Teach English Abroad Interviews | YouCanTeachEnglish

Teach English in Japan Interview with Donald Ash – The Japan Guy

How long have you been teaching English in Japan?

I have been teaching English in Japan for just under six years. Five years, 9 months, and 2 days at the time of this writing 🙂

Why did you choose Japan?

Great question. Japan was incredibly appealing to me for a number of reasons. The main four were:

It was a dream of mine to come here
I was a karate teacher in the U.S. for over four years
My sister who lived in Japan before me highly recommended it
Like so many people, I am a pretty big anime/Japanese culture fan.

For the longest time, I had this goal of visiting Japan, just for a short time. I had this paper on my ceiling that I would read every night before I went to sleep and one of my “Big Dreams” on that page was to “Come stay in Japan for at least one month.” After nearly six years here, I look back that goal and chuckle a little bit.
Karate and martial arts have been a large part of my life for as long as I can remember and they definitely had an influence on me. Reading stories of Miyamoto Musashi (the samurai) or karate legends like Mas Oyama or Chojun Miyagi were like fairy tales to me. One goal of mine is to earn a black belt in one of the great Japanese karate styles while I’m here.
Sprinkling a bit of anime dust + a family member’s recommendation on this already growing interest just made coming to the Land of the Rising Sun an inevitability.

How did you find your first teaching position?

I was living in the U.S and truthfully I was a little burned out with teaching in my hometown. I was feeling discouraged because when I decided to go into teaching, I wanted to do just that…TEACH! It became a pretty big challenge to wear so many hats in the classroom: a parent, a disciplinarian, a peacekeeper, a referee, and finally a teacher.   My sister recommended trying to teach overseas through Nova. That was the first company I applied to because my sister worked there. I really wanted to make it to Japan, though, so I didn’t put all my focus on one company. I applied to both Nova and AEON. I wanted to apply to JET as well, but my application timing was a little off.   I landed interviews with both Nova and AEON.   However, the Nova interview never happened. The company went bankrupt just as my interview was supposed to happen. I’m kind of glad things worked out that way. Had I applied just a little sooner, I would have been teaching at Nova and been jobless just a few short months after arriving here.   AEON held an information/interview session in Atlanta (my hometown) and I made sure I was there. I gave AEON the best teaching demo I possibly could. I tried to be so good they couldn’t say no. The first interview session went very well and I was called in for round two. The rest as they say is history.

What is Aeon like as an employer?

If you check out forums, I know you’ll get mixed reviews, because everyone has a different experience. The bad experiences can often weigh more heavily on people’s minds than the good ones. For me, AEON was an amazing employer. No, I’m not being paid to say this!   I really enjoyed my time at AEON because they were super professional at all times. If you needed any kind of help, they provided it. It didn’t hurt that they also had (and still have) better pay than many of the English teaching companies in Japan.   I don’t know how things are now, but one thing I did see as I was on my way out is that the company is trending towards making schedules busier for it’s full-time English teachers for the same pay. That’s one of the downsides, I suppose. But even with that, it’s still a pretty sweet deal.

Are you still working at Aeon?

I do teach freelance, business English classes to corporations through AEON when I have the time, but this is voluntary employment. They let me know about opportunities in my area and I can choose whether or not to take the jobs.   I’m currently teaching kindergarten full-time for a company called JIEC.

What’s Japan like to live in?

Japan is everything you could expect it to be and more. For me, Japan was like paradise for those first two years. Year three was coming into my own and feeling more confident with being here. Years four and five have been huge for picking up the language. Unfortunately, years four and five have been the times where I’ve become the most homesick.
It’s still good now, but that shiny, come-to-Japan luster has faded a bit.
The food? Tasty and healthy. You’ll eat well in Japan, but many people lose weight that first year, once they change to a Japanese diet.
Japan has some of the most beautiful natural settings you’ll ever find. If you’ve been to Hakone or Nikko, Japan before, I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. In addition, Japan just has this long, rich history and a fascinating culture. The kimonos, the yukatas, the floats, the festivals. It’s just a great place to be. Even five years after coming here.
The people, for the most part, are extremely kind. I remember being lost on several occasions up in Ibaraki and people would actually stop what they were doing and take 10-20 minutes to help me get where I was going.
One thing I found very interesting was that people don’t steal your stuff. I’m just saying.   I absent-mindedly left the money I withdrew at the ATM I was using. Hey! I had a long day that day, okay?! Some regular customer in the store, chased me down to let me know that I left my money. Other foreigners have had similar experiences with items they’ve left on trains.

Have average starting teaching salaries in Japan dropped much from the old 250,000 yen per month?

No, I think that’s right at about the industry average here. I can’t say it’s increased all that much, unfortunately. I think teaching is like that, though. Teaching salaries, in both America and Japan, haven’t moved all that much in the last 5-6 years.   While 250,000 is the average, there are several companies out there that pay less and others that pay more.

What is your cost of living there?

Ah, the knitty gritty stuff, ne?
Rent: 70,000 (The equivalent of about $700 USD)
Water: 3000 yen ($30.00)
Gas: 3000-5000 yen ($30.00-$50.00)
Internet: 4500 yen ($45.00)
Electricity: 3000-4000yen ($30.00-$40.00)
Health Insurance: I’m a little fuzzy on this one because it changes. 12,000-15,000 yen per month?
Bus/Train Transportation to and from work: 17,000 yen ($170)
Gym Membership: 12,000/month (About $120. Why in God’s name does a Gold’s Gym membership cost this much per month? I don’t really know.)
Food: About 40,000-50,000 yen per month $400-$450/month (I may need to lay off of the protein supplements for a bit)
Student loans: Please don’t make me say it! More than I care to mention…UGH!
Entertainment: 10,000-15,000/month This is often a lot less because I don’t go out much at all. I also don’t drink (that can be a big expense for people). I don’t even eat out all that much. When I’m not being a homebody, I’m in the gym, when I’m not in the gym, I’m at work.
I also happen to like sunsets and long walks on the beach.

Is it possible to save much money teaching English in Japan?

Yes it is. Well it is, depending on your job. If you’re at 250,000/month or less, it’s going to be harder to save. I remember earning as little as 240,000 yen (about $2400/month) and feeling pretty limited. Truthfully it’s far easier to save money here than it was back home. One of the biggest reasons is that in many parts of Japan it’s not necessary to have a car whatsoever. Public transportation here is amazing which means no car payments, no insurance and no overpriced gasoline expenses. WOO HOO!

What part of Japan are you in?

I currently live in Yokohama, Japan.  I lived in Tsukuba, Japan (Ibaraki) for the majority of my stay, though.

Has the teaching industry been affected by the Fukishima nuclear disaster?

Here in Yokohama, I don’t think the teaching industry has been effected as much as places northeast of here. When the earthquake happened you did see quite a pretty big drop in the number of teachers in parts of Ibaraki. Understandably so. It was a really scary time.
Honestly, though, it does seem like things are starting to get back to normal though.

Do you recommend Japan for other English teachers?

I 200% recommend it, even if it’s only for a short stay. For many of my peers and I , the Japan experience has been one that’s altered all of our lives for the better. Living in Japan is a wonderful way to experience a fascinating culture. Working in Japan can also be a time to find your purpose without having to remain professionally stagnant.
Although I can’t honestly claim that I want to teach forever, for those who do, Japan may be an attractive career option. The level of respect you receive as a sensei here in Japan is unlike any other teaching position I’ve ever had. Something to think about.
As a teacher, I think one big thing to be careful of is that if you have other goals, DON’T FORGET THEM. Sometimes I think because you can be so comfortable as a teacher in Japan, some people teach, get comfortable, get married, have kids, and let their dreams go. Now some people come here with the intention of staying, and that’s beautiful, IF that’s what you want.   Being here has allowed me to expand my view of the world around me. I get to see and experience, first hand, Japanese perceptions of American culture as well as American perceptions of theirs. Some stereotypes hold true while other are way off the mark. Being in Japan has been a lesson in global education, and I’m still just an eager student.
Links:
The Japan Guy Blog (http://thejapanguy.com)
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More Information on Teaching English in Japan

Teach English in South Korea – Interview with Julio Moreno

How long have you been teaching English in South Korea?

I first arrived in South Korea on November 1st, 2009. Many people who have been in Korea long-term tend to count by the amount of “contracts” they’ve had as they are usually a year long. So by this count, I’m in the middle of my 4th contract/year and should be done with it by the end of February, 2014.

Why did you choose to Teach English Abroad and Why Korea?

