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chynee
Joined: 27 Jul 2010
Posts: 6
Location: Toronto
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 Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:48 am Post subject: NEWBIE NEEDING GOOD ADVICE FOR WHERE TO GO!!! |
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I am a 24 year old female graduate from Toronto, Canada. I have a B.A (Hons) in Communication Studies and Sociology, and a diploma in Journalism Broadcasting.
I am looking for a teaching job because I hear such wonderful things about it. I also LOVE to travel! This year I have been to Jamaica, Ethiopia, Amsterdam, Bahamas, and Dominican Republic ... So far ... I'd love to make Japan or Korea my next travel destination!
I also have a HUGE student loan debt that I really need to clear off! I don't have much teaching experiences, unless teaching at a sports camp is considered? I was a camp leader for kids aged 4-12, and loved that experience, and would love to teach around that same age group again!
My boyfriend who is 35, wants to teach abroad as well. However, he has yet to finish school. He plans to graduate by early next year. So we hope to leave together and teach by early 2011. He as well has little teaching experience, unless they consider teaching editing and production in a film school as experience? He loves to teach, but also needs the money to clear off student loans.
We both have a passion for Film, Media, and TV Broadcasting, and are hoping that once we get a job teaching, we can sought opportunities for our desired career goals within that country.
We have had interviews with a few companies already, and love the idea of free accommodations and free airfare. I am also looking for somewhere with a low cost of living, so that I am able to make payments on my student loan, as well as save!
Which country would be an ideal place for us to teach? I hear great stuff about the JET Program, so if anyone has information about that as well, please divulge! |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:30 am Post subject: Re: NEWBIE NEEDING GOOD ADVICE FOR WHERE TO GO!!! |
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| chynee wrote: |
| I am a 24 year old female graduate from Toronto, Canada. I have a B.A (Hons) in Communication Studies and Sociology, and a diploma in Journalism Broadcasting. |
Ok, so that makes you minimally qualified to get a work visa in most countries.
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| I am looking for a teaching job because I hear such wonderful things about it. |
What exactly have you heard? There is a lot of misinformation and disinformation floating around.
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| I also LOVE to travel! This year I have been to Jamaica, Ethiopia, Amsterdam, Bahamas, and Dominican Republic ... So far ... I'd love to make Japan or Korea my next travel destination! |
Consider that you would be getting a teaching job, not a license to sightsee. Jobs mean 40-hr/week work. Sightseeing comes secondary, sometimes even further down the list.
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| I also have a HUGE student loan debt that I really need to clear off! |
How much per month?
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| I don't have much teaching experiences, unless teaching at a sports camp is considered? |
Only marginally.
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| I was a camp leader for kids aged 4-12, and loved that experience, and would love to teach around that same age group again! |
Teaching sports again, or teaching English? You won't get much of the former.
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| My boyfriend who is 35, wants to teach abroad as well. However, he has yet to finish school. He plans to graduate by early next year. So we hope to leave together and teach by early 2011. |
Do you want to live together? Work together? I'd advise against the latter.
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| We both have a passion for Film, Media, and TV Broadcasting, and are hoping that once we get a job teaching, we can sought opportunities for our desired career goals within that country. |
Like what? You're going to need to know the local language quite a bit (reading/writing/speaking) to get non-teaching jobs in Japan. And contacts galore. Depending on the type of work visa, you may even need 5-10 years of experience first.
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| We have had interviews with a few companies already, and love the idea of free accommodations and free airfare. |
Where? Rare as hen's teeth here in Japan.
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| I am also looking for somewhere with a low cost of living, so that I am able to make payments on my student loan, as well as save! |
Low cost of living usually means low wages, not high savings.
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| Which country would be an ideal place for us to teach? I hear great stuff about the JET Program, so if anyone has information about that as well, please divulge! |
What information on JET don't you have? The homepage is chocked full. If you want experienced people's opinions, come to the Japan page or go to www.bigdaikon.com and ask. |
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chynee
Joined: 27 Jul 2010
Posts: 6
Location: Toronto
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| Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 12:03 pm Post subject: |
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Minimally qualified to get a work visa in most countries? Wow, so clearly I have been misinformed.
