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Zulethe
Joined: 04 Jul 2008
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 Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:22 pm Post subject: Teaching English Overseas is a Career |
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Many of you have come to Korea with the intent on staying only a couple of years. Of course there are a few of you who intend to stay long term.
When I first went to Korea in 1993, the thought of teaching overseas as a career was inconceivable, at least for me.
Most prognosticators predict that the economy in the west will never recover completely.
Regardless of economic conditions, I wish I had made teaching English a career almost 20 years ago.
Don't get into the mindset that I had at that time that the only way to go was to go back to my home country eventually and get a "real" job.
If you like what you're doing, traveling, and living the expat lifestyle then I encourage you to continue to do so.
Don't let your family or friends persuade you otherwise. Trust me, the longer you stay overseas, the more you will realize what a boring existence that most of them have.
If it weren't for my military pension, I would seriously regret my decision not to stay overseas indefinitely.
Keep in mind also, the longer you stay overseas, the more difficult it will be for you to adjust to life back home.
Obviously if you hate the country you're in and your job then this post doesn't pertain to you.
However, it does pertain to those of you who love their jobs but are struggling with that inner voice, which keeps telling them that they must go home someday. |
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Who's Your Daddy?
Joined: 30 May 2010
Location: Victoria, Canada.
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes but make sure you save money, because you're not going to receive much of a pension. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Who's Your Daddy? wrote: |
| Yes but make sure you save money, because you're not going to receive much of a pension. |
Yes, I agree. Much is right. But make sure you get your pension here because you will get something when you are old. If you're Canadian, you'll get old age suppliment at 65 or 67 as an additional bonus plus whatever you paid into the Canadian pension plan alongside what you get from the Korean pension plan. Prob 1200 total bucks in today's dollars total. You might get another payment if you have no other resources. But the point is make sure you and your employer are paying into the Korean pension plan so you will get something when you are old. DO NOT CASH IT OUT unless you're only here for a year or two. If you're back in Canada and apply, they will apply to the Korean government on your behalf. If you're in Korea, the opposite is true. To get the full old age suppliment you must have been a resident of Canada for 40 years. It will be discounted based on being there for less years. Maybe 500 to 600 bucks. Korean plan says I will get 500 to 600 bucks a month based on 20 years of working here.
Isn't much but better than nothing. You should save once debts are paid off. |
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No_hite_pls
Joined: 05 Mar 2007
Location: Don't hate me because I'm right
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Who's Your Daddy? wrote: |
| Yes but make sure you save money, because you're not going to receive much of a pension. |
this! Don't think of your pension and severance as a bonus, they are not. Think of them as your retirement because that's what they are. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Even if you pay national insurance for 30 years in the UK your state pension will still only be around subsistence level and the way things are going you'll have to be 70 before you'll be able to start collecting it. Working in countries with lower taxation and putting the money you're not paying in taxes into private savings is a better deal. With a UK passport, you'll still be able to take advantage of the national health service, if it's still around by then. |
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soomin
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Location: Daegu
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: Teaching English Overseas is a Career |
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| Zulethe wrote: |
Many of you have come to Korea with the intent on staying only a couple of years. Of course there are a few of you who intend to stay long term.
When I first went to Korea in 1993, the thought of teaching overseas as a career was inconceivable, at least for me.
Most prognosticators predict that the economy in the west will never recover completely.
Regardless of economic conditions, I wish I had made teaching English a career almost 20 years ago.
Don't get into the mindset that I had at that time that the only way to go was to go back to my home country eventually and get a "real" job.
If you like what you're doing, traveling, and living the expat lifestyle then I encourage you to continue to do so.
Don't let your family or friends persuade you otherwise. Trust me, the longer you stay overseas, the more you will realize what a boring existence that most of them have.
If it weren't for my military pension, I would seriously regret my decision not to stay overseas indefinitely.
Keep in mind also, the longer you stay overseas, the more difficult it will be for you to adjust to life back home.
