Teaching English overseas

[caseyc]

Has anyone tried this? Or know anyone who has done this? I have a friend currently visiting Thailand and he wants to teach English there. He completed a 1,000 hour certification course in teaching English overseas, and now wants this to be his new career/life path after having exhausted his previous careers. This all seems rather intriguing to me. I might even pay the $1,000 fee to complete the teaching course myself. The annual teaching stipend isn't much I'm guessing, but then again, cost of living is way low in places like Thailand. My friend says one can easily live comfortably in Thailand (or similar S.E. Asian countries) for between $1,000 to $1,500 monthly. An American on Social Security can get by pretty well for that amount of monthly income. Heck, you can't even pay rent in a major metropolitan city in the U.S. for $1,000 to $1,500, at least not in my neck of the woods. Rent prices go for $2,000 and up for a 1 bedroom apartment in a decent neighborhood in my area. A garage space is extra, usually at least an extra $150 to $200 monthly. Absurd. All the young hipsters working at Facebook and Google aren't helping matters any either.

Here's an example of a course for learning to teach English abroad:
http://www.oxfordseminars.com/tesol-tesl-tefl-course/teach-english-abroad.php

 

[offroad]

Have read hard luck stories about this. You are in a contract. You get minimal dollars until the contact is complete. You will have no friends there. Most are only friends with family or church friends.

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You might be looked at as a target as a foreigner. And police will not help you much. Look it up on reddit and research stories

 

[cyndi]

I have a couple of friends that taught ESL internationally.

Two friends spent many years in Thailand. They enjoyed their time there and go back annually to visit with friends. Thailand is a hot mess of unrest right now, so I'd be careful.

Another friend, he's actually a member on this board and I met him at the first RTR, just finished an ESL stint in Russia. He's looking for another so he must like what he's doing.

I have another Thai fried that works here, as a janitor, for the school year. He goes back to Thailand for 3 months every year .With the money he's saved he rents a very nice apartment, hires a full time house keeper and a chauffeur with a car. His family all think he has more money than god.

The cost of living, in Thailand, makes it very affordable to live there.

 

[caseyc]

As with most anything, these types of activities are what you make of it. So if someone is say very outgoing and likes to meet new people, that person would have a higher chance of doing well. If someone has the opposite personality, then not so much. I could see myself having a good time in Thailand, since that country is civilized in various parts. But I'd probably have a hard time in a place like...hmmm, Calcutta?? I think I would also have a fun time in maybe Malaysia, China, or Korea. I imagine I'd also have fun in South American places like Brazil or Rio. I really don't know since I've never been to those places. However, I have had wives, girlfriends, and friends from all the countries I mentioned, and they all seem like decent people that I could get along with.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Have to speak the language tho right?

 

[cyndi]

No, you don't have to speak the language. None of my friends spoke Thai or Russian.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

I guess they already know the english language you are just teaching higher concepts.

 

[offroad]

Bob and I debated this topic kind of. He has friends who went to Thailand but did not live cheaper. Even though everyone said you could they had a hard time finding a bargain place to rent that was safe and had good water and good food shops.

 

[caseyc]

My buddy who is visiting Thailand knows all the right places to stay. He's been there numerous times, he's told me the names of the places, but I keep forgetting. Although it's very possible to live a good life with $1500 monthly or less, what will kill you is the debouchery. Let's just say he's a whore, and likes "long time lovin'" from the natives. Plus he likes to drink. Granted, whorin' and drinkin' are relatively cheaper in Thailand versus the U.S., the extra cost for whorin' around would certainly bring up the cost of living for sure.

So last night I went to an informational seminar on teaching English abroad sponsored by Oxford Seminars. I came away rather impressed. There were a good number of people from all walks of life and age in attendance, and they all had the common interest of wanting to teach English abroad, notably in parts of Europe and Asia. I was almost tempted to plop down $1,000 for the next upcoming course, but in the end, I resisted. I'm not ready yet to make a decision. Besides, even if I did complete the certification, I would not be teaching abroad (if ever) until another decade from now when I'm closer towards retirement.

I now have a new mindset in place. In addition to wanting to live a relatively minimalistic lifestyle for current economic reasons, my new reason for doing so is in case I want to one day up and leave to teach English abroad. I've often thought to myself that the one thing on my life's bucket list of potential regrets is not travelling outside the U.S. I really don't travel much, especially abroad. If I were to one day kick the bucket unexpectedly, I would regret not having lived outside the U.S. and meeting new people for an extended period of time. Teaching English abroad would fulfill a desire and alleviate that potential regret for me.

 

[offroad]

Casey - interesting perspective. My girlfriend and I could do that together and not feel lonely. Learn more about the world. Take a chance or two.

 

[caseyc]

I also look at teaching English abroad as a potential new career alternative in case all other avenues expire for me. That is what my friend is experiencing now. He's exhausted the last few career paths and is now at an age where it's harder to find a job, especially one that would interest him. I'm starting to feel the same way. I'm pretty certain that one day within the next 10 years from now, I too will have exhausted my career options including my current one. Why? Cuz employers want younger pick of the litter. Simple as that.