Coming out of college, I wasn’t quite ready to get into the grind of a 9-5. Let me honest, I was bored to death with the classes I was taking! I studied aerospace engineering in college and while I did enjoy science in principle, I didn’t, and still don’t see myself getting into that industry.
Older friends of mine who graduated before me told me to “enjoy my college life,” and that they were the “best years of my life.” They really painted working as an aerospace engineer as kind of a downer. If eating ramen and being broke were the best years, I didn’t want to see what was next. That life might have been great for them, but it wasn’t for me. I wanted to explore the world and visit far away lands, things I couldn’t afford to do whilst in college. When I found out that I could actually make money by living and teaching abroad, I didn’t need any convincing. That was like getting paid to do something I loved!
As far as Korea goes, I actually get asked this question a lot, and it is especially embarrassing to tell the truth if a Korean person is the one asking.
I had always been fascinated with China and Chinese culture. China was my first choice by far, but the pay wasn’t good enough. I had student loans and credit card debt that totaled 45,000 USD at the end of my five-year (scenic route) college career, and couldn’t afford to settle for a so-so wage.
I next looked at Japan, but every online source told me that it was too expensive to live there and that the pay was just enough to get by (misleading info I must say), but not enough to save or pay off any debt. Also, the JET program, which many said was the way you should apply to teaching in Japan, takes months and has a very tough application process (or so I’m told). I needed a job quickly as I blew the rest of my savings after college on trips to the east coast, Yellowstone, and Mexico. I wasn’t the wisest with money, and I got desperate.
As I looked for more and more information, Korea had the most jobs, the least requirements, and the best pay, so I started applying there. I don’t regret my choice at all, as I found out, Korea is one of the most under-rated countries in the world. I simply love living here.
The teaching part of it was an easy choice though. I spent most of my college years working as a tutor, so I kind of understood what was expected of me. I didn’t know it then, but I now think education might be my calling.

How did you find your first teaching position and what is the best way to land a job?

Gosh, this was so long ago, I actually had to go back to my email records to find out!
I originally looked on Craigslist and do NOT recommend it. I had a terrible experience with the first recruiter that contacted me (Audrey Perez, if she is still recruiting, avoid her!) She asked for me to get all of my documents ready and had me send them to her before she even looked for a job. She then offered a couple of positions in rural areas of South Korea. These are the kinds of jobs that are difficult to fill because nobody wants them. When I kindly declined, and asked to be put in a city (any city, I wasn’t THAT picky my first year), she refused and stopped looking. She then dragged her feet for months when I asked for my documents to be returned.
After about five weeks of getting all of my documents replaced (as I wasn’t hopeful she would ever return them), I decided to post my resume on Dave’s ESL Café (which is probably the best resource for aspiring English teachers in South Korea) and hoped recruiters would call me. I got a call within hours, an interview that same night, and an immediate offer for employment in the city of Daejeon by the end of the day. I got a visa within a week, and was flown to Korea the following week after that. BOOM! My life changed that quickly! It was real, I was moving to Korea.
I have since been here longer (and am hopefully a bit wiser) and gotten a feel for how things work in South Korea. In the future, I would most likely not go through a recruiter if possible. Recruiters get paid a commission per teacher, regardless of how good or bad the teacher or the school is. They do not have your, nor the school’s best interest in mind. I would recommend for you to speak to the school’s director personally, if possible, to get a good feel for the job and the person who will be signing your checks. In a country where you don’t speak the language and don’t really know the laws, that relationship between you and the boss is extremely beneficial.
Sometimes however, recruiters are that necessary evil as many employers don’t want to go through the trouble of explaining things to you (such was what documents to get ready). If you do talk to a recruiter, play hardball. Let them know that you are serious about teaching in Korea, but that you are looking for a good job, not just any job. Make a list of the jobs you are offered and their benefits to better choose the best one for you.

Do you have a TEFL or CELTA certification and is certification necessary to find employment in Korea?

I do not have either, nor are they necessary to secure a job in Korea. You can think of these certifications as single classes in college. While a single class in college might teach you something, skipping it won’t be the end of the world considering all of the other things you learn. TEFL or CELTA will definitely give you a bit more bargaining power as many places do ask if you have them. However, any place that REQUIRES it will most likely require other things such as a specific majors (English / Linguistics) or a master’s degree in those majors. I have never seen a job that I really wanted which I could have gotten if I just had a TEFL or CELTA certificate.
However, with that said, times are changing. The current political and socio-economic situation in Korea is changing for the worse for both employees and employers. Jobs are getting harder to come by as many private English academies (known as ‘hagwons’) are closing down due to government policies that are squeezing their profits in an effort to make education more affordable to families. But what does this mean to you?
This means that there are increasingly less good jobs in Korea. In the past, if you waited and were patient, you could snag up a great job with great hours and pay. These days whoever, jobs are starting to all look similar as schools are cutting back.
**Get to the point Julio!**
So… you don’t need CELTA or TEFL, but I predict that in the future, it will be a small thing that will set you apart in a more competitive English teaching market in South Korea. For that reason, I too plan on getting certified sooner rather than later.

What is Korea like to live in?

In one word: Incredible! Korea is an awesome place to live in and experience (here is a guide if you’re interested), if you are willing to give it a fair chance. People have very different experiences in this country though. You might have noticed this phenomenon at work. No matter how good a job might be, someone will definitely be the designated complainer ready to whine at every minor inconvenience. Life is just like that… so let me give you some insight.
Let’s start with the people. Korean people are often very curious about foreigners. The smaller the city you live in, the more you will be stared at for being foreign. In the smaller cities and some of the towns, you might even be asked to have your picture taken with a person, just because you are different. Personally, this doesn’t bother me at all and quite frankly, you shouldn’t be bothered by it either. Korea is historically a very homogeneous society with non Chinese/Japanese foreigners being still relatively new for a country with 5000 years of history. No negative feelings are (usually) held against foreigners, despite how some of us have behaved here in the past.
The people are (usually) extremely kind to foreigners. My very first day in Korea, I asked a man outside of the airport how to get to Daejeon (the city where I was hired). He didn’t speak English, but went out of his way to find someone who did. I could hardly expect the same in countries like China or Italy, both of which were less than hospitable to me. Other perks have included getting additional food at restaurants (just to try it), discount prices (theme parks and special events), and even free items, simply for being foreign. I can’t think of any other country with such hospitality.
Keep in mind, life is very different depending on where you live. I currently live in Seoul, where I have been for over 2.5 years. I also lived a year in the smaller city of Daejeon my first year here (population 1.5 million, compared with around 20 million in Seoul). I have made this argument many times before and I’ll say it again: life is infinitely better in Seoul than anywhere else in Korea, but not everyone feels this way. I have met expats in Daegu, Daejeon, Mokpo, and even Jeju Island (deemed ‘Korea’s Hawaii’) who wish they lived in Seoul. Seoul is simply the cultural capital of the country and has a bunch of activities going on at any given time. If you are into history, museums, palaces, festivals (especially of the food variety), night life, variety of foreign foods, you name it, it is in Seoul.
While that does speak for the majority, not everyone feels this way. For some reason, Busan city is also extremely popular. Busan is a beach city on the southern part of Korea and the second largest city (3.5 million). Because of its beaches and beach culture, many people love Busan and would move there if they could find a job. Jobs in Busan however, tend to be harder to come by or pay less as it is quite popular.
People in the more rural areas of Seoul seem to be the least happy, especially if they are city people. While the rural life seems fun at first, 12 months is a bit much.
Personally, I love World Heritage Sites and places of historical significance and Korea is an ideal place for this. Along with its 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, there are so many places to fill in years of exploration. Although I am on my fourth year here, I am still visiting new places on an almost weekly basis.
I think I’ve rambled enough, but I just have to throw this in, the food is DIVINE!

What city are you in?

As I mentioned above, I currently live in the capital city of Seoul. In the past, I lived in Daejeon, which is located in the very center of the country. Daejeon is a good place if you want to explore the rest of the country as it is very centralized, but in my opinion, Seoul is supreme in terms of quality of life.

What is your cost of living in Korea?

I think this might be the biggest perk of working in Korea. Rent is paid for by the employer, unless you want to choose your own apartment, in which you will likely get a stipend, and you have to pay the rest. Internet runs me about 25 USD a month, which is pretty good considering it is the fastest in the world. In the US, I paid 3 times as much for slower speeds.
Electricity and gas varies widely person to person. Most homes in Korea have floor heating, which can cost as much as 100 USD a month in the winter, and as little as 5 USD in the summer. Let’s call it an average of about 40 USD a month for gas. Electricity has a similar effect as air conditioners can get costly in the summer months. Again, as much as 100 USD in the summer, and as little as 20 in the winter. About an average of about 45 USD a month sounds about right.
Cell phones are another expense, which are also superior and cheaper than their American counterparts. When you buy a phone here, you don’t have to pay it up front. You can distribute the cost of the phone over the months of your contract. I had a pay as you go phone my first year in Korea which cost me about 200 USD for the year (30 for the phone). Nowadays though, every foreigner has a smart phone and the pay as you go ones are going the way of the dinosaur. I bought an iphone4 my 2nd year for 200 USD, which was distributed among the 24 months of my contract (around an additional 9 USD a month for the phone). The cell phone plan was, and still is 30 USD a month with unlimited 3G data.
Beyond those, I only have food and entertainment to worry about. I rarely cook anymore since I work long hours (read: I’m lazy as hell). So, I buy most of my meals. You can get a good Korean meal for about 5 USD or less.
All in all, my total expenses total to about 700 USD a month (give or take) without limiting myself. If I went out more often, it would be about 1000 USD and if I limited myself a lot, around 500 USD a month. Note that I don’t really have any guilty pleasures besides traveling.