Obviously if you hate the country you're in and your job then this post doesn't pertain to you.
However, it does pertain to those of you who love their jobs but are struggling with that inner voice, which keeps telling them that they must go home someday. |
Nice post~ ^.^ I'm glad you're enjoying your time here~ Are you planning on staying long-term, then? |
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LuckyNomad
Joined: 28 May 2007
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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Pensions? Are you joking? Folks, look at the demographic makeup of the developed world. Too many old people living for too long and a lot of bankrupt governments. There is no pension for someone my age. 30 that is. Any money that I paid into social security is gone. Down the drain. Ain't coming back. And there isn't any retirement either. That was for the 20th century and the past generation. These silly pension plans are unsustainable and certainly won't be there in 30 or 40 years.
As for ESL as a career. I've been doing it since 2006. For anyone who thought I was dumb not to go back after a year or two, well, while the USA was in a financial crisis for the last couple of years, I was flying around the world and enjoying long vacations. Let those losers working in StarBucks tell me I made the wrong decision. I barely felt a thing from the crisis. |
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JustinC
Joined: 10 Mar 2012
Location: We Are The World!
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| Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 1:09 am Post subject: |
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| LuckyNomad wrote: |
Pensions? Are you joking? Folks, look at the demographic makeup of the developed world. Too many old people living for too long and a lot of bankrupt governments. There is no pension for someone my age. 30 that is. Any money that I paid into social security is gone. Down the drain. Ain't coming back. And there isn't any retirement either. That was for the 20th century and the past generation. These silly pension plans are unsustainable and certainly won't be there in 30 or 40 years.
As for ESL as a career. I've been doing it since 2006. For anyone who thought I was dumb not to go back after a year or two, well, while the USA was in a financial crisis for the last couple of years, I was flying around the world and enjoying long vacations. Let those losers working in StarBucks tell me I made the wrong decision. I barely felt a thing from the crisis. |
I think pensions and social security are going to be means tested for all in the future but won't disappear entirely. The Bush government did a lot of research into this and found that means testing might be necessary in the future but as of now the system can pay for itself. The social welfare system is actually awash with credit, but this has been loaned to other parts of government to pay for wars, infrastructure etc. The hubris surrounding the welfare bill for the future depends on the public perceptions of a household budget compared to that of a country that prints its own money.
That being said I'm more of a saver than a spender and a healthy, secure and enjoyable decades-long retirement is what I want, more so than the latest gadget that will be out of date before I work out all of the functions! |
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yodanole
Joined: 02 Mar 2003
Location: La Florida
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 1:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Die young. Leave a beautiful corpse. |
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Squire
Joined: 26 Sep 2010
Location: Jeollanam-do
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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Is a masters degree in a TEFL related course and university work the best way to make a career in this?
What about finding work at an older age? Do all countries prefer a young face who can be given a lower salary, or can a guy in his 40s, 50s and 60s find decent work? |
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tideout
Joined: 12 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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| JustinC wrote: |
| LuckyNomad wrote: |
Pensions? Are you joking? Folks, look at the demographic makeup of the developed world. Too many old people living for too long and a lot of bankrupt governments. There is no pension for someone my age. 30 that is. Any money that I paid into social security is gone. Down the drain. Ain't coming back. And there isn't any retirement either. That was for the 20th century and the past generation. These silly pension plans are unsustainable and certainly won't be there in 30 or 40 years.
As for ESL as a career. I've been doing it since 2006. For anyone who thought I was dumb not to go back after a year or two, well, while the USA was in a financial crisis for the last couple of years, I was flying around the world and enjoying long vacations. Let those losers working in StarBucks tell me I made the wrong decision. I barely felt a thing from the crisis. |
I think pensions and social security are going to be means tested for all in the future but won't disappear entirely. The Bush government did a lot of research into this and found that means testing might be necessary in the future but as of now the system can pay for itself. The social welfare system is actually awash with credit, but this has been loaned to other parts of government to pay for wars, infrastructure etc. The hubris surrounding the welfare bill for the future depends on the public perceptions of a household budget compared to that of a country that prints its own money.
