Job Discussion Forums

partymop · Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Posts: 16

Hi everybody, I'm new to the forum but not so much to teaching. Now that I have this great contact at my fingertips, I need to ask the dreaded "what should I do" question to break the ice, then I promise all...most...some of my comments after this will be helpful and insightful.

I'm finishing my contract this week, doing some traveling before going home for a little while, but looking for my next contract for next September. I have a BA in English from a Canadian university and will be taking my CELTA course this spring. I have taught for about a year and a half in a Korean private academy. I'm 24 (if that matters). I have good references from my company (popular to contrary belief, i worked at a fantastic hagwon)...

I'm struggling to decide what to do/where to go next. I could return to Korea but wouldn't mind a change and plus the won is in the crapper. I would love to teach in Hong Kong (but i think i need a teaching lisence), or maybe Japan, possibly south east Asia, or even south America or Europe.

Where are the hot esl markets right now where you can make a decent wage and work for a good company, public school or even better, a university? any suggestions? what should I expect out of a job considering my education/experience?

Again, apologize for the generalities, but would appreciate any advice. thanks

jdl · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 632 Location: cyberspace

Try the Technical Colleges ( Ministry of Manpower or Ministry of Higher Education). The Omani Rial is pegged to the American dollar so it floats accordingly. If you are sending money home to Canada the USD/CDN exchange rate is really in your favour now and is anticipated to be so for the next 6 to 18 months; but, who really knows?
Salary runs between 1000 and 1300 Rial inclusive of housing and medical and local transportation allowance. 'To-ing and fro-ing' from Canada are in addition to the contract salary usually.

Oman is a good place to work.

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

It won't be Europe. As a Canadian citizen, few countries here are open to you in legal terms, and, in any case, the economy's in the tank overall. Those Central/Eastern European countries where you can get legal working papers pay just enough to live frugally on.

University work here generally requires a related MA (TESL/TEFL or Applied Linguistics)

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

Forget Latin America, unless you can get into an intl school. As for the won, it's down, but it's still 3 times what you'd get in Peru. Head for the Middle east if you can.

partymop · Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Posts: 16

good advice... but what about other places in Asia. I'm thinking about Hong Kong, Japan, and Vietnam in that order. I can't seem to find a straight answer on if i can teach in the NET program in Hong Kong or any other place w/o a teacher's license. Despite Japan's struggles, the yen seems strong to the dollar right now. I've heard vietnam is emerging as a great place to go. Any suggestions for east asia?

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

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

If you choose Japan, just remember that 1. a CELTA means basically nothing at all here (other than a check next to 'Does applicant have a TESOL certificate that was not done by distance?'. 2. A year and a half experience in Korea still means 'zero experience in Japan' and may actually count against you with some employers, because of the fear that you may show up and talk about how much better Korean students in general are doing with English compared with Japanese students (but it won't count as a strike against you with good employers).

The yen may still be strong to the dollar, but salaries are going down, and you may find that you end up living paycheque to paycheque (and so the yen's value compared with the dollar won't mean anything to you because you won't be sending any yens back to Canada).

partymop · Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Posts: 16

sorry, my bad. not looking to party so much. looking for a combination of saving some money but working in a good environment and hopefully a worthwhile job. Public schools or university would be great, except that I dont have a masters. A god language school would be fine. I guess my priority is the quality of the experience living in the country, potential for saving some money, and working for a good employer.

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

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

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

Just for the record, not Italy! People are losing their jobs left, right and centre; the government are talking about nationalising the banks, and we're all living off dried pasta. Well not quite the third yet, but nobody is feeling particularly optimistic / willing to invest in English lessons. Asia sounds a good bet.

EnglishBrian · Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 189

There's a very large British Council in Hong Kong that pays pretty decent. They usually ask for, not sure if its one, or two years post CELTA experience, but I think in these times flexibility is starting to creep in and you might be in with a shout. If you don't have some kind of 'British connection' it can count against you too, but Canadians and others have been known there. They usually start recruiting for September round about March time.