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Does anyone have experience teaching ESL abroad? I have had many friends do this in Korea and have had mixed experiences (from the very good to the very horrible). Some people have returned which quite a bit of money, others have been ripped off.
Any thoughts, comments? Also, has anyone tought ESL in Europe or South America?
Any thoughts, comments? Also, has anyone tought ESL in Europe or South America?
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Las Vegas
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Re: Teaching ESL
Mon, December 1, 2003 - 6:55 PMlooking to do that myself. i have two friends that have gone to japan and taught through the JET program. both came back with incredible stories and had a great time, however it is a hit or miss experiance from what i have gathered from my talks with others about it.
had one friend that taught esl in spain, once again she got lucky and had a great time.
for info on the JET program (japan exchange and teaching) go to: www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/vis.../index.html
there are pros and cons to the jet program, let me know if your interested in it, ive done a lot of research on it already. -
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Re: Teaching ESL
Tue, January 27, 2004 - 7:00 AMI am currently in my 3rd year as an ALT on the JET programme. Feel free to message me if you've got questions.
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Re: Teaching ESL
Tue, December 16, 2003 - 10:16 AMI am currently teaching ESL in Prague, Czech Republic. I have been here almost a year and I am loving it. The money is not as good here as in Asia. In fact, it is barely enough, but the experience of being here and living here is priceless. -
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Re: Teaching ESL
Tue, December 16, 2003 - 10:47 AMI've heard lots of good things about Prague. You should definitely write more about your experiences. I'd love to know more. -
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Re: Teaching ESL in Prague
Sun, December 21, 2003 - 11:20 AMThere are a lot of great things about being in Prague. First, it is an incredibly beautiful city. I never tire of the views of this town or the surreal feeling of walking through the Old Town illuminated at night. It is incredibly safe, too. It was written in an expat newspaper here that the Czech Republic is the second safest country in Europe, behind Switzerland. Pickpocketing of tourists happens quite a bit, but violent crime is next to non-existent.
Another good thing is how central Prague is to just about anywhere in Europe. In less than two hours by plane, I can be in Moscow, London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna, Paris, Bucharest, Kiev, St. Petersberg, or anywhere else in Western or Eastern Europe.
The city also has a great nightlife, from bars to clubs to theater and classical music. On top of that, it is incredibly cheap by US standards, even now that the dollar is at an all-time low. But "cheap" is relative, and teaching here can be like trying to be a teacher in a place like San Francisco. You are getting paid, but not necessarily living that well.
Unlike other places in Western Europe, the level of English speaking here is quite low, providing plenty of opportunity for jobs teaching English. I teach in businesses, primarily one-on-one classes, and it has been a great way to meet locals and develop good relationships.
If there is anything else you'd like to know, just ask and I'll do my best to answer. For me the decision to come here came about because I had always dreamed of living in Europe, and though I had a "real" job in San Francisco, I wasn't happy. One day I got rid of everything and just left. I have no regrets. -
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Re: Teaching ESL in Prague
Sun, December 21, 2003 - 12:26 PMdid you go through any program to teach esl in prague or did you just fly over there and put up a flyer or something? in other words how did you come about getting set up as an esl instructor there? -
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Re: Teaching ESL in Prague
Sun, December 21, 2003 - 2:43 PMI went through a certification program when I first arrived in Prague. It was a month-long intensive course, and the school was helpful in getting companies to come to the school at the end of the course and have a mini job fair. There is plenty of English teaching work here, but it will be extremely tough to get enough work to get by without being certified. Most schools and companies now require this as a minimum. Private lessons are a different story, but it's hard to get enough dependable hours of work to live on, and hard to set up without having been here for a little while. -
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Re: Teaching ESL in Prague
Mon, January 12, 2004 - 7:38 PMHow much was the course? Is there any guarantee that you will get a job once you're through it? Are there any other opportunities to make a little extra money to subsidize your current earnings? What are your hours like?
It sounds like a great way to make a bit of money although not enough to sustain you for an indefinite period of time.
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Re: Teaching ESL in Prague
Sun, December 21, 2003 - 12:28 PMmmm...
I have a friend who lived in Korea for 8 months teaching ESL, she loved the experience of a new culture but the pay was sh*t so she got VERY frustrated.
