Job Discussion Forums

[melssa]

I am sure this has been posted about a hundred times, so thank you in advance to any who read and respond. My question is obviously about location. First, my credentials. I'm a US citizen, have a Masters degree in Education and am certified to teach K-9. I recently graduated and the only jobs I have been able to find are about a 7 month stint working as an after school/summer school teacher for children newly immigrated to the US, and about 5 months as a long-term substitute at a Catholic School. This is, of course, aside from student teaching and some sub experience while I was in school. Because we are facing massive layoffs here in Chicago as well as nationwide, I'm considering going overseas to gain some experience so that hopefully when there are more jobs available, I can return and find a job. I just can't figure out where to go!!!

I have considered Latin America. It would be beneficial to learn Spanish and that will help me get a teaching job when I return. However, there are very little perks (airfare reimbursement, housing assistance, and health care), and the money is not very good. I'm facing an enormous amount of student debt.

I have considered Europe. There are not many opportunities for a US citizen in Western Europe, however I do want to be able to travel the area. The UK is hiring teachers at this time, and I have heard good things about Czech Republic as well. The pay is decent, but cost of living is higher, there are no perks, and I can't see the language as being beneficial for me when I return. Although it would be more comfortable to be in a country where everyone speaks English, it is not necessary. I'm not particularly interested in Russia at this point.

I have considered the Middle East. The pay is good, the area is interesting...but as a woman who loves her freedom, I feel that the atmosphere would be a bit stifling for me. I feel that this area is out.

I am not interested in Africa, so that pretty much leaves Asia. I know that South Korea pays the most, offers a lot of perks, and I'm pretty much guaranteed a job. However, many companies do not seem reputable and I don't really have much interest in the culture or language. I have spent time in Japan as an exchange student and went back for a visit a year later - LOVE the country and the culture. It pays well, but there are no perks, it is more difficult to get a job, I would want to work in Tokyo where I have some friends, and since I have been there twice already I feel as though I should be trying something new. China does not pay as much, sometimes it offers perks...it is relatively easy to find a job and learning Mandarin could assist me back home. However, I'm not particularly interested in living in China. I am much more interested in Thailand, as it is beautiful and I've heard so many good things. I think I would love the culture. However, there are no perks, the pay is not very good, I've heard that politically this may not be a good time, and the language would not benefit me. This seems to leave Taiwan. It pays well, good weather, beautiful, and often offers perks. I can learn Chinese there, which would help. But after experiencing the beautiful culture of Japan, I wonder if Taiwan will compare?

Alright, I know that this is a long post, and I'm sure many of you are tired of it already. I am looking for some thoughts, personal experience, opinions...I am not set on a location or even completely against a location. I just need some direction so I can make my choice and begin the process of selecting a city and a school.

Another thing I am concerned with is that I would really like to go somewhere where I am sure to meet other Westerners. Not that I want to associate exclusively with other foreigners, but I found that it was much easier for me while living in Japan to have a few friends that could share my experience as I was going through it.

Again, thank you very much for all of your help!!!

[spiral78]

I have heard good things about Czech Republic as well. The pay is decent, but cost of living is higher, there are no perks, and I can't see the language as being beneficial for me when I return.


The pay is not decent if you have to pay off debts back home. It's subsistence level only in the Czech Rep, and is a very competitive job market. It's a beautiful, fantastic place to spend some time (I've been around for a long time myself), but money's an obstacle. Check the Czech Rep forum for more voices on these issues!

I agree with you that Asia is probably your best bet, particularly in light of the need to pay on student debt.

Good luck!

[melssa]

Thanks for the opinion...I should also say that one of the reasons that I intend on coming back to the US is to get a public school teaching job. After 10 years in a public school, the rest of my student loan debt that has not been paid will be forgiven. After going to pricey private schools for about 7 years, my loan amount is so huge that there's no way I would pay even most of it off just by going somewhere that pays well. With that being said, I would like to be able to make some payments and have some money to travel around a little, and that is one of the reasons why I would like to go somewhere that pays better.

[Sadebugo]

As you stated, Korea is your best bet from a financial perspective, but a very difficult place to live. Japan might be tougher to break into but, with your education, you should be able to find a reasonable position especially after the first year. It's a shame you won't consider the ME because that's where you can really sock the money away.

Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/

[Glenski]

[melssa]

Ah, Glenski, I was so hoping you would respond.

I outlined what I meant by perks in the beginning of the message, but probably should reiterated. By perks I mean housing assistance, airfare reimbursement, and partial health care coverage. Japan pays well but rarely offers any of these types of things, which means to me that I might be spending a lot of my wage on these. However, having lived in Tokyo when it was rated the most expensive city in the world, I do have to say that I know there are ways to cut costs...sharing an apt, shopping at 100yen stores, etc. I guess when it comes to Japan, I think a few things:

1. I love the culture, the language, the country in general.
2. I have already been there twice, I should experience something else vs. stick with something I know I love.
3. Good salary, friends there, reputable employers.
4. Market is full of teachers, difficult to get a job.

