Job Discussion Forums

mia_1 · Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 11

Hi guys, I'm a bit of a newbie at this, so my apologies for anything that sounds somewhat stupid. I'm Australian, have done 3 years of a 4-year university degree so have not graduated yet. I am taking 2007 out from studying.

I have been offered a position teaching in Japan with Nova (flexi position), and I must make a decision as to whether I will accept this or not. My main concern is that, because I am going to be part-time, I will not have much money to enjoy a social life and be able to go out for meals etc etc. I understand I can sign up for overtime but don't want to rely on this.

The other option I am tossing up is teaching in Vietnam by starting out doing a TEFL course on arrival. However I am uncertain of my chances of being employed in Vietnam without a degree. Does having 3 years of uni under your belt count for anything? Anyway sorry this has turned out to be a bit of an essay, was just interested in thoughts from people who may have experienced either option
thanks : )
Mia

saint57 · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:28 pm Post subject:

What good is it living in a nice place if you're broke? Finish your degree first. Life will still be tough as a newbie with a four year degree, but it's better than nothing.

coffeedrinker · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 149

I agree that it will be hard without much money, but I can relate to wanting to take a break from school - sometimes you just need something different.

This page belongs to someone from dave's - gordon? - and it's a good site: http://www.englishabroad.ca/vietnam_css.html - work without a BA is possible but not official in Vietnam. I haven't worked there but have heard surprising things about relatively high wages/lower cost of living in Vietnam, so if you can find work, you might be a bit better off there.

Good luck with your decision.

mia_1 · Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 11

hi thankss for the replies guys, every bit helps. thanks for the site cd it was quite useful although its doing my head in as just about every site says something different to the next one!
The reason I am taking a year out now instead of after my degree is that once I have finished, I want to go on to do honours straight away (i think i have to), then once that and masters is over etc and im a psychologist I wont really want to be an english teacher if you get me.
I think Japan is probably the safest way to go, but Vietnam seems like it would be a lot more adventurous.
anyway thanks again for your replies

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

mia_1 · Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 11

All I'm saying is that once I'm qualified to be a psychologist I will want to actually work as one. I'm just saying that's my career path, if it were english teaching then of course I'd finish my degree first.

Besides, is it really that bad if I only want to do it for a year? It's not 'just a way to be paid' like you suggest, I'm actually very interested in doing it. I'd volunteer if I had enough money.

saint57 · Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 11:53 am Post subject:

I know a woman in Korea who has been there for four years (signed for a fifth) and still hasn't gone back to get that master's she always talks about. I also know a woman in China who took a break from her degree. Three years later she's still in China and planning on staying one more.

I was always told that once you take a break from your education, it's very difficult to get back into it. So far that rule has proven to be correct from my experience. Of course, it's a different story if you're working in your field post-BA before going into a master's.

Why not just backpack through Vietnam or Japan during your school holiday?

sallycat · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 303 Location: behind you. BOO!

saint57 -- i took a 6 year break from my education and now i'm back into it. it's not really about whether it's hard to go back -- trite as it might sound, it's whether you want to go back. if you discover you don't -- is that a bad thing?

mia -- there's nothing wrong with only wanting to teach english for a year. some people start out that way and then discover they love teaching. other people start out that way, have a great year, and then go back to their original plans. no problem. there are plenty of chain schools that are set up for teachers who are doing exactly that.