Job Discussion Forums

liv · Joined: 10 Mar 2009 Posts: 8 Location: London

Hello you lovely Indonesian teaching folk!
I'm about to do my TESOL and gain some teaching experience in Italy but still hold a bit of a burning love affair with Indonesia (having spent quite a long time travelling in that area).
Quick question for you seasoned pro's...
Is there a 'best' time to apply for Teaching jobs over there? In Europe most school years start in September/October and hire at that point, from what I've heard, but is it the same in Indo or is there a rolling teaching recruitment process?
I'm a UK citizen with experience in journalism, a degree in Communications and hopefully soon a shiny TESOL. Been looking in to Sumatra but do I need more teaching experience to earn a comfortable existence? (For the record,my idea of comfortable relies on pretty minimal standards!)
Thanks all Smile

dalang · Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 4

With your quals you should be able to easily get a job an ESL job in Medan, Padang and other big cities in Sumatra. Most will pay about 7-10 including housing and airfares yearly.

Maybe you should try a nat plus school?? Sekolah Djuwita in Medan often seem to be looking for teachers. I think they pay about 12mil?? with better teaching hours.

You say you want to live comfortably but it really depends on how you live. Want to drink often and travel a lot??? well, this wage won't get you too far. Most of the ESL teachers I know here (Medan) are really tight with their money and always seem to be whinging about it so it doesn't sound like too comfortable an existence to me. Maybe try the Nat Plus route to give you that little bit extra to live with.

liv · Joined: 10 Mar 2009 Posts: 8 Location: London

Thanks for your response, I'd love to work somewhere like Sekolah Djuwita, particularly as Medan sounds like my kind of city.
I had a quick glance on their website but their jobs seem to start in July, is this commonplace in Indonesia? I'm doing my Tesol in June so not available till at least mid-july, will this affect my career options drastically? Should I think of elsewhere?
Any advice gratefully received

Vertumnus · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 142 Location: Indonesia

I've never been to Sumatra, but I can say that I agree dalang. If you want to have a nice standard of living, you're not likely to get the salary you'll need at a language course. You're better off looking at national plus and international schools. Avoid Singapore School.

Hiring starts 3-4 months before the beginning (Jan & July) of a semester, although there is rolling hiring at some places due to turnover, and language courses are included in that category.

-D

liv · Joined: 10 Mar 2009 Posts: 8 Location: London

Thanks for al your advice Smile

I've been having a look at National Plus Schools in Sumatra and they all seem to be in Medan, does anyone know if there are any Nat Plus or International schools in Padang? The only school I can find is EF Padang.

Thank you

Vertumnus · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 142 Location: Indonesia

liv · Joined: 10 Mar 2009 Posts: 8 Location: London

That's fantastically helpful, thanks so much Smile

dalang · Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 4

The expat website is a good start. Send your CV's to as many schools as possible. Some will hire people with a degree that is not in Education.

As for International schools, well most of the good ones will only hire you if you are a professional teacher in your home country. Most of them use an international school agent and don't really take CV's by email. The other ones are International schools in name only and may be more trouble than they are worth. Stick to the nat plus schools and good luck