And, I live in Colombia right now also teaching ESL, I'm here 'cause I'm Colombian and I'm working for my family bussines, so I'm my own boss, pretty much, and pay is not a problem for me, but for so many Americans that come here and end up getting a jos as an ESL teacher the shock of getting payed only 10 thousand pesos an hour (around 3 U.S. dollars) is too much to take and end up getting VERY frustrated, even though 10k here is good pay, since they think in dollars they feel like they're working for nothing. If you're gonna do it, then do it for the experience of living in another country and not for the money that you might make :-/
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Re: Teaching ESL
Sat, January 10, 2004 - 7:17 AMI taught English in China with my husband from 1999-2000 with the Appalachians Abroad Teach in China program through Marshall University; the cheapest program for China placement in the USA...they are well established and got us a placement at a new school where my return airfare was paid.
I was placed in Beijing and though the first school didn't work out (schools's fault not the AATIC organization who placed me) I did several different jobs for the rest of the year. In China, you are basically golden if you teach English, and positions abound, though you need a school to sponsor you initially and get the work visa, etc...we had people calling every week to offer us teaching jobs once the word got around!
I had good and bad experiences in China, but most were good. My last job was at the British Council as an IELTS examiner where I was paid $35 an hour (paid in UK pounds) not bad...came back with savings of $3000 and we were living like kings when we were there! -
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Re: Teaching ESL
Mon, January 12, 2004 - 4:20 PMthrough the research i have done, your experiance in china is extremely common with all of asia. teaching esl in other countries, such as eastern europe and south america can be good and bad but the pay is usually fairly low. teaching esl in china or japan can be good or bad, but the pay is almost always fairly high, if its not then you probably didnt try to find the high paying positions.
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Re: Teaching ESL
Tue, January 20, 2004 - 12:19 AMI have a webpage for teaching ESL in El Salvador. I'm going to Korea in May for a year to save $$. I have almost completed my TEFL certificate and have 2 years experience. After Korea I may go to El Salvador. You can also do a search for "Dave's ESL Cafe" and it has excellent information.
Good luck!
dugmoore
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Re: Teaching ESL
Wed, February 11, 2004 - 8:56 AMThere's a really good website called Dave's ESL Cafe that has job postings, forums etc. all about teaching English.
In general, Korea pays well but it's a pretty stifling atmosphere. Most schools make you teach but rote and drilling. If you're more creative why not try Vietnam or Cambodia. I taught in Vietnam and it paid $12-25/hr generally $15 at schools in HCMC.
-Amanda -
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Unsu...
Re: Teaching ESL
Tue, December 21, 2004 - 12:45 PMCan any of the former or current ESL teachers out there give me an idea of how much income you had saved up prior to leaving? (ie, 3 months of living expenses? 6 months, etc??) How long in general did it take you to find a job once you completed your certification (or did the school help with job placement?) Has anyone out there taught in Spain, Mexico or Central America?
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Unsu...
Re: Teaching ESL
Wed, May 4, 2005 - 11:37 AMTo Dugmore or anyone else out there with possible info on ESL jobs in El Salvador:
I found information about Escuela Superior de Idiomas on Dave's ESL Cafe, but the email address listed doesn't work (esi@ejje.com). The contact person listed is Carmen Salvatores, Director. Does anyone have any info about this school and an updated email address or phone number??
Also, does anyone have any information about the following schools (also in ES): Academia Europea, American School, and the Escuela de Idiomas Revolucion. I'm looking for contact information and any experiences (good and bad) that people have had teaching at these schools.
muchas gracias!!! -
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Re: Teaching ESL
Thu, May 5, 2005 - 3:37 PMI live in el Salvador avoid the Europea and the escuela Superior, low pay by the hour, staggered schedules, no work permit nor visa, no Spanish lessons as promised, high turnover. No certification required.
I taught at American School in 1971, apply at least six months before late August when classes begin, also International School they both provide housing and RT Ticket to foreign hire salary about $600 per month Certified only.
I am soon starting an Institute here and in Nicaragua, holistic approach with social skills. Message me. vaya bien.