Is it possible to save much money teaching English in Korea?

On months when I don’t travel abroad, I save well over 60% of my paycheck and pay down my debt. On months when I do travel, that goes down to about 20-30%. Over the past 4 years, I have managed to travel outside of the country about 3-4 times a year and am on pace to pay off my entire debt (45,000 USD) by the end of this contract. So to answer your question, a resounding YES!
I have some friends who have managed to save more than me as I try to be frugal, but do go out of town about twice a month. However, I also have friends who get paid the same as me and don’t seem to save anything. This completely baffles me as I couldn’t spend my entire paycheck any given month if I tried.
My first year in Korea though, I managed to only save 7,000 USD and blew it all on four months of being in the US and traveling to Mexico, so my savings of 45,000 USD have actually come in the last 3 years alone. This amounted to 45% of my entire take home check (after paying utilities, pension, medical care, and other fees). I know that was a lot of numbers… maybe now you can tell that I studied engineering :).

Do you recommend Korea for other English teachers?

YES! I would say that overall, students are pretty easy to teach. Teachers in general are respected in Korean culture and education is very highly valued. The combination of the two leads to usually well behaved students who want to learn.
However, I teach kindergarten and elementary school, which maxes out at 6th grade. Middle school kids are a whole other story, but I guess that is true in any country.
Personally, I like teaching the young kids the best. Currently, I teach Korean pre-school in the morning, and it is the best age level I have ever taught. They are just so loving and willing to learn.
I highly recommend Korea as a place to teach. In fact, for people who have never been, I would say it should definitely be on your short list of places to teach, or even just visit.

What would be the single best advice you could give a new English teacher in Korea?

Adapt. Try your best to adapt to this new country and culture. Yes, you might disagree with some things. Yes, some things will frustrate you. Yes, you could probably do some things better in some occasions. However, it is not your country and you are a guest here. I am sure you wouldn’t like someone coming to your home and telling you how you are running things incorrectly, regardless of how correct they may be.
I feel like the old grandpa who sits on his porch trying to ‘lecture the youngins,’ but I have seen it year in and year out. The people who are the happiest in Korea are those who try their hardest to adapt to Korean culture. Those who are the unhappiest are those who spend most of their time trying to criticize how ‘this would never happen in Canada / America / Zimbabwe!’ Look, there are good things and bad things about every country. If yours was a paradise, you probably wouldn’t be here right?
The best ways to adapt is to make an effort to make some Korean friends and to learn the Korean language. I am not suggesting that you master Korean, as any language is difficult to learn, especially if you are busy with a day job, but at least learn to read. Trust me, it will make life a lot easier.

About Julio Moreno

Julio decided to make the most of his college education by ignoring his degree and following his passion of exploring the world, much to his mother’s chagrin. What was supposed to be a single year of working and exploring South Korea has turned into the four best years of his life. His passion for travel has only gotten more intense since living in Asia, probably because he finally has a full-time job to support his full-time addiction. Follow his quest to explore and evaluate all of the world’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites on his blog. You can also follow him on Facebook, or the necessary evil that is Twitter if you want to hear about his ramblings about life as an expat in South Korea.

Teach English in Taiwan – Interview with Timothy Backes

How long have you been teaching English in Taiwan?

I have been in Taiwan since 2005. I actually arrived in 2005 and spent a year here before moving to Japan. After spending a year in Japan I moved back to Taiwan, and have been here ever since.

How does teaching English in Japan compare to Taiwan?

As I only spent a year in Japan compared to over seven in Taiwan, my experience in Japan is much more limited. Japan and Taiwan are two very different places. As polite as the Japanese culture is, I always felt like an outsider. I always felt like a guest and not a resident, whereas in Taiwan, I feel much more at home.
Another big difference between the two countries is how polished Japan is. I lived in Tokyo and it is truly a world class city. It was extremely clean and well taken care of, and it’s as modern of a city as you will find anywhere. Taipei has taken great strides in improving itself over the years, but it’s still a little behind Tokyo.
Another big difference between the two countries is the cost of living. You always read and hear about how expensive Japan is, but I was still able to save a reasonable amount of money. That being said, my apartment in Japan was about 1/4 the size of my apartment in Taiwan, and probably twice the price. So, while you can save money in Japan, your salary goes a little further in Taiwan.
When it’s all said and done, I really enjoyed my time in Japan, and I would love to visit again soon. But, I don’t think I would want to work there again. The people were friendly, the students were as interesting as you could hope for, but the work culture is a little too extreme for my taste. I felt like I was always working and when I finally got a day off, I was too tired to enjoy it. Working in Japan is great for year and anyone interested in Japanese culture should definitely give it a shot, but from my experience, Taiwan is a bit easier for those looking for a longer term commitment.

Please tell us about your current work?

I currently teach at a private junior high school in Xinzhuang which is in New Taipei City. I work 8-4 most days, and since it is compulsory education and not a buxiban (cram school), we get a nice 2-month summer break. We also get a month off during the Chinese New Year holiday.

How did you find that position?

I actually found this teaching job through friends. When I first arrived in Taiwan I worked for the biggest chain school in Taiwan, which is called Hess. I quickly became good friends with one of my co-workers and we have kept in touch ever since. Through the years we both went our own ways, but several months ago I was looking for a new job and my friend and former co-worker told me his current employer was looking for a new teacher. He recommended me and after going though an interview and demo I was offered a position.

Does your school provide accommodations or pay for your travel expenses?

To my knowledge they don’t offer compensation for travel expenses, but they do offer new teachers a free dorm room on campus. As I have already been in Taiwan awhile and have established accommodation I wasn’t offered a room, but I have a co-worker who is currently taking advantage of the free rent. However, it’s important to note that the vast majority of schools here don’t provide accommodations or cover travel expenses.

Is it necessary to have teaching certificates or training to find employment?

Teaching certificates are only needed for teachers that wish to work in the public sector. You don’t need formal teaching education to work in private schools or cram schools in Taiwan. The government also does not require training and they leave it up to the individual schools or businesses to provide any training that they may desire.

Does your school provide a work visa?

Like accommodation, if you need a work visa they will provide it. I actually have a visa through my wife, which is called a JFRV, or Joint Family Resident Visa. I am also in the process of getting an APRC or Alien Permanent Resident Visa, which is available to those who have worked in Taiwan for 5 straight years. As far as the work visa that the school will provide, it’s called an ARC. ARCs are work sponsored visas that any business can provide to qualified people. To legally teach English in Taiwan you need at minimum an associate’s degree and a TEFL certificate, but most companies won’t even look at you without a 4-year degree or equivalent.

Is it possible to arrive without a work visa and find work?

It’s almost mandatory to arrive without a work visa. I don’t know anyone teaching English that has arrived with a work visa. Most people apply for a visitor’s visa in their home country and then change that to a work visa after they arrive and sign a contract.

What is Taiwan like?

Taiwan is awesome and there are many reasons I like living here. If you work in a buxiban (cram school), you are probably going to work 20-30 hours a week, so you will have a lot of free time. Having a lot of free time is great because there are so many fun things to do here like hiking (Taipei is surrounded by mountains), biking (great biking trails on several rivers), going out with friends, learning Chinese, etc. Taipei also has a great transportation system with a clean and modern subway and also a very efficient and inexpensive taxi system. This makes it easy to get all over the city very quickly. Another great thing is that Taiwanese people are really friendly to foreigners. When I first came I didn’t speak a word of Chinese, but this was never a problem and people went out of their way to help me.

What is your cost of living?

My share of the rent and utilities is around $350 USD a month, which is pretty standard for what most people pay here. For food, entertainment and other random expenses, I probably average around $1200 a month. So in general I spend around $1,500-1,600 per month. For new people who have just arrived, they should probably budget a little higher than this as they will be going out and meeting new people a lot. But most people I know settle in after the first 3-4 months and have similar expenses as I do.

Is it possible to save much money teaching English in Taiwan?

It’s definitely possible to save money in Taiwan. I know plenty of people saving $1000 USD a month, while also leading very nice lifestyles. It’s definitely possible to save more if that’s your goal either by working more, or by cutting back on other activities (eating at restaurants, going out to bars, etc.).

Are there opportunities to earn income on the side?

While it is possible to teach private students, you have to remember that most people teaching in Taiwan are doing so on a work sponsored visa. That means working or teaching outside of that company is technically illegal. That being said it’s still a very common occurrence. I actually spent a year only teaching private students, though I was under the family visa at the time, so it was not illegal.