I understand its a JOB ... I was just mentioning that I like the perks that came with it ...
I would like to put down at least CND $1000/mth on my student loans.
My boyfriend and I already work together, but don't live together. We get along just fine, so that really isn't an issue to us!
I am open to all places, not only Japan .... So if anyone else has any POSITIVE feedback, please do tell! |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 12:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski's was VALUABLE feedback. |
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Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm thinking Korea is your only possibility, based on your quals and desire to put aside 1,000 a month. There's a separate Korea forum for more help. |
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AGoodStory
Joined: 26 Feb 2010
Posts: 738
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| Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 1:24 pm Post subject: |
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| chynee wrote: |
| .... So if anyone else has any POSITIVE feedback, please do tell! |
I agree with Sasha. While it is smart to research this idea, if you wish to get accurate information on which to base your decisions, you can't limit it to "positive feedback." To build a realistic picture you need all the information you can collect--the responses you don't want to hear, as well as the ones you do. If you limit yourself to half the picture, there's really not much point in researching.  |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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Minimally qualified to get a work visa in most countries? Wow, so clearly I have been misinformed.
I agree that your qualifications are entry-level (in fact, we wouldn't hire you for an entry-level position without a CELTA or equivalent in addition to what you've already got). Further, as a Canadian, you can't get a work permit in most European countries, regardless of quals. This isn't a problem for you, though, because European employers nearly never pay for airfare and accomodations, and teachers in this region are hard-pressed to buy a new pair of jeans on top of their monthly living costs, never mind even dreaming of making enough to send money back home.
I understand its a JOB ... I was just mentioning that I like the perks that came with it ...
I think you have misunderstood what 'perks' are standard. There are not many places in the world that pay for airfare and accomodations for English teachers. I agree Korea is your only likely chance for this.
I would like to put down at least CND $1000/mth on my student loans.
Again, you've misunderstood the standards of pay in most locations worldwide. With newbie level quals, this is near-impossible everywhere - except possibly Korea.
I think realistically you need to focus on Korea alone. I don't think you will find anything remotely fitting your vision anywhere else, with your level of qualifications and experience.
Last edited by spiral78 on Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:46 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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TeresaLopez
Joined: 18 Apr 2010
Posts: 601
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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| chynee wrote: |
Minimally qualified to get a work visa in most countries? Wow, so clearly I have been misinformed.
.... So if anyone else has any POSITIVE feedback, please do tell! |
Yes, minimally qualified is almost an overstatement. You have an unrelated degree, and little teaching experience. In any many other fields you wouldn't be qualified at all. That is, to do a job you have no education or training for. Glenski's feedback WAS positive, and if you take it to heart, it will be very helpful in sorting out what you want to do. You didn't mention any plans to get any kind of teacher's training. Do you plan on getting at least a minimal qualification? if not, what do YOU feel you have to offer as a teacher. Based on what you have posted, you can forget about flights and maybe housing too. Not too common based on your qualifications and inexperience. Don't think we are being negative, just the opposite, you are being given HONEST advice from people with many years in this field. |
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chynee
Joined: 27 Jul 2010
Posts: 6
Location: Toronto
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| Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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| thanks everyone for your responses! |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 12:28 am Post subject: |
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| chynee wrote: |
| Minimally qualified to get a work visa in most countries? |
Yes. Bare minimum, as TeresaLopez described. Even for the lowliest of low ranking English teaching jobs here in Japan (that would be conversation school, otherwise known as eikaiwa), all that is needed in most cases is a bachelor's degree in any major. Can't speak for other countries, but here the competition is very steep right now (as people in the Japan forum will tell you). Even the low level jobs are sometimes requiring more than just the minimum requirements. There may be dozens or even scores of people applying for such. You aren't always going to edge people out with a shining personality or experience traveling to other countries. It may actually take degrees, certification, or experience in some cases. And, you'll probably face a lot of interviews where they ask for a teaching demonstration.