That being said I'm more of a saver than a spender and a healthy, secure and enjoyable decades-long retirement is what I want, more so than the latest gadget that will be out of date before I work out all of the functions! |
Agreed. I think one mistake is to overestimate the future failure of Social Security (US) and to then opt out in one manner or another. I think this may especially be true for the 40+ crowd. Really, there's a lot of rhetoric out there with the current political climate.
With the loss of 401K's, home's not to mention debt and a low savings rate (relatively), I think you could see a push to stabilize and secure SS in the future. The demographic challenges of retirement not withstanding, there will be a lot of people who do vote looking for security on some front. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 4:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Squire wrote: |
Is a masters degree in a TEFL related course and university work the best way to make a career in this?
What about finding work at an older age? Do all countries prefer a young face who can be given a lower salary, or can a guy in his 40s, 50s and 60s find decent work? |
It really depends on YOU.
If you want to move into research or upper academia then a related MA/PhD are the way to go. It is not the best paid career path but you will have the opportunity to do what you want rather than spending your time teaching ABC to first year undergrads who are only there because they need the English credit course to graduate.
If you want better pay and benefits packages then getting into mainstream education or administration are the way to go. IN TESOL it would mean getting things like a PGCE, Dip.Ed and/or DELTA. For mainstream schools this would mean looking at improving your teacher qualifications and perhaps M.Ed to Ed.D.
Lastly, there is the option of getting into the education business. At the low end there are tutorial services and starting a hagwan. Moving up-scale you can get into equity ownership or even starting your own mainstream school.
As with everything, as the potential for earnings go up so do the risks and/or difficulties associated with gaining those earnings.
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seoultee
Joined: 11 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 5:17 am Post subject: |
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Wow great post. First, I agree with a lot of you that this has turned out to be a great experience and it's crazy that I get paid for it. One thing I have been thinking about is how I could make this long term and if it is a good choice. Glad to see this discussion.
Also, I'm really not up on the pension part of things so this is helpful.
What age are you able to collect on the pension here and after how many years? |
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nautilus
Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!
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| Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 6:02 am Post subject: Re: Teaching English Overseas is a Career |
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| Zulethe wrote: |
When I first went to Korea in 1993, the thought of teaching overseas as a career was inconceivable, at least for me. |
Not for me. I started out by taking a CELTA, it was the first thing I did before I even started teaching.
On that course they will tell you that ESL can be continued indefinitely throughout the world, for years.
Sure its not the best paid career but it suits a certain type of person. |
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Zulethe
Joined: 04 Jul 2008
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| Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 10:58 am Post subject: Re: Teaching English Overseas is a Career |
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| nautilus wrote: |
| Zulethe wrote: |
When I first went to Korea in 1993, the thought of teaching overseas as a career was inconceivable, at least for me. |
Not for me. I started out by taking a CELTA, it was the first thing I did before I even started teaching.
On that course they will tell you that ESL can be continued indefinitely throughout the world, for years.
Sure its not the best paid career but it suits a certain type of person. |
Maybe I missed the boat but back in '93, at least in America the only thing I heard about TESL was rumors of fortunes made by a few adventurous souls brave enough to go to Japan in the 80's, when I guess TESL was a goldmine. I don't know the truth to this it's just what I heard.
My guess is that if you pursued a CELTA roughly during that time frame then you're probably not America, but British.
The Brits have been into this TESL thing long before Americans I believe.
Back on topic, my original intent of this post had nothing to do with money, it has more to do with a change in mindset, which, at 44 I'm still at odds with.
I know I'm going back overseas, but I have to struggle all of the time explaining to my mother that it's not a waste of time, and that I'm happier living overseas.
I think many - as I have - struggle internally trying to justify the validity of this career as well as dealing with pressures from the homefront to stay home.
That's what the intent of this post was. |
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