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schieft
Joined: 02 Nov 2011
Posts: 7
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 Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 12:00 am Post subject: Best country? |
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I know this is going to sound like an idiotic question, but what do you think the best country to teach in is today?
I've done plenty of research, and it seems like the days of Korea and Japan have past. Now anytime you ask a question about either of those places you are bound to get a jaded response.
So, what would you recommend today? |
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veronica2
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Posts: 45
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| Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 12:08 am Post subject: |
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| Well actually China is pretty nice ... I mean you have to be the right kind of person for it though ... |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 12:11 am Post subject: Re: Best country? |
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| schieft wrote: |
I know this is going to sound like an idiotic question, but what do you think the best country to teach in is today?
I've done plenty of research, and it seems like the days of Korea and Japan have past. Now anytime you ask a question about either of those places you are bound to get a jaded response.
So, what would you recommend today? |
"Best" is relative and subjective. What are your criteria?
If your measurement is money then Korea is still king but other places in Asia are quickly catching up.
"Where" also depends on what qualifications you have to offer and where you are from.
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schieft
Joined: 02 Nov 2011
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 12:16 am Post subject: Re: Best country? |
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[quote="tttompatz"][quote="schieft"]I know this is going to sound like an idiotic question, but what do you think the best country to teach in is today?
I've done plenty of research, and it seems like the days of Korea and Japan have past. Now anytime you ask a question about either of those places you are bound to get a jaded response.
So, what would you recommend today?[/quote]
"Best" is relative and subjective. What are your criteria?
If your measurement is money then Korea is still king but other places in Asia are quickly catching up.
"Where" also depends on what qualifications you have to offer and where you are from.
.[/quote]
Whatever you think is best, and the same for where. I'm just looking for any new ideas or places I may have missed. |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 12:29 am Post subject: Re: Best country? |
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| schieft wrote: |
| tttompatz wrote: |
| schieft wrote: |
I know this is going to sound like an idiotic question, but what do you think the best country to teach in is today?
I've done plenty of research, and it seems like the days of Korea and Japan have past. Now anytime you ask a question about either of those places you are bound to get a jaded response.
So, what would you recommend today? |
"Best" is relative and subjective. What are your criteria?
If your measurement is money then Korea is still king but other places in Asia are quickly catching up.
"Where" also depends on what qualifications you have to offer and where you are from.
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Whatever you think is best, and the same for where. I'm just looking for any new ideas or places I may have missed. |
I like Korea. The money and living conditions are still there and are OK. Most of the bitching and whining you get are from newbies who, 5 years ago wouldn't have considered moving abroad for a couple years to teach EFL and who, in retrospect, should have probably stayed home now.
I like Thailand. I make more here now as a teacher (with less work) than I did in Korea (at the top of the GEPIK scales) and BKK certainly has much to offer.
I liked China. Again, the money can be pretty decent, culture and history are fascinating and, depending on where you go, the food is pretty good.
All that said, I am not a fresh-off-the-plane newbie either.
There ARE good opportunities in most countries for anyone with some credentials, a background and the wherewithal to do something with them.
IF you are a back-packer, fresh out of high school with a 30 day cert looking for a gap year and big bucks, well the gravy train has pretty much come to an end. |
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schieft
Joined: 02 Nov 2011
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 2:04 am Post subject: Re: Best country? |
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Is your situation in Thailand typical of other teachers, or are you better off because you have had teaching experience?
Also, I've tried looking around for jobs in Thailand. It seems like every ad I see is for some program where the teacher has to pay. Seems backwards to me. Is there a better way?
I should also mention that I probably won't have an TEFL certificate. I do have a masters degree, though (unrelated field).
What's the vacation time like in Thailand?
Thanks! |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 4:00 am Post subject: Re: Best country? |
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| schieft wrote: |
Is your situation in Thailand typical of other teachers, or are you better off because you have had teaching experience?
Also, I've tried looking around for jobs in Thailand. It seems like every ad I see is for some program where the teacher has to pay. Seems backwards to me. Is there a better way?
I should also mention that I probably won't have an TEFL certificate. I do have a masters degree, though (unrelated field).
What's the vacation time like in Thailand?
Thanks! |
Not typical for a fresh-off-the-plane newbie.
Vacation time varies from as much unpaid time as you want at some language academy to 14 weeks with pay at some of the better schools.
You don't PAY anything for a job in Thailand (or Korea, or China or anywhere else in Asia) unless you are blind, deaf and dumb.
Don't pay for a job.
Don't pay a recruiter (they get paid by the school).
Don't work for an agency (you are asking for trouble).
The best jobs (in Thailand) are NOT found on the internet.
