Job Discussion Forums

[tigcam27]

Hi,
I'm currently teaching English in China, but planning on relocating to Indonesia in the next month or two. As I'm in the midst of looking for a job, researching different parts of Indo, and trying to get honest advice, I thought here would be a good place to ask some of the questions I have about the following:

I would *ideally* like to teach outside of a big city as I really enjoy nature and outdoor activities. Are there teaching jobs that exist outside of the big cities?

As this is something I really aspire to, but can not find many jobs outside of the big cities on the internet, would you suggest going to Indo first and looking for a job once I arrive? Where (which city/island/place) would be the best place to start?

Of course, I assume that there are more jobs in the larger cities-- more companies that can afford foreign teachers, and more of a population to support the schools. But, I have lived in NYC for 9 years, and China for over a year, and I'm just dying to be a little be closer to a natural environment (clean air and water would be a bonus).

Also, any overall opinions about Sulawesi as a place to teach?

Thanks so much. I appreciate any advice anyone has!

[olpha]

[malu]

Except for Jakarta (and maybe to some extent Surabaya) there aren't any big cities here that are like big Chinese cities in terms of pollution and overcrowding. You don't have to go that far off the beaten track to find cleaner air.

Truly rural areas simply don't have the market for expensive foreign teachers. FT's are only ever employed by private sector schools, and those are only found in provincial cities or satellite towns close to major cities.

In Sulawesi you are looking at Makassar or Manado, and jobs are few and far between in the latter.

Why not try Jogja, Solo, Padang, Jambi, Bogor or Malang? Just a few suggestions.

[Atoms for Peace]

Hi there,

I suggest you travel to Indonesia first as most reputable schools (ie those that pay better) want to meet you and see you teach before they hire. TBI and IALF are two of the better schools - they both have branches outside Jakarta. Google them...

There is not much in Sulawesi, and some of the schools in Makassar have a dodgy rep - search these forums for more.
Best of luck in your search

AfP

[tigcam27]

Thanks for the feedback!

I know it's a little naive to be in search of some idyllic coastline in Indonesia where they will have English teaching jobs a plenty, but I just haven't seen blue skies here (in this town of 500,000 in China for weeks, and I just really miss them. This may sound like a superfluous question-- but in these other towns you mentioned--- Jogja, Solo, Padang, Jambi, Bogor or Malang -- do you know if I could expect some blue skies?

This, again, may sound like I'm being a bit silly, but I'm just craving a bit of a better environment than I have now (and diving and surfing are a plus).

As I have yet to book my plane ticket to Indonesia-- I was wondering if you could recommend what (approximate) date would be best to arrive? Meaning, to give me a little time to look for a job and before school starts? Or, is it unreasonable to imagine the schools will still be looking for English teachers once class has begun?

(I'm American, University degree, w/Teaching English experience)

Thanks again so much for your help!

[malu]

At this precise moment the sky in Bogor is blue though a few clouds have bubbled up. I went to Padang a couple of weeks ago and the sky, and ocean, were intensely blue. 20km south of Padang are the Bungus islands where there are still a few places you can snorkel among corals. Job opportunities there are few (though EF are recruiting) and pickings are slim. Manado gets its fair share of clear skies, too.

During my year in China I never once saw blue sky in Guangzhou.

[reddrake]

I live in Surabaya now, and the sky is pretty blue (is not as blue as other smaller cities, such as padang or manado). When i worked in China, the only place i've seen blue sky is in Inner Mongolia.

[guruengerish]

Living in South Sulawesi for 12 months should be interesting. I was there for two years some time back, and for ten months of the year, it's good to hire a boat or share with someone get out weekends and visit the islands and reefs offshore. The other couple of months it's too wet and stormy.

If you have a week off, you could always head inland and explore around Toraja, or fly up to Manado for some great diving.

Makassar is not a huge city, but like all Asian cities, it can be crowded, hot good to get out of.

No doubt salaries would be way below Jakarta, but it depends what you're after - a rupiah fortune or exploring a new country, or meeting different types of people and cultures.

