Job Discussion Forums

njs7t3 · Joined: 30 Aug 2012 Posts: 60 Location: Moscow, Russia

I just graduated from the CELTA program in San Francisco. I'm from Missouri and received a BA in English in 2008. I have one misdemeanor pot charge and one paraphernalia charge both from 2006. From what I've read, Asia is pretty much out, which is a bummer, because it seems like a good transition for beginning teachers. I am working on getting the charges expunged, but that could take a while.

I'm single, male, 28, and while I have a significant amount of student loan debt, I couldn't care less how much money I make. What I do care about is not going insane. I'm bipolar (yes, red flag), but I excelled in the CELTA course and have been waiting for this opportunity to teach and travel for years now. I am dedicated to it. I would like private lodging with internet access. I don't want to work more than 30 hours per week. That's about it.

With all that said I need to know where to start looking if not Asia. There has to be another decent place to start that doesn't leave you completely out in the cold. I have about $3K saved. I've applied for a few jobs (Poland, Russia, China, Georgia) and I need to get working as soon as possible considering the aforementioned debt. Without focusing on a country or at least a region, the job search becomes overwhelming. Any help here would be hot.

tttompatz · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 2:31 am Post subject:

Go to Mexico.

Easy to get to.
Easy to get home from (if your condition goes south on you).
They won't ask for a drug screen or apostilled FBI check.

Check the country specific forum for details.

Any of the better paying places are off the list till you get your background issues cleared up.

.

njs7t3 · Joined: 30 Aug 2012 Posts: 60 Location: Moscow, Russia

Thanks tttompatz. I was hoping to have a reply from you. I have actually been reading the Mexico and General Latin America forums since I posted.

njs7t3 · Joined: 30 Aug 2012 Posts: 60 Location: Moscow, Russia

Any other responses would be great too! Again, money is not the issue, I just want to work for a decent school in another country.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

You say that money isn't an issue, yet I think that you've implied you must pay off the student debt. I could discuss the possibility of Central Europe, but absolutely not if you have to make loan payments; wages in the region are subsistence level and you would need to spend your savings in start-up costs.

It really wouldn't be likely to work out if you have to send money home monthly.

Tudor · Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 339

Indonesia? With a BA in English you should have no problems landing a reasonable job. Wall Street Institiute recruit teachers who aren't currently in the country and salaries start at about US$1500 per month.

There's no criminal record checks and private accomodation runs the gamut from $50 to $4000+ a month; it depends what you want and where you live. A comfortable en-suite room in a boarding house in the centre of Jakarta will set you back about $200-300 a month, an apartment in the centre of town from $400 upwards plus utilities.

Of course, they may ask you if you have a criminal record, but it's not an immigration stipulation.

njs7t3 · Joined: 30 Aug 2012 Posts: 60 Location: Moscow, Russia

Again, thanks for the replies. I say that money isn't an issue because I'm not terribly concerned about paying student loan debts, especially if I'm not making much money. You can't squeeze blood from a stone. Additionally, I have a $550/mo annuity from my mother's teacher's retirement (she died about eight years ago). I'll look into Indonesia. spiral, Central Europe sounds good. I'm just a little overwhelmed right now trying to find and apply for jobs from the midwestern US. It seems like boots on the ground is the best way to find jobs. Contacts, or good schools you know are hiring would be phenomenal. I hope I don't seem lazy asking that question, I am doing my research and applying, but it's a big world out there. Maybe I'll just have to suck it up, roll the dice, and pay my dues somewhere.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

It's rare to find anything in Central Europe from abroad, unless you're applying somewhere extremely rural or if you have specialist qualifications. There are enough teachers around ready to interview in person so that most reputable employers don't need to take a chance on someone sight-unseen.

Due to visa issues, farther East is a bit different.

rioux · Joined: 26 Apr 2012 Posts: 880

How about a private school somewhere in the USA?
Are you required to take medication for your condition? If yes, how are you if you are off it for some time?

What about China?
A university position is only about 18 hours (or less) and if you find one that simply asks you to teach oral English (like the school I'm at) it isn't very stressful. The pay is about 1k dollars a month.

njs7t3 · Joined: 30 Aug 2012 Posts: 60 Location: Moscow, Russia

My initial intent was to get out of the USA. Although I'm beginning to think that that was a foolish goal. I've been unmedicated for most of my life, so I'm not sure that would be a big problem. I've been looking into China, but haven't found any university offers. There's a decent amount of complaining about every city in China, which makes me extremely wary about just packing up and moving there. The jobs that I have been offered from that region seem low on classtime, yes, but that time is filled with teaching rooms of 45 six-year-olds. I'm getting a little jaded.