Do you recommend Taiwan for other English teachers?

If you can find a good employer in Taiwan, it’s a pretty easy gig. Overall, the students are well behaved. I seldom if ever have problems larger than a random student trying to cheat or two friends getting a little too chatty in class. If you are flexible and easygoing, classes generally run smoothly.
Outside of work, Taiwan is pretty accommodating to foreigners. Most people are friendly and the government is working hard to make Taiwan a more international country. The health care is good and cheap, and it’s just a generally comfortable place to live.

What advice would you offer for others thinking of teaching English abroad?

Do it! I really encourage people to take the opportunity to move abroad and teach English. Almost everyone I know has really enjoyed their experience abroad. Being in a different culture, learning a new language, and trying exotic foods are all some of the fun parts of teaching abroad.

Can you please provide some links to online sites geared towards foreigners in Taiwan?

I definitely recommend people check out my site about what it’s like to Teach English in Taiwan. Other good websites for learning about Taiwan and interacting with people here are Forumosa.com and Taiwanease.com. Tealit.com is good for finding jobs when you are here.

Teach English in South Korea – Interview with Alana Delia

How long have you been teaching English in South Korea?

I have been teaching in South Korea since November of 2010 for the EPIK program (English Program in Korea).

Please tell us about your job?

I have been teaching English at public middle and elementary schools since November of 2010. More than two years and three months now! Currently I am teaching at a public middle school in Gumi. My school has about a thousand students and I have about 25-30 students in each class that I teach. At my school I teach about 22 teaching hours per week along with my classroom prep time in my office. My school day Monday-Friday is 8:30-4:30. EPIK is very generous with vacation time. During winter vacation I get 10 days paid vacation and 8 days paid vacation in the summer. If you renew your contract (like I did) you will receive an extra two weeks of a paid renewal vacation. I always look forward to my winter and summer holidays to explore other Asian countries (Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, and Thailand).

How did you find your job?

I found an opportunity to teach English in South Korea through Reach To Teach Recruiting online. The website for this recruiting program is very helpful and the recruiters helped guide me through my application process. If I had any questions regarding my visa, life in Korea, or anything at all, I could easily email my recruiter for help. There is no fee for a recruiter to place you in South Korea through Reach to Teach.

Does your school provide accommodations or pay for your travel expenses?

My current public middle school that I am working for provides me with a two room apartment that covers the rent. I am only responsible for basic utilities such as electricity, gas, and a monthly maintenance fee. The fees that I am responsible for each month in total are less than $100. Also, my school paid for my flight to Korea and when I finish my contract this August I will be given the money to cover my flight when I leave Korea. Very generous!

Is it necessary to have teaching certificates or training to find employment?

It is possible to be employed by public and private schools without a teaching certificate such as TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language). However, I recommend having a TEFL certificate because it is going to give you a strong core before actually teaching your first lesson. You will learn how to lesson plan, learn how to discipline the students, and so many other useful techniques to making your class fun!

Does your school provide a work visa?

Before I moved to South Korea more than two years ago I had to apply for my E-2 visa. My public school wasn’t responsible to help me apply for that because I am employed through EPIK (English Program in Korea) and they guided me through application and placement process. You can apply for your visa in person (as I did in NY) or send it through the mail to the Korean Embassy.

Is it possible to arrive without a work visa and find work?

There are so many teaching opportunities in South Korea in both public and private schools. In my opinion, it is better to come to Korea with a job already. It is so easy to apply for jobs online directly through EPIK, recruiting programs, and Dave’s ESL cafe. It is possible to arrive without a a visa and then look for a job but it is less stressful to arrive here with everything already sorted out! Applying to teach at a public school in Korea included many application steps such as the application itself, essay, preparing my documents, phone interviews, and applying for my E-2 visa but I preferred to arrive in Korea sorted out with my job that was followed by a five day orientation in Seoul.

What is South Korea like?

For English Teachers in South Korea, the quality of life is great! It’s very easy to meet other teachers from orientation and then meet up with them on the weekends if they live in other cities. The public transport is excellent (trains, buses, and subways) and cheap making it very easy to see all of the beautiful sights within the country. South Korea is seventy percent mountainous so as you can imagine there are plenty of hiking opportunities. I recommend Seorakan National Park in Gangwon-do province. South Korea has plenty of festivals to experience as well as many outdoor activities. I really enjoy Korean food even being a vegetarian. It is definitely a challenge to find a meal in a restaurant cooked without meat, but it is possible! When I came here I had never had a Korean meal in my life let alone knew absolutely nothing about the cuisine. Two days before leaving for Korea I had an emergency dental visit and my dentist explained that due to the monsoon in Korea that there was a “kimchi crisis”. In that moment I had no idea what kimchi was and I was leaving in two days!

What is your cost of living?

The cost of living for English Teachers is very low! The Korean government pays for English teachers’ rent and flight (roundtrip). We are responsible for utilities making it very easy to save money whether it be to pay off student loans, save money, or travel. On a monthly basis I pay about $7 for electricity, $30 for gas, $30 for my apartments monthly maintenance fee, and $40-70 for my cell phone bill. I took full advantage to pay off my student loans here!

Are there opportunities to earn income on the side?

For English Teachers in public schools with an E-2 visa it is illegal to work outside of our contracts. I haven’t worked on the side because it’s too risky and I wouldn’t want to get caught! Instead I enjoy volunteering at a local orphanage where I can tutor an elementary student one-on-one and help her with English. It is very rewarding to see her English improve as we practice writing, playing games, and sharing conversations.

Do you recommend South Korea for other English teachers?

I recommend coming to South Korea to anyone that wants to experience Asian culture. You have to come here with an open mind that includes trying Korean cuisine, learning to speak some Korean, and knowing that all things are subject to change such as classes being cancelled last minute or learning about a staff meal five minutes before going home for the day.
Everyone’s teaching experience here is going to be different. The students will be different in each school as well as your co teachers. I strongly recommend building a strong relationship with your co-teachers because they will help you with your contract. Be patient and learn to adapt! I recommend studying for your TEFL certification because that is going to help you out a lot in your classroom. You can study and receive your TEFL online after completing the tasks such as creating lesson plans. Also, if you are a recent college graduate looking to pay off your debt, South Korea is one of the highest paying countries for English teachers with an extremely low cost of living. This means that it is very easy to send money home each month to pay off your debts.

What advice would you offer for others thinking of teaching English abroad?

From my experience in the past two years living in South Korea I recommend that prospective teachers come here with an open mind. You might get placed in a rural town or a big city far from the new friends that you made in orientation. For my first year, I was placed rurally and it was very hard to not have what I had in America such as access to a swimming pool, coffee shops, a car, vegetarian restaurants, or a train station. I felt isolated but learned to build relationships with the three foreigners that were placed in the same village. It was a very humbling experience to learn about local culture. I visited my friends on the weekends and learned to really enjoy my time in the countryside.
Come to Korea with the intentions to grow, develop, and to be challenged! Korean people are so gracious and have shown me so much kindness in my rural placement as well as my current city through thoughtful actions such as sharing food and inviting me to a meal.
More Links
Alana in Korea Alana Bertozzi’s blog.

Teach English in Brazil – Interview with Josh Plotkin

How long have you been teaching English in Brazil?

I’ve been teaching English in Brazil for a little over a year. I originally came to Brazil on a trip around South America and stayed for two months. During that time I fell in love with the country and resolved to come back and stay longer.

Please tell us about your job?

When I first came here I started working at a few different English schools. I taught either 1 on 1 or to groups of two people at these places. The majority of these students are business people who need to learn English for their job and so they are pretty motivated to learn and show up to class. These types of schools are pretty common and offer greater flexibility and better wages than chain schools.
These types of schools are great for when you get started because they can get you a lot of work hours immediately. You can show up tomorrow and be teaching 25 hours next week if you wanted to. The only downsides are those which are common throughout the English teaching industry, in that you have big blocks in your schedule and you have to scurry back and forth between classes across the city. For the most part, students want to learn English before they go to work (6:00-9:00), during lunch (12:00-14:00) and after work (18:00-21:00). Occasionally you’ll find an oddball who wants class outside of those hours.
You are paid by the hour at these schools and generally you’ll be paid for a class if a student doesn’t give 24 hours notice of cancellation. If you need to take time off for some reason you can tell your boss and they’ll find someone else to cover your classes during that time. Your vacation time will be determined by the Brazilian calendar, which has a lot of holidays where people don’t go to work. Nobody wants to learn English during Christmas and Carnaval, so you’ll get those periods off as well.
After I lived in Belo Horizonte for a while and I built up my contact list, I was able to focus more on teaching privately. In general this pays twice as much as you can earn teaching at a school. The downside is that you’ll be the one responsible for all scheduling and collecting payments. Make sure you have your students pay you monthly in order to avoid trouble.

How did you find your job?

