Job Discussion Forums

[massivegeoff]

i've been working in thailand teaching efl to, mostly kids, since getting my CELTA in 2001. i think i need a change of scene. can anybody recomend a region/country to go teach in where the teaching environment is about as different to thailand as possible!

[saint57]

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[mlomker]

[Chris_Crossley]

I do not have any personal experience about teaching outside my home country anywhere other than China, but I do know what the one thing that has sustained me in all my years (over 4 1/2 by now) in China (and the city of Wuhan, especially) has been my wife.

She has always been a tower of strength to me, even during times during my two years with EF English First when I was really wondering why I was even bothering to knock myself out when the so-called management was being run either by a fawning sycophant, who (until he got sacked following a deluge of complaints) obeyed only the orders of his sponsor and paid no attention to what the foreign teachers said, or a control freak (who basically made my "position" as acting director of studies a virtual non-job), although actually teaching was fine, even the kids were mostly fine, else I would not have eventually moved on to a primary school for a year.

Hence, I have managed to stay in the same place for over 4 1/2 years, mostly because of my other half, but also because of a great change in fortune when I secured a position at the place that I have been teaching at since February of last year. Indeed, I have already signed a contract for another year some four months before my current one is due to expire, such is my happiness at continuing to be here.

I guess that it is a question of finally ditching a place you really do not like (which is why I went home to England for eight weeks in the autumn of 2003 in the unfulfilled hope of getting a job there) and hoping that fate will decree that you have a great change of fortune, although, sadly, that kind of desirable change does not come to us all, even in the world of TEFL. With someone who can support you like my wife has supported me and/or a change in fortune in being able to land a really great job, one's perspective about a place can change, too. If that does not apply, then by all means move on. There is a whole world out there.

As I said, I can only really talk about my experiences in the city of Wuhan, since I have taught here for more than 4 1/2 years, but it is far better than it was when I first arrived - less pollution, more transport infrastructure (including the planned subway) - but it is not heaven by any means! Still, it is not purgatory, either, but, at one time, I thought it was worse than purgatory.

I guess that I am going to remain here in Wuhan in my job and with my family for the next 3-4 years until I head for home with my wife and daughter when the latter is old enough to go to primary school.

[tedkarma]

What are your qualifications? It will make a great difference if you have a degree or not. If no degree, China might be a nice break. If you have a degree, take a serious look at Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. All are great for saving a few bucks too.

[Otterman Ollie]

Try Turkey ,still in Asia but so European,esp in Izmir .

[massivegeoff]

ted - i have a BA(Hons) in Chinese and Politics, a CELTA, and a Post-Grad Dip TESOL from Sheffield Hallam (still haven't passed the extras to get the Trinity Dip).

i think china is still asia and, having been back there recently, it'll probably do my head while making thailand seem like heaven.

home IS an option. one of the many problems is that while my wife is a tower of strength also, my mum is a cast iron *beep*.

hadn't though of turkey...isn't it a bit low paying? salaam aleikum?

[Otterman Ollie]

I shouldn't really be telling you this ,but,Turkey is very much underrated .

[Matt_22]

It's definitely not suited for most people, but if you're tired of teaching and have US citizenship you could always apply to the State Department to become a Foreign Service Officer. You've definitely got the qualifications. I think they also offer very lucrative positions to those with your quals to teach at posts abroad.

Just an idea.

[Will.]

Try a central European country,
Rubbish money but a different languge base, Slavic would interest me. Definitely different weather and food

[tedkarma]

[khmerhit]

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