EF have a school in Makassar, but sadly, none in Manado as yet.

Read Lonely Planet too for detailed information.[/u]

[bayabule]

I'd say that if you're qualified and experienced, take a decent well-paying job in a city and use the cash to get out of town and travel as much as possible.
I know people who worked (at a certain school) in Makassar and it sounds like a nightmare, likewise, the "prettier" and more "desirable" the place is the less you'll get paid and you'll be stuck there. It might not seem so nice when you're scraping together your coins for a portion of rice or a bus fare to the same nowhere for the 20th time.
I may be biased, but try schools in Surabaya. You get better pay and conditions than the "nice" places and you can easily and affordibly get out of there at weekends and holidays to all over the archipelago without trying to make 3mil (3 million per month-what a JOKE!!!) stretch. Also Surabaya may be a big polluted dump but it's a real city and the people are fantastic.

[guruengerish]

I hadn't heard about the reputation of a certain school in Makassar, and that's always well-worth taking into consideration.

As far as the comments about living and working in Surabaya go, it all sounds good to me. SBY is certainly an important airport hub, and from there you can fly to KL for about $60 (AirAsia) or to Makassar, Bali and so on.

I also found that the markets e.g. Pasar Atoom, were fascinating, and the largest computer components store I'd ever seen in another building. In particular, the open street restaurants (Jl Kembang Jepoon (sp?) were a great night out.

[tigcam27]

Thanks for all of this! This is exactly what I'm looking for-- trying to figure out the *reality* of living in one place vs. another. The money does look pretty bad at the school in Makassar, but I wasn't sure if cost of living would outweigh that. Of course, I want to have the opportunity to check out many parts of Indonesia, so having more money would support that.

I just also want to have a somewhat good quality of life during work time as well. It sounds like the pollution is a lot less than here in China, so that is promising.

I'm thinking I may just go there without a confirmed job to check out a few cities and job, and try to put together something on the ground.

What date to schools usually start class?

Thanks again for all of this!

[guruengerish]

The English schools have no terms. They just keep rolling along...

But maybe there's a drop-off in class sizes if kids go away for school holidays. I'm sure someone will reply with the term dates. and you could be there in time for the "Spring" term. (August-Sept)

The terms are based on the European system mostly, a left-over from the Dutch era no doubt.

[reddrake]

As for money......3 million is really low.... the local teachers in my place make around 4 million a month.

[bayabule]

I don't know if we're talking about the same school or not but I know a few people who've worked at a school in Makassar and they weren't impressed. Also they found that getting out of there was VERY expensive, so unless you only wanted to visit South Sulawesi you'd find it hard to travel much on 3 mill a month.
One teacher who moved there from Surabaya couldn't even afford to come back for a weekend visit and I think made it to Bali once during her year. Compare that to teachers in Surabaya who can afford to go away most weekends (depending on their ability to budget), flying to Bali, Lombok, West Java, Jakarta etc or travelling round East Java by motorbike, bus or train. During the holidays you can travel further afield.
There are some fantastic placs to visit in Sulawesi tho, so you'd probably find plenty to see and do. It's a beautiful island and Makassar is quite nice and interesting to visit at least.
Also, Kelt and IALF (in Surabaya) have 4 terms per year with holidays mostly following school ones, so all the teachers are off at the same time. EF goes on all year so teachers have to book holidays in advance.

Sorry to keep mentioning Sby, it's only because it's where I live so I can only really speak for that area. I don't know much about the situation in other areas other than what I pick up from visits and what I hear from friends and colleagues so that's all a bit second hand.
Good luck!

[olpha]

My first effort almost took me to Surabaya...

People in Jakarta said it's hotter, more crowded & less safe than Jakarta...?

& so I stayed...But anyway you mentioned ability to budget. I haven't made it to Bali once in my year...But from JKT I've made it to Malang, Plabuan Ratu, Krakatau, Jogja (borobudur)...