Job Discussion Forums

Gentlemanjim · Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Posts: 7

Hi everybody,

I'm a Canadian citizen,aged 52, with a BFA in music, a recent TEFL certification, lots of varied life and work experience, a bit of teaching experience but not much and some first-hand knowledge of business, among other things. I want to teach in a place where my wife can accompany me. We are okay for cash so I'm not concerned about saving as much as having a positive cultural and teaching experience.

Anybody have any suggestions?

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:11 pm Post subject:

So tell us about your wife!

(Not just being friendly, probably makes a difference in the recommendations)

What can/does/would she do?

You'll find that many, if not most places are places that you can go with your spouse- but some places are much easier than others for a spouse to survive and thrive.

Also in most, it's not too easy to support a spouse on a teacher's salary.

Best,
Justin

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I agree with Justin in that, if you aren't concerned with supporting your spouse, there are more options open. But you'll need also to consider language skills - it can be pretty lonely to live in a place where you can't communicate directly with the locals.

Gentlemanjim · Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Posts: 7

My wife is a visual artist and she could work practically anywhere with some decent light. She speaks English quite well but it's not her first language so the one thing she couldn't do, I guess, is teach English. She taught singing for fifteen years. Maybe she could teach music or art? In English or French ,which is her first language. She cooks divinely and we live very frugally and can do quite well with very little. One requirement is access to decent coffee. Gotta have that coffee!

Does this give you a better idea?

Thanks

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

Other than any visa restrictions, what is holding you back from applying to most countries? Pick one.

Here in Japan, you could get work teaching, and she could come on a dependent visa (for starters, anyway). The DV would let her work PT with special permission, and if she wanted to convert the DV to a regular work visa, she would have to meet the visa requirements (usually a degree or a certain minimum number of years of work experience, 5-10).
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html

She could also come on a student visa if she wanted to enroll somewhere here, or she could come on a cultural visa if she wanted to study some craft under a master. Same work options apply as for DV.

You could even do it in reverse. That is, she could be the one to land a job and work visa, and you could tag along on the DV until you found a job.

Or both of you could come as tourists and look for work for 90 days, then get your visas (status of residence, actually) after you get hired.

Don't know about other countries.

Gentlemanjim · Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Posts: 7

But you'll need also to consider language skills - it can be pretty lonely to live in a place where you can't communicate directly with the locals.[/quote]

I appreciate that fact. My wife is fluent in French, English and Italian and I am fluent in French and have some Spanish so we've got a few bases covered.

Thanks for the response.

Gentlemanjim · Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Posts: 7

Hi Glenski,

Actually, I'm applying all over but I have a leaning towards Europe and I keep hearing how difficult it is for non-EU passport holders to land a job there. That doesn't mean, of course, that I have given up. Just trying to keep my options open. Thanks for the panoply of solutions for Japan. You obviously have some experience in these issues.

Have any ideas about Europe? Anybody?

Good day

G

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

spiral78 knows a lot about Europe