I'm starting to move on in age, so it's getting harder for me and I've already experienced that. So I figure if all else has exhausted for me in the U.S., teaching English overseas could really be a viable career alternative, plus it would add a new sense of adventure into my stale life. I feel I sometimes need a major change in my life every so often, if for no other reason than to make me feel alive once more, instead of the usual hum-drum that I find myself settled into too often.

There's another element to this for me. My current GF for the past several years teaches Mandarin for a second income. Plus she's a preschool teacher during the day as her full time occupation. She is considering opening a preschool shop locally, and if so, I would probably be hired as an administrator plus double as an English teacher. She might also one day open a preschool in China, and if so, I too would be an administrator there as well as teach English to the natives. She has financial backers locally plus abroad, so I know this is in fact a real possibility.

By the way, the answer is NO to DaizarGaidin's previous question. You don't need to know how to speak the native language. They do however prefer that you are a native English speaker, preferably from the United States, versus say from the U.K or Canada (as an example). Having a 4 year college degree from an accredited university is also highly preferable. Also having a business background for those who want to learn business English is a plus. I have all those credentials and more. I always aced my English classes in school and find English to come naturally for me, so I know I have that aptitude. Having been an experienced Toastmasters member in the past, I find public speaking to also be to my liking, so I know I can teach in a group settings just fine.

 

[akrvbob]

CaseyC, I think you are on a wonderful course!!!!

I agree totally that the days of staying in a company from college to retirement are over!! From now on, older people (meaning 50s at most!!!!) are going to be virtually unemployable at anything but minimum wage and won't be getting any kind of pension.

I also agree totally that you need to have a bucket list and be working on it now!! Tomorrow is never guaranteed to anyone!!

Great plan go for it!

I do have a friend who is on a VA disabiity and now lives in Thailand. It costs much more than we like to think. $1000-$1500 is the minimum you need.

My friend went for the debauchery, but fell in love with the place. He married a Thai woman and lives there and will for the rest of his life. It's home.
Bob

 

[caseyc]

Bob,

Wow, what a coincidence. As guys, I'm sure we all know someone that knows someone that lives in Thailand in a life of debauchery, haha! That reminds me of that nutty movie I saw recently with those 4 crazy bachelor guys having a good time in Thailand. If I didn't have a steady GF and job, I'd be tempted to join my buddy over there now. Aaah, at least I can daydream to give me a few moments of distraction from my mundane life of mediocrity.

That same friend has also lived a life of debauchery in Brazil having spent many vacations in Rio. I'm sure I'd have a blast there too. Heck, who knows. Maybe I can teach English going back and forth from Thailand and Brazil, hyuck yuck. What I'm certain of is that I'm missing out on the action. If I were to die next week, I would certainly regret not having done a bunch of things. As the joke goes, nobody has every said on his dying death bed "I wish I could have worked extra hours at the office".

I agree that it's only getting harder for me to find a decent paying job in the future as I am nearing 50. Dang, I can't believe I'm amost that age. I still think of myself as a 30 something, and act even more juvenile than that sometimes. What I'm certain of is that I don't want to be working minimum wage being a Walmart greeter, or a hamburger flipper somewhere. Alas, I'm one of those who won't be receiving any pensions. Even my retirement accounts are nothing to brag about. I've already had many years of working at white collar wage slave jobs, I don't need a blue collar wage slave job into my 50s and 60s. I'd rather do something entirely different and downright radical. I'd rather try and fail than to not ever attempt something risky that might be fruitful.

As for debauchery, I can't confirm or deny it for myself. I'm sure I'd be tempted. As the saying goes, all things in moderation...that seems like good advice. As for my buddy, the word moderation isn't in his vocabulary. He usually comes back home to the states with some form of mild disease, such as pink eye and bronchitus. No doubt from all the physical contact abroad!

 

[offroad]

Here is interesting discussion of where to retire overseas. Might be a place to teach English also.

5 popular retirement destinations abroad -- the dream and the reality - http://www.salon.com/2014/09/10/5_p...ons_abroad_the_dream_and_the_reality_partner/
http://www.salon.com/2014/09/10/5_p...ons_abroad_the_dream_and_the_reality_partner/

 

[Dandelion]

Hi caseyc! You might consider teaching English Korea. All you need is a bachelor's degree - in whatever, to teach English. The cost of living is pretty high but nothing like Japan. If you apply at an international school or private school in Korea, they typically pay airfare and cover housing and many expenses. Many English teachers are able to save bucket loads of money this way. You would enjoy a similar standard of living as in the States and in many ways they are ahead tech wise. And did I tell you the food is awesome? No need for a car either with cheap, clean and efficient public transportation. You don't have to know how to speak Korean but you gain some independence and respect if you learn the basics. A good resource is waygook.org forums for foreign English teachers living in Korea to get the inside scoop. Just make sure the school you apply to has a good reputation because you are tied into a contract.

