Job Discussion Forums

[Emma_l_i]

Really need some advice, but a little background info first.

I have a bachelor of business and a TESOL diploma. My bf has no degree, is over 30, and has a TESOL diploma. We land in Thailand in 3 weeks. We were told it was really easy to get jobs in Thailand, but that we'd be better off looking over there, but these forums suggest otherwise.

We don't mind which of the four countries we work in, but we need to be earning decent money as we want to save for further travels. Which would be better? Also is it better to find a job once we're there? Which city is best?

[stilloutthere]

The problem with Thailand is that the pay is generally enough to live on if you aren't extravagant, but not enough to really save unless you can get private lessons, and at least here in Chiang Mai, they don't pay well and aren't easy to get. Also, schools here tend to expect you to be present for a full work day whether you teach or not. Frequently classes don't have air conditioning, at least in this city, and it goes to 41C or more at times. Bangkok, I hear, is different.

Based on the posts here, you should try Vietnam. People seem to be earning noticably more than they need to live.

If you need to save money, you need to go to Korea.

[blateson]

"We were told it was really easy to get jobs in...."

This is one of the aspects I hate about the ESL industry particularly the message forum / website / recruitment part of it. People seem to throw such "it's really easy to..." (and then add whatever it is you're looking for to that sentence) around with ease, so whenever you hear people saying how "easy" things are, do be cautious. Sorry Emma I actually don't know about Thailand working in particular but I've found all around that looking for work, setting up, making good friends and keeping afloat to not "be easy" in any country and ESL environment, but I definately would not go to a popular place like Thailand and think I will have plenty of work.

And despite the big talk about Vietnam I also don't see things as being "easy" there either (I worked there for over a year). Best of luck otherwise!!! {My two cents}

[asianbizarre]

I agree with above from Bateson. It's not 'easy' anywhere.
Having said that, if your main criteria is to actually 'save money' doing ESL work in one of your four target countries, Vietnam is the easy pick.
In VN you can choose either Saigon or Hanoi. If you want a range of social life and year round warm weather, then Saigon. If you're after 'the charm of old Indochina', then Hanoi. Reasonably priced, decent housing is difficult to find in Hanoi, however.
If this is your first residential expereience in SE Asia, Thailand would be your best bet to get acclimated, tho you won't 'save' any money. If you're determined to make money, Saigon might be the best choice tho the locals are a bit more aggressive and 'off-putting' than in Hanoi.
There are jobs in Cambodia, but most are 'break even' gigs and you wouldn't qualify for the better jobs.
Lao is a non-starter.
Good luck.

[Hongkonghippo]

Hey I agree with most of what asianbizarre say about South Asia. Except that the OP never mentions what kind of teacher is looking for work. I know for a fact right now that there is work available in Hanoi for good teachers and I was personally called again last night about some part-time work. Even offering 1500-1600$ a month and my school is struggling to get teachers at the moment. But honestly the management is not interested in someone not in Vietnam right now as teachers from abroad seems to change their mind at the last minute and cancel. I know Thailand is getting harder and harder for the ESL clowns and they are moving over to Cambodia. But most of Cambodia and Laos only offer very limited opportunities and the people with the good jobs are not giving them up often or advertising the openings.

[huxter]

"Reasonably priced, decent housing is difficult to find in Hanoi, however."

Asianbizarre speaks a lot of sense but I'd have to disagree with him on this one. Admittedly, the price of housing in Hanoi has risen sharply in the 2+ years I've been here but it's still more than possible to get a large, 4-5 bed, all aircon house down a quiet ngo/hem in the suburbs (Ba Dinh/West Lake) with a decent amount of yard or roof space for $500US p/m. This works out very cheaply between half a dozen people. I'd be interested to know the price of equivalent housing in Saigon. Don't be put off Hanoi because of rental prices. Here we have seasons most newcomers can identify with and a shorter rainy season than Saigon.

[mlomker]

[sethness]

To add my voice to the others':

I've taught English in Japan for about 6 years, and am ready for a cahnge to warmer climates-- Thailand or Viet Nam. I did about 6 months of Internet research and have concluded that in Thailand, salaries are fine if you will never ever leave-- plus, the country just went through a military coup, and now there are bombs going off all the time that the military swears is the Muslim insurgency, but might just be the government trying to scare people into WANTING a military government. Thailand is also fairly infamous for turning men into barflies/skirt-chasers, so if you're going with a husband, I'd say you'll need to fit him with a leash and carry a taser.

Viet Nam seems like a place where you can save a leeeetle money if you live a life less wild than Elvis', as an English teacher, though not as much as you would over a looong haul in Korea or Japan. K and J, however, will expect the teachers to have 4 year degrees, have bigger start-up costs in the short term, longer contract periods, yada yada yada.

[notamonk]

I've only ever taught in VN, been here four years, but a few friends have gone to teach in Thailand after being here and they considered it pants in comparison. Money is generally much better here, and the demand for teachers seems to be going up and up. There's plenty of short-term contracts around if that's what you're after too.

[notamonk]

if you're looking to save money in one of these countries while teaching, I'd say vietnam wins hands down. Rates vary between about $14-22 dollars per hour, and I've never heard of anyone with the right qualifications not being able to get a job. (Keeping it is another matter of course) There's a huge demand for teachers here and it's still growing. If you're not going to be having breakfast at the most expensive restaurants etc etc, it's not too difficult to put away 600 dollars a month or so, and that's having a good time along the way. I've known some peope with aversions to fun that can put away a good deal more than that.

I always apply a 'time-worked sufficient to purchase a cold bottled beer in decent establishment' equation to whatever country I'm working in. Vietnam works out to about four and a half minutes, which beats London for sure, unless of course your work there is collecting rent from your dad's vast portfolio of properties.