If you look around on the internet for information about teaching English in Brazil, you won’t find much. If you try to find an agency that will place you in an English teaching job you’ll have just as much luck. The problem is that despite the astronomical demand for English teachers in Brazil, they don’t have the infrastructure in place to handle foreign teachers. You’ll be on your own when it comes to finding a job, getting a visa, getting an apartment, learning Portuguese, etc.
When I came to Belo Horizonte I spent a few weeks handing out my CV and going to interviews. The problem is that I was only applying to chain schools and I came when they were outside of their hiring season. I didn’t know to seek out smaller mom and pop operations. My big break came when I went to an expat meetup and met other English teachers. They told me where were some good places to teach, and the next day I had two jobs. My biggest piece of advice is to find English teachers in the city you are planning on moving to and ask them where you can find work.

Does your school provide accommodations or pay for your travel expenses?

Unless you get a job at a private school, you shouldn’t expect to get any kind of additional financial help.

Is it necessary to have teaching certificates or training to find employment?

The demand for English teachers in Brazil is so high that any reasonably competent native English speaker can find work without much trouble. Whether deserved or not, the perception is that native teachers are better than Brazilian teachers and Brazilian students generally prefer natives. They give extreme preference to foreigners who speak Portuguese, even if just at a basic level.
When getting hired, its more important that your boss or potential student likes you as a person. If you present yourself as a competent professional they will hire you. The fact that you are in Brazil demonstrates that you are serious about teaching English and have the confidence necessary to do the job.

How did you get your work visa?

The only English teachers you’ll hear about who have work visas are ones who work at fancy private schools with multiyear contracts. Its not an option for the average teacher.
Many teachers in Belo Horizonte came here with their spouse then started working as an English teacher when they got here to make money. If you get married to a Brazilian you can get permanent residency in a matter of months.
Another option is to take Portuguese classes at the local university and get a student visa. A student visa is valid for a year and while it wont allow you to formally take part in the Brazilian legal system, it will give you more time in the country to figure out a more permanent solution.
What is especially common in Rio and São Paulo is to see foreigners show up on a tourist visa and start teaching. You can legally stay in the country for 6 months out of every year, and each day beyond that you’ll be fined R$8.28. If you overstay multiple times they might ban you for a year.

Is it possible to arrive without a work visa and find work?

Schools recognize the difficulty of the Brazilian legal system and the impossibility of an English teacher getting a work visa. While they would prefer that you had legal status, you won’t encounter very many places that will turn you away for only having a tourist visa.

What is Brazil like?

Brazil’s biggest draw is its people. Even by South American standards they stand out as being especially friendly, cheerful and outgoing. Its really hard to be unhappy when you’re surrounded by your Brazilian friends, they always carry an upbeat positive energy that infects you and makes you smile. Brazilians love foreigners and will go out of their way to help you out. If you look lost, don’t be surprised if someone comes up and tries to help you, even if they don’t speak English.

What is your cost of living?

All prices are in Reais, which exchanges about 2:1 to the dollar.
Rent: R$650
Bus fares: R$200
Groceries: R$200 – I’m vegan so I mostly eat at home.
Eating out: R$200 – My biggest weakness is açaí which costs around R$8 for a 500ml bowl. If I eat out for lunch I spend between R$8 and 10 at a sem balança restaurant. The most common type of lunch restaurant is a per kilo restaurant, where you load up your plate and are charged by weight. In BH the cheapest kilo I’ve seen is R$14.99. Sem balança means unweighed, and you get to fill up your plate with food but only get one piece of meat. I would pay around R$30 for the same amount of food if it was weighed.
Bottled water: R$100 – You can drink the tap water here, but I prefer drinking agua com gas.
Gym membership: R$100 with student discount, up to R$250 without.
Drinking: Expect to pay around R$20 if you’re hanging out with your friends drinking beers, and anywhere from R$50 to R$150 if you go out to a club. Almost every bar has a cover charge, around R$10-20, and every nightclub has a cover between R$20 and R$60.
I rarely spend more than R$2000 in a given month, but keep in mind that I am single, I don’t go out to clubs, I seldom drink and I cook at home.

How does Belo Horizonte compare to Rio de Janeiro?

In general, the hourly wage that you’ll make as an English teacher is consistent throughout major cities in Brazil. Rio de Janeiro is the 12th most expensive city in the world and your cost of living will be significantly higher. I haven’t been able to find a sem balança restaurant in Rio, and the cheapest kilo at a per kilo restaurant I’ve seen is R$24.99. Rents are significantly higher, especially if you want to be by the beach in Copacabana or Ipanema. Rio is a lot bigger so you’ll spend more time and money getting around. You’ll have to work a lot more in Rio to have the same standard of living that you’d have in BH. You probably wont mind too much since you’ll have a beach nearby.

Is it possible to save much money teaching English in Brazil?

If you spend a few months here you can build up an army of private students who pay you R$50 an hour for class. If you teach 20 hours a week you’re making R$4000 a month. If your expenses are close to mine you can save just about half of what you earn.

Are there opportunities to earn income on the side?

Once you are fluent in Portuguese you can start doing translation jobs. Ask your school if they have any translation work that needs to be done. If you are legal and can get a contractor number you can find translation work that pays several thousand per job. These types of jobs require a high level of fluency in Portuguese or Spanish and you have to be agressive in seeking them out.
Right now all of my focus is on internet marketing. If you have any kind of web skills (programming, web design, e-commerce, SEO, Adsense, Adwords) then you need to get on the next flight to Brazil. It’s not even funny how much low hanging fruit there is here in the online world. Business models that no longer work in the US because of extreme competition are still profitable here. Imagine going back in time 5 years with all of your current knowledge and starting an online business and you have an idea of what its like in Brazil.

Do you recommend Brazil for other English teachers?

I would absolutely recommend Brazil for other English teachers. Brazil offers English teachers a unique combination of a fascinating culture that isn’t hugely different to western culture (as Asian cultures might be), good hourly wages, outgoing and friendly people and students who are eager to learn. Because of Brazilians’ outgoing nature, it will be easy to get them to open up and talk in class.

Would you recommend a particular city to teach in?

Every city has its unique pull. If you want to live by a beach, check out Rio, Florianopolis, or Bahia. If you want to live in the business capital of South America, go to São Paulo. If you want a traditional Brazilian experience in a place where not too many foreigners go, then come to Belo Horizonte.

Can you please provide some links to online sites geared towards foreigners in Brazil?

In general there isn’t much information online about teaching English in Brazil. There are a few sites that are focused more towards expat living in Brazil, or learning Portuguese. Because of this huge lack of information I’ve started putting everything I know online to be of assistance to those thinking about teaching English in Brazil.

I have a resource page on my site that I am constantly updating with information about teaching English in Brazil, as well as a list of job boards, though I don’t recommend you use them.

Check out Gringoes.com which has been around forever and has a ton of information about Brazil, as well as a forum where you can ask specific questions.
Brazzil.com is a news site about Brazil
Transitionsabroad has a page on Brazil with a few articles about teaching English.

What advice would you offer for others thinking of teaching English in Brazil?

Learn as much Portuguese as you can before you come, and try to make as many friends as you can before you get here. The quality and quantity of your relationships will be so much greater if you learn Portuguese before you come.
Brazilian systems don’t always make sense and you’ll go crazy if you spend too much time dwelling upon it. At first glance things may appear to be chaotic and unorganized in Brazil, but if you dig deeper you’ll realize that there is an order that comes from this chaos. It will take you a while to learn the jeitinho brasileiro, but don’t lose hope. Make friends here and they will help you navigate Brazil’s bureaucracy.

Please tell us about your site BrazilianGringo.com?

The biggest obstacle facing those who want to teach English in Brazil is the lack of reliable information about the process. There are a few scattered articles on the internet that give you somewhat of an idea of what the process is like, but no one has aggregated that information and really focused on the problems that English teachers have. I started BrazilianGringo.com to help newcomers understand what they can expect when they come to Brazil and to assist them in getting started.
Right now I am focused on creating useful content for people and making sure that it gets in front of those who need to see it. My business model is to create the best content that I can and build deep relationships with my readers. I have a few product ideas for how to monetize the site, the first of which is a book on teaching English in Brazil. If theres a demand for it I’ll help people get a student visa and find an apartment for a reasonable fee.
Links
Brazilian Grigo
Facebook: Brazilian Gringo.
Follow Josh on Twitter: Josh @BrazGringo
English Teaching Jobs in Brazil
Teach English in Brazil (General Information)
Teach English in Brazil (Cost of Living)
Teach English in Brazil (Visa Requirements)

Teaching English in Japan, Germany and India – Interview with Georgina Young

Georgina Young Teach English Abroad — Teach English Abroad with Georgina Young

What countries have you taught English in?

I have been employed to teach in Germany and Japan, I also volunteered to teacher train (as well as teaching myself) in India and I’ve taught German in England, Wales and Australia.

Can you give a summary of the teaching jobs you had?