Your girlfriend should be able to find work too. If you wanted to "wing it" you could look for freelance private tutoring jobs, the going rate is $40 an hour. It would be hard to make ends meet this way but you could consider a "goshiwon", a tiny room just big enough for a single bed, desk and mini fridge, with shared facilities. They run about $250 on up per month, and that includes utilities and the kitchens are stocked with free kimchi, eggs, sticky rice and ramen. I am in Korea at the moment and am really impressed by Korean hospitality and kindness. I know some people here who teach English in Korea and most of them are really enjoying it. Bring a positive attitude and a little personality and many doors will open for you. I think it's great that you have the wanderlust, you should definitely pursue this avenue no matter where you land. You are still young, but we never know when our time is up and the bucket list should never be collecting dust ^^

 

[caseyc]

Hi Dandelion!

Thanks for your thoughtful reply. Plus welcome to the club, if I haven't already done so! Yes, Korea does sound intriguing. Yes, I do own multiple Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets, so I already have some connection there, haha!

You are currently in Korea? Very cool. Are you an American expat there? Retired there or on a job assignment? There are so many places I've never been to, and have a desire to check out before I kick the proverbial bucket one day. I feel so sheltered. I'm pretty much just biding my time doing the same ol' same ol' grind, but don't feel like I'm getting anywhere.

I'm very sure that in the next 10 years, I will have a much harder time finding decent employment, if I'm not still in my current place. That's why I figure that teaching English overseas might be something that can be the next step for me after all else is exhausted here. Plus I'm bored. I've lived in the same place for too many years. Doing the same old thing for too long also. I'm beyond bored. I need some excitement in life to revive my spirits.

Here's a news update. Just yesterday I took the initiative to go to a local YMCA to volunteer part time as an assistant to the adult ESL instructor. That means I'll be helping out the teacher for adult immigrant students wanting to learn English as a second language. That will help to get my feet wet to see if this is something I want to do long term. I already know I have the aptitude to do this, but I don't know if I have the long term interest. The upcoming class will last 12 weeks, so I'll have a pretty good feel for it afterwards. I can also then make a decision whether to pursue the 100 hour certification course for teaching English abroad. I'm rather new to doing volunteer work, but it all seems interesting to me at this time.

 

[akrvbob]

Great plan Casey!
Bob

 

[Dandelion]

Caseyc thank you for welcoming me I'm really grateful to have stumbled upon this terrific community!

I'm wrapping up my stay here in Korea and homeward bound after assisting an English teacher with conversational English students. The English they learn in the school system is so proper they can't follow normal speech. Like "gonna" or "shouldabeen" won't be understood but that's how we actually speak. So English learners need access to native English speakers to overcome that hurdle and train their ears.

It's smart of you to try this out with ESL students before you make a concrete decision on teaching abroad. Here in Korea the job market is very competitive and most professional interviews nowadays are conducted in English. It can mean the difference between success and failure. Learning English can be so empowering for many people, building self-confidence and independence. At the very least you will find it extremely rewarding because your students appreciate you so much

 

[caseyc]

Hi Dandelion,

You're actually doing it...teaching English in Korea? Very cool! At this point in my life, that sounds way more exciting than the 9 to 5 grind that I feel stuck in. I agree with you that learning English from natives based on how they actually speak here can be noticeably different versus the proper textbook method of learning.

I can imagine that non-American students get confused with all the different regional accents (eg: New York accent, Southern twang, etc). Plus the British folks speak English with their own distinct "accent", which can sound quite different. That's not including "bad grammar" from U.S. natives such as the ever-present usage of double-negatives (eg: "I ain't got none", etc), plus double-comparatives (eg: more higher). I'm constantly amazed at how badly the English language is butchered by so-called native speakers, both verbally and in writing. It's no wonder non-natives have a hard time learning English.

I feel that the additional "bonus" that I can offer to students is the fact that I have 30 years of professional work experience in finance and banking, along with a business degree background. That means I can teach business English for those wanting to do international trade. Having worked in a corporate business environment for many years, I would have an edge on this.

So I'm curious, when you come back to the U.S., what are your plans? Going to stay in a van down by the river? Joke! I personally prefer the beach down by the Pacific Ocean, haha!

 

[Dandelion]

Caseyc, you are right, English is spoken in many different ways all over the world. Another road block for many Koreans is the pressure they put on themselves to speak English with perfect grammar. They find themselves mute when the the opportunity presents itself. It's like a paralysis. Yet Koreans never judge me on the way I speak Korean, which I'm sure sounds like baby talk with a lot of pointing. They are just happy that I'm making an effort! We Americans give no second thought to throwing the rules of grammar out the window and simply communicating.

An English teacher with a focus on business would do well here, you're clients would range from college age on up. Many professionals looking to climb the corporate ladder understand that knowing English is sometimes the only way to stay upwardly mobile. They must speak English to do business with Europeans and other Asian countries as well, not just the Americas. I once helped a college age boy with a mock interview in preparation for a real interview that would be conducted by a German speaking English. I can't even imagine how difficult that must have been

So I'll be back stateside soon where I plan to set up camp along side many rivers I'm really looking forward to exploring my own country for a change. Then, this winter I'll take a detour toward the southwest for the RTR. Keep me posted on your teaching plans ^^