Job Discussion Forums

kocchy · Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 3

Hey all, I have just recently graduated and am interested in teaching english abroad for a while but would like advice on where to go. So, I'll give you a bit of my background and what I'm looking for. I'm from UK, 23 years old and have an honours degree but no TEFL certificate. Obviously I would be dedicated and committed to the job but it is still important for me to live in a place where I could have fun, a good nightlife and easily meet people and make many friends. Preferably there'd also be many other TEFL'rs of my age and the student's would be easy enough to teach. Money isn't of great importance as long as I could have a decent standard of living and can afford to go out now and again. Ideally I'd still be able to play footy and the women would be open to (or easy Smile

) for foreingers.

There's many places I'd like to go to but I'm a bit unsure about going out of Europe and don't fancy some 3rd world country. Some countries I have an interest in include Eastern Europe (inc..Poland, Czech Rep), Spain, Greece. If I did go out of Europe, S.America and Asia are of great appeal to me especially, Aregentina, Brazil, Colombia, Japan and perhaps China, Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia. Lol.

So, as you can see I'm pretty unsure where to go, any advice and recommendations?

Cheers!

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

I would start in Europe. There's a good TEFL scene in most major cities. You'll be able to have the experience of being abroad without much risk since it'll be easy to get back to the UK. I'd wait until you know what you want to check out the more exotic locations.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

I would recommend going to Brazil but good luck trying to get a visa! The night life in Brazil is fantastic!

tedkarma · Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 3:55 pm Post subject:

Thailand is great/famous for nightlife/social life. Not so great for money. But - you can make ends meet.

Chancellor · Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 4:14 pm Post subject:

Take a TEFL course in one of the countries there on the European continent and go from there.

kocchy · Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 3

Well having done a bit off research it seems that South Korea looks a good prospect. Infact, it seems to good to be true. You can earn over �1000/month, free flights and accomodation, no TEFL cert. or experience needed and living expenses are dirt cheap.

So, if this is the case, what is life actually like over there in Seoul? What is the average age of TEFL teachers and are there quite a lot of newly graduated British people? Is it easy to get out and about to the schools and city centre at night? What's typical accomodation like and are they in decent areas? Are Korean girls interested in foreign guys? Is it easy to make a network of friends and have a good social life?...

(I tried to post this on the Korean section of the forum but it won't let me)

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

Korea isn't bad. It is not for everyone. You can easly save $1000 US a month here.

If you want to have a good time, only except a job in Seoul or Busan. If you get a job in a small town, good luck trying to find people to hang out with.

I am currently living in a town of 50,000. I live two hours from Seoul but I could go to Seoul every weekend if I wanted. Public transportation is cheap here. It cost me 7500 won to take the train to Seoul. If you have any questions feel free to PM me.

durks · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 26

Hey Kotchy

I too am from the UK and have also decided on Korea as my first destination!

Why!?!

Well it all really came down to the money side of things to be totally honest! An average salary is approximately 2.0 - 2.1 million which is about $2000-2100 or approx �1100 for an average of 25 - 30 hours of work!! This along with a free flight and flat (Which you won't get in many other countries) saves you another chunk of your salary or indeed savings! 50 % Health insurance and a pension would also be unheard of in many countries!! 2.4% tax compared to about 17% in the UK and these are the reasons Korea tips the balance for me!!!

I am presuming here but if you have just graduated with a hefty student debt to pay back? Then Korea may be a great option for you! However if you are financially stable all the money side of things won't probably bother you as much!!

Many people will probably rip into me for advising you to go to Korea particulary as I have no first hand experience of the country but to me it seems the best option for myself personally as it allows me to hopefully (touch wood) send back �400 - 500 a month and still live very well. Yes I am fully aware there are bad schools and yes there are certainly bad contracts but keep looking around and the good contracts and reliable employers are out there!

Start by asking to speak with other foreign teachers at the school to ensure the school is reputable and that the owner treats staff fairly and pays staff on time!

Korea isn't my first choice location wise that would be parts of Brazil, Thailand, Indonesia, Phillipeanes, Malaysia or Peru but the money I will save in Korea will help me get to see these other places!

Hope this helps a bit and good luck with your final decision!! Take your time to reach your decision though, five months ago I was going to Thailand or Brazil in my head but reality told me I couldn't afford to live in either on such a low salary, then after researching wages I was going to Taiwan but overlooked the set up costs (flat, 3 month rent, flight) and also the 15 - 20% tax!!! Eventually I came accross Korea and have been pretty focused on Korea ever since!

I head out to the South Coast of Korea in August and can't wait!!!

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

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

20 to 25 hours of classroom time is a full workload after you factor in your additional time for prepping, marking, etc. 30 hours is a punishing workload. When I was teaching in Asia and was given 30-hour weeks, I found myself too tired by Friday night to do anything but go home and spend most of the weekend resting and recuperating for Monday.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 1:36 am Post subject:

Amen.

One problem I run into often is teachers who come from other fields, and think about the 40 hour workweek.

At least once a week, I interview a walk-in who asks about the pay. I start by telling him or her our hourly rates, and before I can move on to talk about schedules, the teachers pauses, does the mental math, and tells me what they think a teacher could earn per month. WRONG. Hourly rates for teaching here are extremely high compared to other forms of work- but you're paid for class hours, and there are other hours in a teachers day.

Personally, I hope never to work a 30 teaching hour week again in life.

Justin