Job Discussion Forums

[lizziebennet]

Hi there, I taught in Korea for 5 years and then moved to Singapore this year.

Despite what some posters have said here Singapore is a great place to teach ESL.

Rent is expensive but that is if you want to live in a Condo you can easily find HDB apartments for about S$1600 so with a salary of S$4000 you should be fine. You can get some Condos for $2200 if you look carefully. For example Simsville at Paya Labar MRT (which is only 4 stops from city hall and near East coast park) which has loads of expats and students! I have been there on weekends and have friends staying there the pool has loads of expats! That is not sharing so cheaper if you share with someone. I have stayed in some really crap one rooms in Korea and having a proper place with separate rooms, kitchens and bathrooms really makes all the difference!

You can get meals for S$2-4 at the hawker centres and live really cheaply if you want. For example shopping at wet markets or Sheng Shong. You can also go to really expensive restuarants and cold storage, carrefour or the Market Place. Depends on what you like!

You can travel to Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia for as little as S$100 return on budget airlines like jetstar, airasia or tiger which is amazing! I went to Thailand vacation for 2 for a 8 day vacation in a beautiful resort with 2 pools, buffet breakfast, airport transfers, sparkling wine on arrival, 3 free cocktails per night etc for S$1000 (for 2 people together).

You don't have those opportunities in Japan or Korea!

After reading this board for over a year I think there may be a possibility that the pessimistic posts may be posted by the same person under different names.

I have met loads of esl teachers in Singapore and they are all happy with Singapore! So happy and busy that they don't really bother to post on Daves and correct the incorrect posts!

There is a lot of competition for jobs because it is such a nice place! And no one wants more people to flood the market so I guess they are happy for people to believe negative posters.

Good Luck to you guys and go for it! Even though I am off elsewher I can say that Singapore really is nice!

PM me if you need any info!

[wailing_imam]

I agree with you to a certain extent.

Saving money here is fairly easy if you are with a patner and can share rent, don't drink much and live a fairly local lifestyle. HDB flats are mostly excellent, particularly the newer ones. Some teachers seem to think living in an HDB puts one down a social notch or two and prefer to blow bucks on condos, which are vastly overpriced. Singapore's location is superb and as you say, cheap holiday options are abundant - Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Philippines all just a bargain flight away.

However, the weather here is brutal. This is my second stint in Singapore and I must say the relentless sticky heat gets me down. The teaching hours are generally far too high and schools expect teachers to work like office wallahs, keeping office hrs at around 40 a week (30 teaching hours). Salaries for ESL gigs vary hugely and many schools have ridiculous contracts. One needs to shop around. I am fairly happy where I work, but have had interviews a countless places I wouldn't touch with a bargepole.

I did a stint in Saudi at the start of the decade - interesting part of the world, good food, good money, arsing hot.

[lizziebennet]

Hah hah, I liked the heat in Singapore! But Saudi, I think we are on a different level there!

I was pretty lucky I only taught for 5 hours a day. And worked from 10:30-6:30 weekdays and no weekends. $4000 a month which was not bad at all! I have seen some pretty bad offers that require you to work 6 days a week and over Saturdays and Sundays with your day/s off during the week.

Yes, as you say if you can get a decent job you can live very well in Singapore.

[lizziebennet]

Also an aqaintance of mine works at Dimensions (presently) and has no problem with it other than the fact that you only get paid $3600 which is lower than other schools of that sort!

Once again please do not listen to misleading posts here. I can put you in contact with a number of esl teachers in Singapore who have all worked in Korea/ Japan and wouldn't give it up for the world!

[TeacherSg]

It's very good to hear some positive and still objective opinions of teaching in Singapore. I lived and taught in Singapore for 19 years, and of course loved it. I read with interest the various experiences ESL teachers have in Singapore, because in a few months, that is where I'll retire. I'm currently teaching in the Middle East.

At 63 years of age, I'd love to teach a couple hours a day, make some extra money, and enjoy the lifestyle.

I'm a permanent resident in Singapore, so that allows me to do just that.

[SydGirl2]

While I agree with most of what has been said already, it really depends on the type of job you have. If like the OP you work Monday-Friday during the day, then you can take advantage of the travel opportunities and also socialise more. A lot of the English teaching and Tuition Centre gigs require afternoon/evening and weekend work. Also, the holidays aren't that great. If you work weekends and week nights, it can severely curtail your social activities if you want to socialise with someone who has more conventional working hours. Although the pay might be similar in all these jobs, you need to look carefully at the other aspects of the job such as those that I have mentioned.

[Alice13]

Hello Lizziebennet

What a pleasant surprise to read a positive post on teaching ESL in Singapore!

I lived in Singapore for about 5 years (not teaching), but have been back in the UK for 8 years now. I completed my Trinity certificate with a view to returning to Singapore, but was unable to due to family commitments.

I am now planning to work abroad and was toying with the idea of working in Singapore, but was discouraged somewhat by the negative posts on this forum. I might add that prior to my leaving Singapore I was offered several apparently 'good' contracts - albeit that was some time ago!

In recent years, I have 'only' taught Esol on a part time/sessional basis in the UK. I have also recently been teaching in the Chinese Centre locally (the manager is a Singaporean and has given me a really good reference!)

My main concerns on the possibility of returning to Singapore are:

1. I don't have full time experience.

2. I am more 'mature'.


Regarding condos/rent etc:

1. I would prefer to share - as long as it was a 'nice' condo!

2. I own property in the UK and would be able to subsidise myself from rental income.

Any comments/suggestions would be very welcome and carefully considered.

Thanks in advance.

[Virogen]

It's nice to hear this about Singapore as I've been looking to teach there. Just need to find a good school...

[Pmedix]

What are some of the reputable school in Singapore?

[Krakatoa]

You can try International schools or Singapore Government run schools.

There are only two "language schools" with some sort of good reputations:
Allen Morris / Morris Allen and Lorna Whiston. All other language schools are the run of the mill types and some are down right scumbags.

Language schools = bad hours! International schools = regular hours
(M - F) as the same as government schools.

[KayuJati]

[wailing_imam]

Other than flats, pubs and fags, everything else in Singapore is reasonably priced. I manage to save a decent chunk every month, travel frequently, eat extraordinarily well and enjoy the delights of first world living such as excellent public transport, good public libraries, high levels of cleanliness and low levels of crime and superb public swimming pools and well as virgin rainforest and an undeveloped island with excellent mountain biking tracks.

Malaysia - Kuching, Georgetown and at a push Melaka and Kuala Terengganu are liveable spots. Shame there aren't better paying jobs there or I would gladly move over and buy myself a house. Singapore dollars go a long way in Malaysia...

[Krakatoa]

KayuJati, You are so correct with people not believing paying 40% of salary is good.

This does not make mention of TAX for the first 6 months. Nor does it account for repairs to A/C units in rented accommodation and other replacements due to "fair wear and tear."

Nor does it speak about the internet contract (at home) which you sign up for with a lengthy service time (You are a captive audience).

Obviously there are more posts already entered on the Singapore thread to warn potential teachers that Singapore is not the clean and green place everyone would like to portray it to be.

Any person wishing to pm me please do so and I will gladly enlighten you on the pitfalls and the dirt in that country.

[wailing_imam]

As you say, tax for non-residents who have been here under for under six months is relatively steep, but not as steep as the UK.

However, tax for ESL teachers who have been here over six months is extremely low.

[KayuJati]

Here is an interesting, and relevant, article about the rising rate of unemployment in Singapore amongst the professional class:

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/6/focus/5797430&sec=focus

Forewarned is being forearmed.