Job Discussion Forums

ronald_reagan · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 50

I got an offer from a school in Korat through mediakids and was about to pull the trigger when the folks at teachaway called and left a message. The folks at SEAMO, in Vietnam, want to interview me over the phone for a position. Dilemmas. I suppose any input would be great from those of you who have lived in both Vietnam and Thailand. One of my main concerns is which pays more (all inclusive) and which country has better saving potential (I am paying off loans for my MA). The offers, mediakids 4 month contract, visa and work permit reimbursement and free housing. Teachaway, to my knowledge, offers 19USD/hr. about 25 hours teaching hours a week. No accommodation, but visa and permit taken care of. I suppose I ought to do the math, huh, boys and girls?

Junka · Joined: 15 Mar 2009 Posts: 14

I don't know anything about Vietnam but Korat is a nice little town if a little boring to be honest. Scenery is good, lots of rice paddies, national parks nearby etc...

Money, money, money... last time I checked SE Asia wasn't really the place to go for that. Korea, Japan and to a lesser extent Taiwan were the coin spinners.

ronald_reagan · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 50

Yeah, I suppose the "money, money" wasn't quite the right way to put it. I think that I have made up my mind to spend 4 months teaching in Korat. I have heard that it is nice enough place, but can get boring for some. That is kind of my speed. I just want to be left alone for the most part, a decent job, steady wage, a gym membership and maybe a decent watering hole on the weekends. 35000 is not bad in a smaller town in Thailand methinks, especially since I don't have to pay rent. But I have heard a decent apartment or home in Korat is pretty cheap, especially compared to Bangkok. And one of the main things, it is only 4 months, I can do that standing on my head. Maybe I might like it, and extend.

MaiPenRai · Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 390 Location: BKK

First off, Korat is not exactly a "nice little town" Korat is a province that is one of the biggest in Thailand. The main city, also called Korat or Ampur Muang, is probably 1-2 million in population and I believe the second biggest city in Thailand.

Although got to agree with Junka, SE Asia is not the place to come if you are worried about money. After being here for a year or 2 getting experience and if you have good educational qaulifications, you can start to make decent money if you live a modest lifestyle.

Vietnam probably has higher saving potential, from what I have heard, although beleive it or not, I have also heard that their business scruples are lower than those in Thailand. In both countries, you can live for very little, BUT it depends if you are able to or want to live that type of lifestyle. Some can do it and some can't.

Korea is not really a money country anymore with the fast sinking Korean Won. The standard 2.2 mill Won jobs only net you about $1500/month these days. Used to be over $2000.

The standard Taiwan wage of 60,000/month will get you about $1750. With lower cost of living and chance to learn Mandarin (much more useful than Korean IMO), it seems like a better option these days. Although many jobs in Taiwan dont seem to offer accommodations or airfare from what I have seen.

Korea will more than likely include airfare and accommodation, but they will get their money back in slave labour from what I have heard, especially from newcomers.

So, if you have qualifications (MA in something related to english or teaching), I would go the ME if money is a major issue. After that, it is pretty even these days IMO. Although I dont know much of anything about teaching in Europe, so I suppose there is money to be made there. I doubt it due to cost of living in most Euopean countries.

For your two choices, it certainly sounds like you could make more in Vietnam. $19/hour X 25 hours/week = $1900/month. I cant imagine accommodations costing more than $200-300/month. I assume Mediakids is paying somwhere between 30-36,000/month which works out to about $1000/month. If you paid your own accommodation in Korat area, it would normally run you $100-300/month. So assumming you actually do get those 25 hours/week, looks like a couple extra hundred to be made in Vietnam.

Good luck.

ronald_reagan · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 50

Yup, I think Vietnam is a few hundred USD a month, but I have heard you get taxed heavily the first few months or something like this...???? The thing that draws me to the Korat deal is that it is 4 months. I am a credentialed teacher here in the states with a newly acquired MA. However, the way things look now, there is no way I am going to land a long term gig within the next year. I'm going to Thailand, earn about $1000 a month and come back to the States in Sept/Oct to continue subbing and hoping, by chance, I can get a permanent position. If not, I suppose next school year I can look into intnational, IB schools.

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

Reagan, did you say you are a qualified teacher in the States (i.e. BA in education) AND you have an MA?

If this is so, you should be making more than 35,000 baht a month - twice as much would not be too hard to find here in Bangkok.

Junka · Joined: 15 Mar 2009 Posts: 14

ronald_reagan · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 50

Junka · Joined: 15 Mar 2009 Posts: 14

Sounds to me like it'd be worth your while waiting for a nicely paid gig in Thailand at an international school then as extra income always helps with enjoying any country.

That said, 4 months in Korat will allow you to see a different side of Thailand and whilst not all that financially rewarding would be worthwhile in it's own right, and 4 months is a nice kind of time frame.

Others here will advise you better on scoring international school teaching gigs but I can't imagine the 4 months will hurt your resume.

Best of luck in your endeavors.