Teaching English in India
In India, I was teaching in a really rural area, on a farm, in a village, an hour outside of New Delhi. I was working as part of a volunteering programme to help teach locals how to improve education in rural areas, so technically I was teaching adults, but really I was mostly leading by example so, I was also teaching the children from 2 – 18. I taught from 8am-1pm and then from 4-6pm. Teaching hours weren’t strict though and if I was feeling sick I could turn up an hour late or whatever. I only worked there for a month so no vacations but we got the weekends free to explore.
Teaching English in Germany
In Germany, I was teaching in a village half an hour outside of Frankfurt. I say village but it still had plenty of amenities banks, restaurants etc. I was teaching high school age from 10-18. It was a Haupt/Realschule which means that the kids were unable to go to university after high school, but instead would go to trade schools or into employment. I taught 12 lessons a week, always had a 3 day weekend, and didn’t have to be in school when I wasn’t teaching, meaning that I often came to school for just 2 hours and then went home. This was alongside the many weeks vacation Germans have. The base salary for the scheme I did is 800€ a month, which is just enough to get by on (just). But I did this as part of my year abroad and so got all the student loans and Erasmus grant besides, meaning I spent the whole year travelling and I saved up enough money for 3 months in Australia at the end of it.
Teaching English in Japan
At the moment, I live in Saga city and I commute 15 minutes by train to a Junior High School in a smaller town. I teach about 600 students between the ages of 12-15 and 2 special needs classes (which are my favourite). I teach around 18 – 20 classes a week but unlike Germany I have to stay in school when I don’t have lessons. I arrive in school at 8:10am and leave at 4:30pm. It’s much longer hours and days but the pay is a lot more. I’ll be honest in that I don’t know what I earn (as it doesn’t really bother me) but after bills I think I have about ¥200,000 ~ ¥250,000 (US$2,200 to $2,750) which leaves plenty of money to save. However, I don’t have the time to spend it. I still travel but just in the holidays (2 weeks, Christmas and Spring, 6 weeks for summer) and the numerous 3 day weekends that the national holidays here provide.

Can you provide an overview of your salary relative to cost-of-living in each country?

I am pretty good with money it has to be said. In India I was earning nothing, but then again things cost nothing. For the month I spent out £200 but that includes going to see the Taj and staying in nice hotels etc. I didn’t pay for food or accommodation while I was teaching.
Cost of Living in Germany
In Germany, I only spent the 800€ as part of my life in Germany and then I booked flights, trains and holiday money out of my Erasmus grant money. Rent and bills came to around 400€ for my massive 1 bed flat, and then I had 100€ a week spending money. I only spent about 20€ a week on groceries, the rest I spent on going out, travel, clothes etc. Other people constantly dove into their grant budget and had no money left at the end of the year.However, I had £6,000 saved by the time I left the country. £2,000 of which I spent on Australia.
Cost of Living in Japan
Again I know I am terrible but I don’t know how much my rent in Japan is, somewhere around ¥40,000 ~ ¥45,000 (US$440 – $495) a month and I live in a shoebox, however, my shoebox is in the city centre, compared to the German village. I spend around ¥2,500 (US$28) a week on groceries though other people tend to spend ¥4,000 (US$44). I don’t really buy clothes or anything, but I do eat out (which here is cheap ¥500 ~¥1,000 (US$5.50 – $11) per meal). Bills however are expensive and inevitable. I again spend less monthly than most ¥2,000 (US$22) each for my phone and electric (I don’t have internet on my phone) ¥4,000 (US$44) for gas (I like baths), ¥2,000 (US$22) on national health and the biggest kicker ¥15,000 (US$165) into my pension (which is compulsory) you can claim this back however, if you leave before 4 years. I can (and have) lived on only ¥110,000 in a month (US$1210) (almost exactly like Germany), and I did this living as I desired, though again I spend less than most. So I guess that means that really you can easily save ¥100,000 if you want to. You can obviously easily blow it too, as going out for a night out is EXPENSIVE you can easily spend ¥10,000 (US$110) in one night. Luckily, I don’t do that often but I do spend a lot on karaoke.

Can you give a quick overview of what you liked and disliked about teaching in each country?

In India, the children were so eager to learn, and I loved the laid back atmosphere of the place, that it was easy to say that you couldn’t come to school if you couldn’t. Bad sides were the sweltering heat and let’s just say it the constant diarrhoea. I also didn’t like how some of the people I saw treated other less fortunate people, but I guess that is just the culture. Mainly I felt that we were forced to go to nice hotels and take taxis (out of our pockets) etc. where as I would have rather lived in a little bit more normal digs, but the scheme I was on was quite controlling.
In Germany, I loved the easiness and cheapness of travel, the miniscule working hours, and the general culture. Even now I find myself being like “In Germany ….”. Bad points were definitely organisation, I was never told anything. Sometimes whole classes changed around, or school would be closed one day and I was just expected to know despite no one informing me. They also left me alone a lot without a supply. I would only find out I was meant to teach alone (with no lesson plan) when I turned up to lesson and the other teacher didn’t. I taught some pretty badly behaved kids, fights and racial slurs, which I had to break up personally. This, however, was just my school, most people didn’t have this experience.
In Japan, the kids are wonderfully behaved and well mannered. I also get really good training here. Organisation is excellent, I always know what they want me to do ahead of time, and everyone at school is really pleasant and helpful. I also love the country; I think Japan is definitely my favourite. Bad points? Well while long working hours doesn’t bother me so much (this is real life after all) 6am wake up calls do, I sleep a lot and so my bedtime rarely makes it to the darker side of 9pm. I don’t get as much time to travel, and there is a lot of bureaucracy (and faxing) which can drive you up the wall. Also as I don’t speak Japanese very well, I have to get people to read my mail for me etc, though we know this is my own fault. People have often complained that in Japan their colleagues won’t talk to them (or even try) and just treat them like a piece of the furniture, but I didn’t find this at all. Everyone was very welcoming to me, again I guess it depends on the school.

Do you have a TEFL or CELTA certification?

I have an online TEFL course from a not so reputable company that I got on Groupon for £65(US$103). It’s 120 hours. Less than that and people don’t count it

Is certification necessary to find employment in those countries?

No. I basically got it so I could be like “Look, I have one.” But by the time I got it I already had a years worth of teaching experience in Germany, which I personally feel is worth more than any TEFL certificate. Some places ask for one, but I think if you have enough experience it becomes irrelevant.
In India, previous teaching experience was required. In Germany, a high level of German proficiency was required and in Japan, I needed a degree (of any class or subject). But never a TEFL certificate.

How did you find your jobs?

India was a scheme for a charity which was run through my University, and so I first saw it advertised in an e-mail which came through the Uni system.
Germany I did as part of my year abroad and in the UK, it is pretty standard to send people through the British Council scheme. Though you don’t have to be at University to apply, students are given priority. Again my University sorted me out with my forms.
Japan I knew I wanted to go to Japan, and so I started looking around online for placements. I work for Interac and I found the position advertised on (you guessed it) my University’s careers newsletter. I also found other positions such as Aeon (for business teaching) and things like EPIK (for Korea). My cousin told me about the JET programme (her university emailed her) which is popular here. However, I’m glad I went private as the salary doesn’t matter to me, and private ALTs get much more vacation time.
I’m currently applying to a homestay teaching position in China for a few weeks over the summer which I again found through my University’s Careers newsletter (which I still receive and read despite graduating and having a job.) Even if you don’t go to a Uni you can still check out their careers website in some cases or if you’ve graduated you can still look at your old one. I have found so many jobs and placements through this service, I can’t recommend it more.
I guess the best advice in general is keep an eye out. I find most of the positions I apply for just from random emails I’m sent or simple things like looking on twitter. I would definitely advise people to make a twitter account and follow all the companies they are interested in as they often advertise positions.

Did any of the schools provide accommodations or pay for your travel expenses?

In India, my visa, flights, food and accommodation were all provided for me by my University who sponsor the charity I was working for.
In Germany, only a 3 day training course was provided for free. But my school did help me find local accommodation, and I stayed (for free) at a teachers house until I found somewhere.
In Japan, I think my flights are reimbursed when I complete my contract though I’m not 100% sure on that. My travel costs to and from school are covered as well as any travel costs I have coming to and from training sessions. Training is also free and there are regular meetings to keep you up to date with new techniques which are great. I had to pay for my visa but it was only about £26(US$41) I think.

Were your work visas arranged in advance for all three jobs?

In India, I believe I was on a tourist visa, which my University arranged and paid for before I arrived. I guess it was tourist because I was volunteering and wasn’t paid.
In Germany, I didn’t need a work visa as I live in the EU.
In Japan, my company sent me all the forms, etc. to fill out for the visa, and took me through the process which was long. They sorted the Japan half of things, but I had to go to London myself to process and pay for it. Because I graduated so late and it takes 8 weeks to process a work visa from start to finish (beginning with sending loads of forms and documents to Japan) I ended up coming to Japan in the middle of the school term, but I still found a placement from someone who was leaving. I know people have come to Japan on a tourist visa and started work, which is technically illegal, but is done. You have to leave Japan in order to process the work visa though.