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| Wow, so clearly I have been misinformed. |
Obviously. What exactly had people told you?
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| I understand its a JOB ... I was just mentioning that I like the perks that came with it ... |
Again, I am curious and would like to know what you consider a perk. Based on my experience in Japan for the past 12 years, entry level jobs work 20-30 classroom hours per week, are not obligated by law for vacation until after 6 months (although some employers give it to you, but you only get time off during the 3 busiest travel weeks of the year, so travel rates go up), darned little training if any (and most is worthless for anything outside of that particular school setting), a secondhand apartment with secondhand furnishings, and little else. You might consider a perk to be the opportunity to live in an exotic foreign land, but one could just as easily sightsee and get the same out of it, albeit for a shorter time. In Japan you wouldn't even qualify for the discount Rail Pass because you would be a resident. Sightseeing while working 5-6 days a week is fairly tight, usually expensive, and may be limited to a weekend of only 1 day. Another perk some think about is the ability to learn the language by being immersed in the culture or because employers offer free lessons. Well, in my experience, most employers here don't offer anything. Moreover, learning the language by immersion is a good opportunity, yes, but it still takes a lot of hard work and dedication, which usually means avoiding your foreign coworkers and local friends in order to pound the language into your skull. Minor perk in my estimation.
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| I would like to put down at least CND $1000/mth on my student loans. |
At today's exchange rate, that's 84,000 Japanese yen. Doable, but on an entry level salary you'd still have to be fairly thrifty/frugal. Salaries in Japan are fairly high compared to other countries, so people report, but they are going down here, too. What used to be a standard unswerving 250,000 yen/month has changed; people now see 180,000 to 220,000 more frequently.
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| My boyfriend and I already work together, but don't live together. We get along just fine, so that really isn't an issue to us! |
I'm not sure if that really answered my question. Do you want to live and/or work together in your foreign job?
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| I am open to all places, not only Japan .... So if anyone else has any POSITIVE feedback, please do tell! |
Open your eyes. I'm not going to tell you what you want to hear. I'm going to tell you what it's like. That's positive. At least (so far) I have not told you that you can't come or that you should give up. You want feedback. Listen to everything. Teaching EFL is not a life to be viewed with rose-colored glasses.
Oh, and I would like to point out that I've spent a lot of effort writing a large amount of information to try answering your questions here. It would be courteous of you to respond in kind. Answer mine, please, from this and the previous post. |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:00 am Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| Can't speak for other countries, but here the competition is very steep right now... |
Glenski, you've been saying that for a while now ever since the glorious demise of NOVA some, what...3 or so years ago? Hasn't that initial glut been taken care of yet or did the sinking of GEOS add to the oversupply?
And, yes, jobs are tight ALL over...
NCTBA |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:20 am Post subject: |
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| Never Ceased To Be Amazed wrote: |
| Glenski wrote: |
| Can't speak for other countries, but here the competition is very steep right now... |
Glenski, you've been saying that for a while now ever since the glorious demise of NOVA some, what...3 or so years ago? Hasn't that initial glut been taken care of yet or did the sinking of GEOS add to the oversupply? |
No, things have not changed. You hit it on the head with the GEOS news. They aren't the only reason; many companies or schools fold, leaving people on the streets (and the uni situation isn't getting any better). |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 1:03 am Post subject: |
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You've got a BA, which means that you can get a work visa in most countries. Your boyfriend doesn't, which means he can't. I suggest you try China. Bare in mind that you'll probbaly be making 500 to 700 dollars a month there. Korea's always possible, your boyfriend could get into the www.talk.go.kr jobs.
ONce you both have degrees, then you can go more places, but with money being a big concern, you should try Korea, Taiwan, and Japan, though I've been told Japan is a flooded market.
On a side note, if you have a HUGE debt, how can you afford to travel so much? |
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