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Re: Teaching ESL
Thu, May 5, 2005 - 3:31 PMYes, come on down to Central America and teach, I am opening an institute soon that teaches English PLUS Social Skills, how to obtain Scholarships and work abroad USA, Canada, Australia, UK, Spain Italy etc. (visas) for the natives. 55% of the local ESL teachers are unqualified and poorly spoken and written "literal English" is taught in the National University by instructors who learned the same from theirs, we are going also into alliance with another school in Nicaragua that has the same holistic approach. Low pay, cheap rents, lots of adventure, Beach all year and wonderful people! We have all course materials ready online. Basic knowledge (basico) of Spanish, spoken and written required, or will train you beforehand. I interested E mail donaldlee@thepolyglots.com or message me. Your social skills (people skills) far more important than certificates and degrees. Also Teaching positions in Private High Schools open for Certified Teachers, pay again is low, the experience is overwhelming usually 1 year contract.
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Unsu...
Re: Teaching ESL
Thu, May 5, 2005 - 3:46 PMI had a few friends that taught ESL in Korea. This was back in the mid-late 90's just when they got out of college. They did in fact make some decent money, but found that they could make more and work less selling trinkets (pen lasers, etc.) near the beach.
If you want something more permanent with great perks and benefits, you should check out teaching in the International School system. I went to ISB in Bangkok and JIS in Jakarta, the quality of education was outstanding and the teachers were amazing.
There is an org that handles recruiting for International Schools: www.iss.edu/. They recruit regularly. An old classmate of mine from Jakarta with prior teaching experience got into this program and wound up with a job teaching High School English and Spanish in Kathmandu.
If you want to get more info, go to the site above, or email Monica Greeley (Headmaster) at the International School in Kenya . Monica has been an administrator for IS's all over the world. She's the mother of an old classmate and is usually at the recruiting conference in Boston Mass.
Good luck!
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Re: Teaching ESL (germany/japan)
Wed, May 11, 2005 - 3:11 AMHowdy,
despite Germany having 5million unemployed, ESL teaching here in Berlin is no problem for qualified (CELTA/TESOL/TEFL) teachers. Expect to work mainly in the mornings and evenings in the beginning, and, most work is freelance, so you need to 'join' a few schools. Average pay is 15euros per teaching hour here with travel money. Average lessons are 2 teaching hours. Rent in Berlin is *cheap*! (250 euros/mth can get you a 20sqm room with boards, high celings and includes heating bills!)
I taught in japan for 2 years. Good pay but long hours. Disciplined savers can put away about $10k US a year, no problem. Undisciplined life-lovers can have a great time eating, partying and buying cool electronic gadgets! Private pay is around $30-50US and hour. Full time teaching pays around $15-$20 an hour. As always, your mileage may vary! It pays to do a lot of research, like you are now, before travelling to a new country, so you don't end up out of pocket rapidly, miles away from home.
Feel free to ask any more Qs.
brian -
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Re: Teaching ESL (germany/japan)
Thu, May 12, 2005 - 10:39 AMI am teaching English in Istanbul and so far, it has been great! Sure, the pay isn't what I was making in the US, but I have more free time and.... I'm in Istanbul!
I did a TEFL program online (I could not afford the 4-week, 2,000 USD courses), did private tutoring in the East Bay to get some experience, and then found a job in Istanbul. Honestly, the hardest thing was just deciding to do it.... finding a job wasn't difficult for me. I teach 28-32 hours a week and I'm really enjoying it. :) -
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Re: Teaching ESL (germany/japan)
Fri, May 13, 2005 - 12:24 AMCamille-
are you making enough in local currency to save a little? did you have to buy your ticket out of pocket? I'd love to go to Istanbul but I have a couple of things I have to pay for while I'm away.
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Re: Teaching ESL (germany/japan)
Fri, May 13, 2005 - 12:23 AMBrian, do you have EU citizenship or are you talking about under the table work? I was under the impression that all the TESOL by law go to EU citizens... -
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Re: Teaching ESL (germany/japan)
Fri, May 13, 2005 - 5:00 AMYes, I'm making enough money to save a little... although, at the moment I seem to be spending more (by choice!). You can live cheaply or extravagantly here, depending on your lifestyle choices. -
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Unsu...