What advice would you offer for others thinking of teaching English abroad?

Ignore what other people say about which destinations are good/bad and go with what your heart tells you. Go where you really want to be. It’s location, location, location and you’ll never be happy in the wrong place. Go where you feel YOU want to go, and ignore all the haters. Also ignore those who say that you are running away, or that you can’t settle down if you teach abroad. TEFL can be a genuine career if you want it to be or a break if you want that too. People keep asking me when I’m coming back to settle in Britain and it’s quite hard to get through to them that I’m not.

Follow My Journey – Feel free to send me an e-mail and ask me any questions.

Website http://georgeonthego.org
Facebook www.facebook.com/georgegoingdown
Twitter @georgieonthego
More Links
Teach English in Japan Information (More information on teaching English in Japan)
TEFL jobs in Japan (English teaching jobs available in Japan)

Teach English in Hong Kong – Interview with Beth Williams

How long have you been teaching English in Hong Kong?

I have just completed the first half of my initial contract in Hong Kong, which means I have been teaching here for 6 months.

Please tell us about your job?

I work for an English Learning Center, which are popular throughout Hong Kong. Language centers are literally everywhere; my company alone has over 8 branches throughout Hong Kong.
The center I report to is technically located outside what classifies as the urban, “downtown” area. I still don’t think I would classify where I work as rural, since I don’t believe anywhere in Hong Kong can be classified as something other than urban. However, the area I work in is largely residential; which means we have a lot of students.
Being a learning center means that we see students of any age starting as early as 3 years old. Hong Kong kindergartens are separated into a morning and afternoon class, so a majority of our students range from K1-K3. Because our students all attend an actual school institution, we also do not teach the same students daily.
The teaching hours are long with 10-hour days—typical of any workweek in Asia. I leave my apartment at 8am only to often return past 8pm.
Despite the long hours, I am fortunate enough to only work 5 days a week with Saturdays off. (I’d like to note this is not standard for my company; everyone has a different 2^nd day off. I was just the lucky one, having 2 concurrent days off a week.)

How did you find your job?

Before graduation I knew I wanted to move abroad. As soon as I decided on Hong Kong, I started to push my application to dozens of schools I found online.
I would use popular job listing sites such as Monster.com.hk, Jobsdb and the SCMP Job Classifieds. I would even just Google for popular language centers in Hong Kong and tried to find their “contact us” page hoping to get an email contact.
Soon I found myself with a lot of Skype interviews and schools to pick from for my first real job.

Does your school provide accommodations or pay for your travel expenses?

My school does not provide accommodation, but they will help you find and set up an apartment if you want. Many of our teachers live with others teachers to help cut costs. I personally found my own accommodation through a Century 21 agent after arriving in Hong Kong.
They do offer to pay ~$600USD of your return airfare upon completing 2 years. This often barely pays for half of the ticket cost, so it is not incentive enough to make most people stay a 2^nd year.
Although my school does not really pay for accommodation or travel expenses, they do kindly pay for our work visas—which otherwise would’ve been a big chunk of cash.

Is it necessary to have teaching certificates or training to find employment?

As with most Hong Kong teaching positions, a Bachelor’s degree and TEFL Certificate are both required. Teaching experience is recommended, although you can often get away without.

How did you get your work visa?

To obtain a work visa in Hong Kong you must have an employer sponsor you. The whole process is relatively easy, and just a matter of paperwork and paying for the visa itself. As I mentioned previously, my school did cover the costs for my visa.

Is it possible to arrive without a work visa and find work?

Technically, you are not allowed to switch your visa status while in Hong Kong; which means that it is frowned upon to seek work while on a tourist visa. However, the reality is that many people do this.
Even though I had a job secured before my arrival in Hong Kong, my visa still had not come through. This just meant that a few weeks into work I had to make the famous visa-run to Macau in order to activate my visa legally.

What is Hong Kong like?

Apart from the horrible pollution, the quality of life here is amazing. Hong Kong currently has the longest life expectancy in the world! The food is delicious and the scenery is beautiful. From mountains to stunning city-scapes, Hong Kong is the perfect “gateway” Asian country since it is a perfect blend of Eastern and Western culture.

What is your cost of living?

It’s no lie that housing in Hong Kong is expensive. Almost all other teachers I know here need to live with a roommate—unless they’re okay living in a shoebox. My apartment is roughly $2,000 USD per month! ($1,000 for my share.) Luckily almost everything else is nearly free.
Thanks to government subsidies our utilities have never been more than $15 USD. Also thanks to the subsidy, we often don’t have to pay anything. Even my cellphone bill is only $20 USD per month and that gives me unlimited data and minutes.
The delicious food I mentioned above is also affordable. We spend about $15 – $20 every two weeks on groceries. However, those who want to eat at Western establishments will be paying a lot more per week.

Is it possible to save much money teaching English in Hong Kong?

Yes! I have been fortunate enough to put away a lot of money even within only 6 months. On top of my savings I have also been able to make payments on loans back home and afford travel to other Asian countries such as Thailand, Singapore and Japan.

Are there opportunities to earn income on the side?

My school does not allow us to take on other work opportunities—and honestly I wouldn’t have the time to tutor on the side. However, it is possible for people in most other situations to find side income.

Do you recommend Hong Kong for other English teachers?

Absolutely! Teaching in Hong Kong has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. It is a fun and exciting city that seems to never sleep.

What advice would you offer for others thinking of teaching English there?

Do your research—don’t accept the first job you are offered. I was offered a lot of jobs that pay 10k-14k HKD per month. Compared to Mainland China rates, this pay seemed great!
But in reality, Hong Kong is still expensive. I would not have been able to pay all my bills, while saving if I had jumped and taken those first jobs. Hold out and try to get something higher. There are plenty of jobs that will be 18k+ HKD.

Can you please provide some links to online sites geared towards foreigners in Hong Kong?

Links

Besudesu Abroad– Beth Williams’s personal blog
Besudesu Abroad on Facebook

Teach English in Brazil – Interview Shayna de Oliveira

Teach English in Brazil Shayna F. de Oliveira — Teach English in Brazil

How long have you been teaching English in Brazil?

I taught English in Brazil for two years, although at the moment I’m giving only online classes.

Please tell us about your job?

The English school where I worked offers both small group (8 students or fewer) and private classes to adults. Most of the students are professionals aged 20-50 who work for multinational companies or whose job requires them to interact with English speakers and/or travel to English-speaking countries. For a number of them, their companies subsidize the costs of the English classes. Unfortunately, due to demanding jobs and family life, many students miss or cancel up to a third of their classes, which can sometimes make planning difficult.
Teaching hours are typically 6:30-9:30 PM on weeknights, although I also had a few private classes scheduled from 7-8:30 AM. If you wish to work Saturdays, it can be a good way to get a number of consecutive teaching hours, as the school offers Saturday classes from 8 AM to 5 PM. I worked about 15 hours per week.
The semesters in Brazil typically run from March to mid-July and August to December. Some schools also offer intensive courses during the summer vacation in January and February. Vacation and public holidays are unpaid for English teachers.
I’m located in the city of Salvador, in the northeast region of the country. Many teachers prefer to go to the southeast (such as the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo) because the pay can be better; however, the cost of living is higher as well. The pay at my school was around $13/hour; if you give private lessons outside the school, you can charge up to $25/hour.

How did you find your job?

When I arrived in Salvador in June, I simply looked up the English schools in the area and sent my resume and cover letter unsolicited to all of them. Several called me for interviews, and I was hired in July to start in August.

Does your school provide accommodations or pay for your travel expenses?

No; unfortunately, an English school covering travel or housing expenses for a teacher is virtually unheard-of in Brazil.

Is it necessary to have teaching certificates or training to find employment?

It can be helpful, but is not a strict requirement. Some schools use a specific methodology and may require you to be trained in their program before you can start.

How did you get your work visa?

I’m married to a Brazilian, so the visa wasn’t an issue for me. However, it is extremely difficult for an English teacher to get a work visa; the process is lengthy, costly, and bureaucratic. Many foreign teachers simply give classes while on a tourist or student visa and are paid in cash, although this is technically illegal.
One of the few programs that provides a legal means of teaching English in Brazil is the IICA cultural internship, where you teach English classes as a trainee, receiving a small stipend and staying with a homestay family.

Is it possible to arrive without a work visa and find work?

Not legally, no.

What is Brazil like?

