Korean Job Discussion Forums

[robot]

so is korea the best place to teach ESL in terms of earning power?

i'd love to travel, but i'm not too keen on taking a huge pay cut to do so.

are there any other countries that would pay what a dude with an F2 could net here? how do SAT/AP/TOEFL gigs elsewhere stack up against the boutiques here? anyone come across any dream gigs in beautiful foreign lands where kimchi is not served?

ROBT.

[sojourner1]

This is what I have been looking into as well from economics perspective as I would like to travel, explore more cultures, and live in tropical climes. If you have an F2 visa in Korea you could make $50,000 to $100,000 a year doing privates!!! If you got an E2, you earn about $35,000 in total remuneration (assuming you complete the contract and all monies owed to you get paid) teaching around 30 class hours a week. This is not a vacation, but a full-time exhuasting and stressful job.

Korea tops the list on pay and benefits for ESL teacher positions. There is Taiwan and Japan for about $1800 US per month(rough estimate), but your flight and apartment may not be provided. There is tropical Thailand and other SE Asian countries, but the pay is rather low where an airline ticket might cost a few months pay. If you do not have student loan debt and enough money already saved up, you could just go there and live on the low pay, becuase things are much cheaper than in more expensive countries like Korea and America.

Many teachers hope that China raises pay soon to pay equal that of Korea to have more interesting career opportunities that offer adequate pay.

[Whistleblower]

[gruegoo]

I've heard you can make a lot of money teaching English in Kuwait and Dubai, even more than in Korea. But I have no real proof to back that up, just what people have told me.

[robot]

[ShadowEdge]

I've heard some countries in the Middle East often pay alot, but you have to have serious qualifacations to work there.

[mnhnhyouh]

I think a better measure might be how much you can save per month. Local costs of living vary as do wages and job benefits.

So Korea, on a basic salary, with a fair life, allows you to save about USD$1000 per month, and the extra 2.? thrown in on top at the end.

h

[Whistleblower]

[Unposter]

From my understanding, salaries in Korea have been going up while salaries in the Middle East have been rather stagnant. When you made 10-20,000 U.S. in Korea, the 40-50,000 U.S. in the Middle East seemed good money. Now, I think salaries are pretty comparatable. Alcohol and female company maybe harder to find in the Middle East though.

One advantage to the Middle East is some schools will pay for your children's education.

I have a friend who works in Tokyo and he says if you hustle well there is no better place to make a living.

Of course connections and special high paying students can change the economic scale in any location.

Overall, I would say Korea is probably the best deal in ESL. Please don't tell anyone.

[Cohiba]

If you charge 50,000KRW/hour for each lesson, then to make
USD100,000/year (100,000,000KRW) you would need to teach
42 hours/week or 8 hours per day. If there is 15min. between
each class that would be 8 hours plus 7X15min or close to 2 hours
between classes. So, in total that would be 10 hours/day. That is
IF you can swing the schedule.

That being said, you would die in a very short time.

[Bibbitybop]

To live in Dubai is expensive, though, and yes, you need good qualifications.

Sojourner1's comment about teaching 30 hours a week is true, but public school teachers can make 2.0-2.7 million a month and teach 22 hours a week. They go to school 40 hours a week, but only teach 22 45-minute classes.

[shaunew]

[ajgeddes]

[World Traveler]

[GENO123]

I think the information on this thread is just way off. Dave's has an international board and an international discussion forum. Take a look and see for yourself.