Re: Teaching ESL (germany/japan)
Fri, May 13, 2005 - 7:06 AMCamille,
Which online program did you do? I was under the impression that most places wouldn't even accept an online certificate as legitimate. I'm also doing volunteer work (did some tutoring, now teaching a class) to get experience, and I'm wondering if the combination of that with an online certifcation would get me anywhere. -
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Re: Teaching ESL (germany/japan)
Fri, May 13, 2005 - 8:54 AMI did the i-to-i online program-- I didn't really have any other alternative at the time, and I've been happy with the results. The TEFL is a review of grammar, but I've been learning much more on the job.... studying at night, making sure I know my stuff. I have read debate after debate over TEFL vs. CELTA vs. DELTA vs. not having a certificate..... basically, I did not have the free time and the spare cash to do a "proper" TEFL course or an extended CELTA course. If you have a university degree, a certificate, and some kind of experience, I don't think it would be tremendously difficult to get a job. I had 2 offers before I came to Istanbul and ended up getting a 3rd offer the first week I was here, which was the job I ended up with.
I did talk with each school beforehand and I told them that I knew the online TEFL was not ideal, but that I was coming to Istanbul and if they wanted me to teach, that's what I would have.
Do your research. Every country is different-- you should definitely go to Dave's ESL cafe and check out the forums for whatever country (or countries) you are interested in! -
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Iomi
Thu, June 2, 2005 - 3:54 PMPertaining to your question:
Depends on where you go. I disagree with whats his names response on Japan. Its fucking incredibly expensive! Really hard to save money. Generally I would say Japan had its 'hey days' during the 80's. Even when the pay is resonable (35$-up) exorbitant costs are unbearable. At least after travelling the rest of Asia...
Set up costs can easily exceed 10000$ in Tokyo, but I am big spender.
On the other hand 10-15$ an hour in Central America goes far with lots of room for savings...
L -
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Unsu...
Re: Iomi
Fri, June 3, 2005 - 7:12 AMLeon,
Where did you teach in Central America? Did you have some kind of certification before you went?
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Re: Iomi
Fri, June 3, 2005 - 9:57 AMThanks leon!
One of the issues for me is that I'd need my air passage paid, and from what I am seeing it looks like only some schools in Japan and Korea do so... I am really leaning towards Korea right now, I keep hearing stories of hungry poor teachers in Japan, and comfortable teachers in Korea (well, those who have found a legit job...).
Do you have any more pointers? I am actually really flexible as to where I'd like to go- I would love to go to Prague or really anywhere, it's all fun, right? But it looks like most places don't pay air passage.
Thoughts? -
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Re: Iomi
Wed, July 27, 2005 - 4:41 PMIomi,
You may also want to consider Taiwan. There are tons of jobs there and living expenses are incredibly cheap. I lived in Taichung for six months and had no money problems. I only worked about 15 hours a week and was still able to take weekend trips to Thailand and Hong Kong. That's another perk about living in Taiwan - it is closer to SE Asia and thus airfare is cheaper if you are interested in traveling.
Good luck!
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Re: Teaching ESL
Sun, June 26, 2005 - 11:53 PMi am really interested in teaching in ecuador or colombia and i am wondering how necessary it is to be certified and how hard it is to get a job. ideally i would not need to be certified and i could make enough to live without spending down my savings....does anyone have any thoughts? -
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Unsu...
Re: Teaching ESL
Mon, June 27, 2005 - 7:20 AMLook at the Latin american job forum on Dave's ESL cafe - the people there can answer your questions about specific countries and pay rates.
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Re: Teaching ESL
Sun, July 17, 2005 - 1:33 PMDear prospective ESL Teacher Central America or South America:
If interested in teaching "freelance" in Latin America, with "no strings" attached, contact us any time of the year, at your convience, we live, work, raise families and have offices in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, teaching ESL is tied in with bartering with natives for Spanish instruction basic-intermediate (to teach our English Course for Spanish Speakers one is required to read, write and speak Spanish above the Basic level) and home stay with local families if desired All our courses written and designed by our Director, utilized for both self study and frontal classes..to view our Spanish Course for English speakers visit our English Language homepages www.thepolyglots.com/ to view the English Courses go to our Spanish Language pages www.thepolyglots.com/home_spa.html
Your suggestions and CONSTRUCTIVE criticism is more thanwelcome..don't be shy!!!
Director e mail paz@thepolyglots.com
A human response..we do not use "autoresponders"
