Job Discussion Forums

[Mark-O]

Getting to read some of the posts here on Dave's, I'm starting to acquire an appreciation of the countries some of the people here enjoy working in (mentioning no names, Khermhit!). From my previous topic on this forum many people seem to be against teaching EFL/ESL in their homeland. So this leads me to my next question:

Disregarding your homeland, are there any countries that you would personally not contemplate working in? If so, what are your reasons?

(This is not meant to be contentious ... "each to their own" and all that)

[struelle]

[Shaman]

Ensconcing myself somewhere in Scandanavia (general, I know) wouldn't hurt my feelings in the slightest. But, I would definitely find myself on the losing end of the supply-demand continuum.

Shaman

[gugelhupf]

Korea. The culture would drive me insane, and my reaction to it would develop into a lose-lose scenario. I don't care about the amount of money I could save if I worked over there. I'd rather work somewhere I felt happy and stay poor - like Indonesia, Thailand, or even central Asia.

[Gordon]

The United States.

Too many guns and too dangerous. If I got sick, I could end up bankrupt from the hospital bill. BTW I am not trying to sidetrack this thread.

Iraq is also not on the top of my list for obvious reasons.

[Aramas]

I've been considering economic and volatility factors, so flash-points like Iraq, Bosnia, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Venezuela etc. are out since I already have enough orifices, thanks.

Surprisingly, most of eastern Europe has a higher cost of living than Australia does (2-3 times in some countries), so I won't be going there! The Czech Republic is about the only country in a sea of overpriced bureacratic nightmares that's still affordable on the seemingly standard $700-$1000 USD that ESL pays. Russia would be cool, but definitely weird. Perhaps when I grow up - if I don't die of old age first.

In Asia, Japan and Korea are out because I find their cultures somewhat unpleasant. Myanmar is out on political correctness grounds. Apparently Thailand is turning into another Singapore, so that leaves Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, China, Tibet and Nepal as the most interesting and conveniently lined up. Of those my first choices would be Cambodia and Nepal.

North Africa would be interesting, with Egypt and Morocco tied for first place, although with Libya opening up it could be a cool place until McDevelopment takes off.

South America has Brasil and Peru tied for first place for very different reasons, although they're both quite expensive to live in and are politically volatile. Ecuador or Colombia would be cool. Neither country has ever had a military government and they also have a very low cost of living. From what I've read, Cartagena sounds wonderful but once you're there you're pretty much stuck. Cross country travel in Colombia is probably not a good idea. Guayaquil sounds like an excrement orifice, but the rest of the country sounds nice.

Central America and the Caribbean are too close to Bizzarro World, so they're out.

The middle east sounds even more dull than staying at home. At least here I can go out, get roaring drunk and wake up in some strange woman's bed.

Of course that's all just conjecture based on what I could find in guide books and on the web. All bets are off once I'm in-country. The plan is to travel until I find somewhere that I'd like to spend a few years in. There's no way I'd ever accept a job in a place I'd never even seen.

[Wolf]

Meh, my own list is rather short, and definately personal.

The US. Not for political reasons; but I just don't see the point in jumping through hoops to get a job and work permission in a country so close to my own in proximity and cutlure. I'd either work at home or work abroad for real. Working in the US as an ESL teacher would mean all the paperwork hassles of working abroad but none of the excitement of seeing a different culture (okay there are some differences, but I think most people understand what I mean.)

South Korea. The EFL industry in South Korea appears to be, in a word, broken. I won't go there until, to put it simply, someone fixes it. And that person is NOT me.

Taiwan't MoE does not recognize distance learning degrees. For those of us spending thousands of dollars/pounds and years of our lives in an ernest attempt to get one, well, that's not much of an incentive, is it? I'll take my soon-to-be-well-qualified hide and pin it elsewhere.

Edit: I've been told they'd recognize a DL degree from abroad from a reputable school. I guess that takes Taiwan off my "no-go" list, although I don't see myself signing my life away with a corrupt bushiban. I'd be pretty careful about which employer to trust.

And, no offence to a certain Latin-quoting Torontonian, but I've read up on Cambodia a bit online, and from what I gather, it really isn't my bag, baby.

Places I would LIKE to go (esp once I have my MA) include:

Somewhere in Mainland China where I'd be accepted easier.
Hong Kong
Singapore
The UAE
Turkey
Japan


Places on the possible list:

Vietnam
Indonesia
Malaysia
and Taiwan if they removed caranium from rectum and recognized my degree. (Which, it seems, is the case after all. )

[denise]

South Korea
Israel
anywhere where being an American and/or a single woman could put me in physical danger

(well, crap, what does that leave?!?!?)

d

[Aramas]

I wonder if we could be divided into two camps? - Those who prefer their creature comforts and those looking for a bit of adventure

I want it so raw, I can taste the blood

[johnslat]

Dear Aramas,

"I want it so raw, I can taste the blood."

Hmm, would that be someone else's - or your own?

Regards,
John

[khmerhit]

[matthews_world]

Okay, my first post on this board as a regular poster on the Korean board.

Korea is a great country to work. Koreans are wonderful and the cost of living is cheap. The kids are fun and supersmart. The women are quirky but also beautiful! Sure, their economy isn't the greatest as it is starting to finally look up. Schools here come and go but good ones can be found.

Technology abounds. Virtually everyone is connected to the net. All have cellular phones. PC rooms are on every street corner. DVD rooms and singing rooms are great entertainment. Shopping is a favorite pasttime. Western movies and food can be found.

The contracts here are very reasonable. They offer anywhere from 1.9 million won to upwards of 2.2 million for a first-year with the school. Housing in provided, furnished. Always check as some apartments may not be as great as others. 1/2 medical. Vacation days and Korean holidays paid. Pension plan. Many universities look for foreign staff as well as the middle and high-schools.

Lastly, Korea is a great place to do some travelling. Incheon International airport services Seoul and is a great hub to other Asian countries. Many trains and buses will escort you all around the country. Sure, their may be pollution in Seoul, etc. and yellow dust in the spring but it is easy to adjust to. Pusan in the south is a great departure point for Japan. Jeju Island is beautiful.

I've enjoyed my 1.5 years here and look forward to another 2. Yea, there are some shifty school owners, contracts, and co-workers but do your homework first.

[scot47]

The UK of GB & NI.

I would sooner work on the Planet Zog.

[Lanza-Armonia]

I'm no expert on future-international relations, but with the rate of TEFL growth in China, one may rightly assume within ten years (tops, in my opinion), China is going to be another Korea. Except this time, it's not going to settle down so quick as most of the Chinese business men are corrupt.

Don't get me wrong, I'm loving the place (or is the love to hate it? I forget) but I honestly think that the standards will raise, therefore the level of teaching will raise (that cuts me out) and the corruption will raise (as if it could after 5000 years of perfection...).

Just a thought....

LA

[Celeste]