If you want decent work then get a double entry tourist visa and a plane ticket. (the reason is that as long as you have more than 21 days remaining on your entry you can change your status from tourist to non-b at the main immigration office without having to run up to Laos on a visa run).
Hit the ground anywhere from late March to mid May with your documents in hand (degree, transcript, masters and a CBC). You should be able to get something decent (for a newbie) within a week or so. IF you want to work in a government school then After Apr 15. If you want university work then March is the time to be looking.
In Korea, use a recruiter and hit the internet now. Provided you have your documents in hand (undergrad with apostille and CBC with apostille) you should find a job for term start (Mar2).
In China you are off season but language academies are always hiring. Go cruise the China forum for more specifics. Money, benefits and vacation time varies from great (15k RMB + housing, airfare and benefits) to absolutely rock bottom (3000RMB and NO benefits). Just be selective.
If money is the overriding factor in your determination of a "great" place then Vietnam has some decent opportunities (salaries in the $2000 range) with a very low cost of living.
Again, YOUR country of passport will also come into play as will your age and to a lessor extent, your ethnicity.
Having a TESOL cert may or may not be an issue depending on what you want to do, what you want to teach and where you want to go.
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EFLeducator
Joined: 16 Dec 2011
Posts: 595
Location: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS
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| Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 5:31 am Post subject: Re: Best country? |
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| schieft wrote: |
| what do you think the best country to teach in is today? |
South Korea and/or Japan. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:41 am Post subject: Re: Best country? |
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| schieft wrote: |
| Whatever you think is best, and the same for where. I'm just looking for any new ideas or places I may have missed. |
This doesn't give us anything to work on. You also wrote:
I probably won't have an TEFL certificate. I do have a masters degree, though (unrelated field).
People choose countries based on several factors, and their personal reasons may not match your own, so I think you are going to find it pretty hard to get answers that you seek.
As tttompatz wrote, you really should tell us more about what you are looking for (or want to avoid). Then we can point you in a direction or even tell you if your expectations are realistic.
Examples:
How much money do you want to save?
How much debt do you have to pay off?
What sort of culture(s) appeal to you?
Any food-related issues?
What about general cost of living?
What kind of job do you want to start with, and then lead into?
Where are you from (some visas depend on this answer)?
How old are you? (also visa-related in some cases)
When do you want to start?
What sort of vacation time do you want? (based on your earlier question)
Do you mind living in a rural environment, or do you prefer bright lights of the big city? |
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fladude
Joined: 02 Feb 2009
Posts: 432
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| Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 2:09 am Post subject: |
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| Go for El Salvador. |
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The Great Wall of Whiner
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 4946
Location: Blabbing
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| Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 12:36 am Post subject: |
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| Taiwan is not bad, nor is Japan. You will have to register for the Korea forums to talk about that place. China was getting better, but now it's starting to slide again and on the way down. The pollution and low wages and increasing (skyrocketing) costs of living are getting unbearable. |
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veronica2
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Posts: 45
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| Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 1:10 am Post subject: |
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| I have to nitpick with your points here a bit. China definitely does have some problems related to pollution and inflation. But you'd expect that in a fast-developing country, wouldn't you? These things seem to be improving, at least where I'm staying, in Hangzhou. And pollution and inflation are major problems in the U.S. and in other western countries, also. The Chinese seem to be maintaining social stability throughout their growth. Not easy to do! I tip my hat to them. Anyway, China is a good place to work and study, I can say that from personal experience. |
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Opiate
Joined: 10 Aug 2011
Posts: 630
Location: Qingdao
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| Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 4:17 am Post subject: |
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| veronica2 wrote: |
| China is a good place to work and study, I can say that from personal experience. |
Can you? You have studied and worked in China for how long exactly?
Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012
| veronica2 wrote: |
| Hi everyone. I'm new here and am teaching in Hangzhou for my first contract. |
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veronica2
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Posts: 45
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| Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 2:47 pm Post subject: |
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| At least I can say that I'm enjoying it, mate. |
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Opiate
Joined: 10 Aug 2011
Posts: 630
Location: Qingdao
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| Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 3:05 pm Post subject: |
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| veronica2 wrote: |
| At least I can say that I'm enjoying it, mate. |
Great. Now can you answer the question? How long have you studied and worked in China?
From reading your posts, I'd bet you have not been here for 6 months yet. I'd reckon you are still in the 'honeymoon' phase. I find that rather odd since you talk of how Hangzhou has been improving. How can you tell? What are you comparing it to?
I won't even address your other points about pollution or social stability. I do ask that you read your posts again after you have been here for a longer period of time. |
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