I might be willing to go somewhere other than Tokyo...I can always travel there once in awhile. I'd like to be somewhat close though, or close to some other large city. However, I am not completely opposed to being in a rural area because that's where I would really experience Japanese culture at it's fullest.

My absolutely needs are as followed:
1. An interesting culture.
2. A good salary.
3. A place where I might meet other foreigners.
4. Reputable employers.
5. A language that might be beneficial for me to know back in America.

I know that these are of course subjective; I would be interested in people's opinions. These could help me decide where it would be important for me to go, based on thoughts of those who have already been there.

I think it's pretty much impossible for me to get any more teaching experience here. No one is hiring, and the teachers that do have jobs are getting laid off. All told, I've got about 5 months actual teaching in a school experience. I don't know that they would count subbing (sporadic and a one month gig), or my 7 months in an after-school/summer program. Although, I did prepare lessons and teach during those 7 months, perhaps I could manipulate it enough to make it sound like it should count? What do you think? And thank you so much for the link, I will look it over.

[Glenski]

[naturegirl321]

First off, I can sympathesize, My mom is near Chicago and she says some schools are laying off more than half their teachers.

Second, you might be able to get a job at an intl school in a less desirable country.

Lastly, just becuase you live in a country, doesn't mean you'll learn the language. I knew plenty of poeple who had been in peru for 2, 5 10 years and oculd barely ask for directions.

[melssa]

I'm glad someone is aware of the dire situation for teachers back home here.

Alright, well first of all, when I'm talking about 'perks', I'm not saying I'm opposed to a country that does not offer them. I am well aware that most countries do not offer them, it's merely another consideration when deciding where to go. I am certainly not about to jet to S. Korea because they might find me an apt or pay for airfare, but assistance might help to be a deciding factor between two countries that I can't decide between. In any case, I also have been a private conversation teacher in Japan so I know that, especially in the city, I can pick up some extra cash.

Any thoughts on Westgate in Japan? It seems like they do offer placements within Japanese cities, and once I have finished a contract with them it might be easier to find another, more desirable position.

Finally, I definitely know that just because you live in a foreign country, you may not learn the language. I lived in Japan and only picked up a few phrases. I've also had background in French, Spanish, German, Chinese, and Latin and ask me if I remember more than a few words in any of those languages. It would necessitate my signing up for classes or some such thing.

Of course, any language can be impressive back in the USA, but what I'm talking about is that in a city like Chicago, the schools want teachers who can be bilingual because there are so many foreigners in the schools. Spanish is huge, Mandarin seems to be second. I don't see many opportunities for using Japanese either in education or in business. Again, not strictly necessary, but I'm looking for something to make me a little but more marketable for when I do return.

I did not consider international schools in less desirable Eastern European countries. That could be a foot in the door as well! Thank you so much for the idea!

As it stands now, my current favorites are: Japan, Thailand, Prague, UK.

[Glenski]

Westgate exists because nobody is actively pursuing whether they (like so many dispatch agencies) operate illegally or not. They have a young learners program of which I know nothing, and a university program of which I know a little.

The uni program can be found in a search here, but in a nutshell it's a long day with about 7-8 classes a day, and you are not allowed to leave the campus. Airfare is paid in the first 2 paychecks. What's nice is that you can get full visa sponsorship even though the job is only for 3 months (and as far as I know you can't renew consecutive periods).

I realize that Japanese is not a world language, but there may be some uses for it, depending on what business your clients are in or are pursuing. To just say you are fairly fluent in it may look good only from the standpoint of "Hey, this person made the effort", too.

[denise]

I'm a single gal who loves her freedom too, and I am really enjoying life in Oman. I can fully understand your reluctance to look into the ME in general, but really, parts of it (like Oman!) are really quite livable, according to my own "single gal" issues--lots of Westerners; you can still meet men; there are some decent bars, cafes, & clubs; dress codes are slowly relaxing (it'd still be poor form to strut around looking like a *beep*, but that'd be poor form in lots of places anyway...); cost of living is low-ish and salaries are high enough that you can afford to do go out, travel, own a car, and still save. Yes, there are some restrictions, but Omanis, especially in Muscat, tend to be tolerant and accepting of foreigners--within reason, of course. (No public eating/drinking during Ramadan, limited displays of affection in public, etc.)

There are plenty of international schools here, so if other regions don't work out for you, you might want to give them a try!

d