 25 yr old female and travelled alone to KOrea now to teach on a few occasions, it depends really on what you are looking for. Korea is best for saving money. I am not sure about the other countries. However there have been some problems in Korea ( inclu myself) with directors and their staff.
Some peeps have a wonderful time and really good directors. if you go to Korea, be sure to check out the contract well and get all documents together. Try and speak to other foreigners in the school to see what the director is like. ALSO beware of URGENT REQUIRED Messages ( this means probably their foreign teacher has escaped during the night *like i did in one school!! he he
Korea is a very safe place to be. probably a lot safer than singapore or the others you mentioned and is well known for this. I never saw any troible there at all.
Good luck hope I helped a little! post me back if you want any more info and i will try and help.
Chinwubachu |
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