Job Discussion Forums

ella2 · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 3

I�ve been reading these boards and I�m on information overload. I need some help narrowing down the possibilities.

I have a B.A. in psychology, no TEFL certificate. I have non-ESL teaching experience: three years at a university teaching music, seven years as a research/teaching assistant (also at a university), and ten years in IT as a technical trainer/writer (telecoms). I love teaching and training and I really get into my work. I�m 40 years old and have a U.S. passport; working on getting my EU passport. I�m caucasian, blonde/blue, 30 pounds overweight, otherwise healthy. I�ve traveled in North America, western Europe, and SEA. I've lived in the U.S., India, Sri Lanka, and Ireland. Spanish is my second language (not fluent, but close). I speak conversational Hindi and I can read and write Devanagari.

I have zero interest in the drinking/club/party scene, I�m more of a sit-and-observe-quietly-and-think type. Minimum living requirements are a safe place to lay down and a bucket of water for bathing. Not crazy about snow but have lived in it before and can deal with it (six months of darkness would be too much, however). It's not �hot� to me until it hits 46+C (115F). I�m from a coastal city and I love places like L.A., Delhi, and Seoul, but I would prefer being in a suburb with access to the city as opposed to living in the heart of downtown. The boonies are fine, too, as long as I can get to a city every now and then. I enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and ocean swimming.

What kind of work could I get with my qualifications and experience? Salary is a big priority as I�ll be paying down debt, but I�m willing to work hard to earn it. I�m better with adults than kids. I might be able to get a TEFL cert by July, but it would take such a huge chunk out of my savings that I'm wondering if it would be worth it. I�d like to stay with a job for at least a year, possibly longer if I find a situation I really like.

ella2 · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 3

I'm bumping this up because I'm still looking for input. I have posted on the Korea boards but only because my resgistration there was approved first. I am in no way set on Korea or anyplace in particular.

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

You could go pretty much anywhere with your experience and qualifications, but some of the conversation schools might think you are a little overqualified- they want people to use their method only. Still you likely won't have a problem getting a job with most of them (especially with blond hair and blue eyes), and saying you don't want to be right in the heart of downtown Tokyo or somethwere like that would be a big plus to them.

I'm sure you already know that you can save most in places like Korea (because the cost of living is low compared to the income) Japan (especially if you are out in a non-name city- not Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, Kyoto etc- where it's cheaper and you don't want to go drinking every night- from a mid size city a lot of people spend a big chunk of money each month going to Tokyo to drink all night on the weekends).

Chris_Crossley · Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 8:08 am Post subject: How about coming to China?

Some people might think that, if you have a lot of debt, going to China must be a no-no because it will take you donkey's years to pay it back, given that prices indices are much lower here than in Japan or South Korea.

However, I managed to negotiate with my credit card companies for very low or zero rates of interest when paying back (albeit only for up to two years). Happily, all my UK-based creditors have been paid off completely, although I had to wait for 3 years 2 months after I first arrived for that to happen - finally! Very Happy

So, you can still consider China as a place to become an EFL teacher, and your qualifications would be welcome by pretty much anyone. I already had an MBA and a TEFL certificate (amongst other qualifications) when I first came to China, yet I still started at the bottom of the pay scale.

You may get credit for your qualifications if and when you gain experience at teaching - I got credit for having both of these, plus a teaching degree (a bachelor's in education), when I started working full-time at my current school, but that was from last August, nearly 4 whole years after I arrived in China. Better late than never! Very Happy

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

With your particular experience, you can get consulting work training technical writers in Eastern Europe, India, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. There is very little training available for technical communicators outside the U.S., Western Europe, and Australia (despite a growing number of off-shored jobs).

It will take some self-marketing, but it's worth a try!

Jizzo T. Clown · Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 9:22 pm Post subject: Re: Help - newbie needs a country

ella2 · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 3

I qualify for an EU passport because I'm a dual national with the U.S. and Ireland. I've lost my Irish cert and I need to get a new one before I can apply for a passport.

What kind of money can you save in China in a year or two? Is it comparable to what you can save in Korea?

sidjameson · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 629 Location: osaka

For savings in ur position it really has to be korea or Japan. Here in Japan $1000 a month US is no problem and I am guessing with your lifestyle more.

saint57 · Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 4:34 am Post subject:

Hi itchyitchy,

I'm a recent university grad from Canada. I really want to teach abroad. I've heard Korea is the best place for making money? Is 1,600,000 a good salary to start at? Can you really hook me up with a school that provides airfare and a FREE studio apartment? I'm really getting excited, but I need to start soon. Can you get back to me as quickly as possible about this tremendous opportunity?

tedkarma · Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 5:32 am Post subject:

Korea is probably the easiest place to save money. You can still go out and have a good time and save.

Japan - yes, you can save - but you have to be careful and count your yen when out on the town - or literally - you can blow a whole month's salary.

Last time I was in a 7-11 there (admittedly not the best place to shop!) I saw a cantaloupe for US$45!

sidjameson · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 629 Location: osaka

Ahh, but Ted, that cantolope should be seen as indictive of how much money is still sloshhing around Japan not on the cost of living here. I can shop for a week here on the same money, but I love living in a country where people have that much disposable money to spend.

tedkarma · Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 9:54 am Post subject:

I agree THEY (the Japanese) have it - but most teachers don't.

That is my issue here.

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

It might help to know just how much debt you want to pay off per month.

Ai · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 154 Location: Chile

Japan might be a good place to start. If you don't go out all the time or travel often it is possible to save money. The only thing that may be a problem for you is that a majority of the jobs involve working with kids.

caneisha · Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 6 Location: SEATTLE

With your specific preferences, Macao is a good place. It's not difficult to get US$1500 a month with free rent of a very nice apartment. Macao is a smaller and quieter option yet close to big cities like Hong Kong (less than an hour on jetfoil) and Guangzhou, China. It is also hot most of the year.