Brazil boasts an extremely rich mixture of African, European, and Indigenous cultural elements – now with an increasingly international flavor as well. Although Carnival is the most well-known event, there are dozens of smaller festivals throughout the year as well as interesting regional traditions.
Brazilian cuisine features a lot of rice and beans, meat, and seafood in coastal areas. Vegetarians are not common in Brazil, but in the bigger cities there are some markets with vegetarian and organic products. The food is not typically spicy, but often comes accompanied with hot pepper sauce on the side should you want to add it.
Most of Brazil’s population lives in the coastal areas, and there are an infinite number of spectacular beaches (especially if you get away from the main cities) and opportunities to practice water sports. The inland areas have plenty of attractions for nature-lovers as well; there are many spots for hiking and adventure sports.
Music and dance are big parts of Brazilian culture, and there are musical styles for all tastes; from festive samba to relaxing bossa nova, cutting-edge rock and hip-hop and playful and romantic forró(Brazilian country music). Shows and parties are common and most sizable Brazilian cities have a very active nightlife.

What is your cost of living?

I pay about $400/month for a small furnished apartment in the city center (utilities and internet included; not cable TV though – that would add about another $40). A meal out at a restaurant can be as cheap as $5 for a basic lunch or as expensive as $50 for a full-fledged Brazilian steakhouse and buffet experience – which is definitely worth it every once in a while! Bus fare is $1.50, a beer is about $1.75, a movie is around $8, and clubs and shows can range from free to $20 all the way up to $100+ for access to a VIP area during a major concert.

Is it possible to save much money teaching English in Brazil?

Teaching English will put you in the lower middle class, and unless you’re extremely frugal, you probably won’t save much. Come to Brazil for the lifestyle, not the money!

Are there opportunities to earn income on the side?

I never had private students outside the school, but many teachers do, and the pay per hour is much better. The key is networking; word of mouth spreads quickly and people are happy to recommend a good English teacher to their friends and colleagues.
As for me, I continued doing some freelance website work for clients in the U.S. as well as Portuguese to English translation in order to supplement my teaching salary.

Please tell us about EspressoEnglish.net.

I launched Espresso English on January 1, 2012 to provide short and sweet online lessons for students who might not always have time to get to class or study for long periods of time. At the moment, the site offers free English tips on the blog as well as intensive courses which last 30 days and focus on one particular aspect of English, such as Business English or Idiomatic Expressions. The readers and students really enjoy the material and the site is growing month by month.

Do you recommend Brazil for other English teachers?

Brazilian students are a pleasure to teach because they generally have positive attitudes and are very personable; they love to talk, laugh, and have fun in class. The quality of life is good – not in terms of the level of luxury and comfort you’ll be able to afford on a teacher’s salary – but rather thanks to the tropical climate, warm people, delicious food, and rich culture.

Would you recommend a particular city to teach in?

Each Brazilian city has its own characteristics, so it depends on what type of environment you prefer: Sao Paulo is like the “New York City”of South America; it is an enormous metropolis that is a hub for business and culture. Rio de Janeiro is a little more laid-back, with a strong beach and music scene and an absolutely stunning landscape. Salvador is known for its Afro-Brazilian culture, religion, percussion, and capoeira (Afro-Brazilian martial arts/dance). There is also Manaus, which is located in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest.

What advice would you offer for others thinking of teaching English in Brazil?

If you’re adventurous and flexible, then you’ll enjoy Brazil. I wouldn’t recommend coming here if you’re impatient, easily stressed, or (as previously mentioned) if you’re looking to make a lot of money. Living in a developing country comes with its share of inconveniences, so you need to roll with the punches and keep a positive attitude.
Definitely learn some Portuguese! Most Brazilians do not speak English, so being able to speak even basic Portuguese will make your experience in Brazil easier and much more pleasant – both from a practical standpoint and in terms of your social life.
Finally, although your teaching schedule may make it a bit difficult, do your best to carve out some time to learn or try something that you might not have the opportunity to do elsewhere – take a samba or percussion class, learn to cook Brazilian cuisine, attend a cultural or religious festival, etc.

Can you please provide some links to online sites geared towards foreigners in Brazil?

Brazzil.com and Brazzilmag.com regularly post English-language news and editorials from Brazil, and Gringoes.com is a great site for foreigners in Brazil with articles on culture, language, employment, sports, and the arts, as well as a classifieds section.
There is also a new site launching December 15, 2012, called Real Life Brazil – it will be a comprehensive resource for anyone looking to live, work, and/or teach English in Brazil.

Links

Adventurous Soul – Shayna’s personal blog.
Espresso English – Shayna’s English language learning site.
English Teaching Jobs in Brazil
Teach English in Brazil (General Information)
Teach English in Brazil (Cost of Living)
Teach English in Brazil (Visa Requirements)

Teach English in France – Interview with Brad Patterson

How did you first get into English Language Teaching?

I have always loved exploring languages, first as a learner (having gone to France in high school) and then after college as a teacher. While I was working full-time as a cook in a classy French Restaurant, I would teach private one-on-one English and French lessons in the mornings. It was fun for the year I did it, but by the end I wanted to teach larger groups. Soon afterwards I took a job teaching groups of 6-12 international students in Los Angeles (all the while cooking full-time in a cool Organic Vegan restaurant). After a few months of that, I decided to leave the hot kitchen behind (though I loved it), and look for a full-time teaching position.
At that point, I applied for jobs abroad and found a great job in Jinan, China. For 3 years I taught Masters and Doctoral engineering students all the while learning Chinese on the side. It was heaven! Since then, I’ve moved back to France with my wife and I’ve been teaching at the university here as well. Wild to think how fast a decade can fly by teaching and learning languages!

In which countries have you taught English?

The US, China, France and a bit in Mexico as well.

Did your experience of teaching English vary to any great extent between those countries?

Absolutely. We say “teach” but really it’s such a dialogue and the way different cultures interact in a learning situation can vary extensively. I think China and France might be the most distinct classroom dialogues I’ve had. These are of course stereotypes, but they help to relate my overall experiences: I found the Chinese students very respectful and at times a bit shy, or less open to speak in a larger group. In contrast, the French students I’ve had can be much more independent in class, even to the extent of not participating (that’s been my biggest challenge yet)! Through such challenges, you learn quickly what engages certain students, and I’ve been impressed with how at times my French students are willing to “stick their head out” and express an opinion or make a mistake in a way that my former Chinese students might not have.
In both situations there were days when I’d love it, and then other days when I just wished that one culture might have a bit more of the other’s, or vice-versa… ah… the class is always greener, right? 🙂 (GRASS!)

How long have you been living in France?

Almost 4 years

Do you still teach English now?

Yes, though only a few classes a semester, and this semester I’ve had to take off as I had a 3-week consulting trip in China that kept me from signing on for the whole semester. BUMMER!

How did you land the job at Edulang?

Actually it was through my professional network. The job wasn’t advertised at all and at first the Edulang team and I had to see if I could fill the shoes of a “social media manager”. Whereas I knew quite a bit about teaching English, I had little knowledge of publishing and even less so of online ELT resource publishing. Beyond that, I had never “tweeted” before and thought social media was just for sharing pictures… oh lordy have I learned a lot since then. 😉

What do you do at Edulang?

I blog about ELT, language, Edulang‘s apps and much more.
I interact with the global ELT community via blogs (check out my blogroll!), Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and a few other sites.
I’m the bridge between the learners and teachers that are using Edulang‘s apps as well and actively collect feedback and see how we can improve and extend our learning materials.
Lastly, I translate all of the communications on our website into English as well as help with the translations in Chinese, and coordinate for those in Japanese.

Do many foreigners teach English in France? If so, are they mainly in the public or private sector?

There are a fair amount of foreign teachers in the public sector, but only at the collegiate level as primary and high school positions are reserved almost entirely for French citizens.

What qualifications and experience are required to teach English in France?

Really depends— for many positions, though, experience outweighs qualifications (where the latter might not even be required).

How did you get your work visa?

Obtaining a work visa in France and the EU in general can be a difficult process. Either you need to be sponsored by a company that then needs to prove how your qualifications/experience are superior (or not present at all) to anyone in France, or there is a “Skills and Talent” visa that you can apply for individually. Lastly, you can of course come in if you’re married to a European citizen or have some other family link. I was sponsored by a company unrelated to the teaching industry but related to my language skills.

Is it possible to arrive without a work visa and find work?

No. Not legally.

What is France like?

Wonderful. Delicious food. Interesting people. History, history, history. Love the language. France is also more relaxed than the US or China for me. 5 weeks of paid vacation. Social Security. All in all, it gets a major “thumbs up!”

What is your cost of living?

I live in Paris and it’s more expensive than elsewhere in France. Count on a rent around 600-1000 euros and you’ll be able to find the same type of a living space for half of that outside of the capital. Eating out is comparable to other European countries, though I’d say that travel is a bit more expensive— trains aren’t cheap unless you book well ahead.

Is it possible to save much money teaching English in France?

It really depends on what kind of position you can secure. There are good paying jobs, but they are not easy to get right when you arrive. It takes a bit of time and developing a network. Otherwise, I think that there are other countries where an English teacher can save more, and immediately, but they might not have all the perks that France has!

Are there opportunities to earn additional income?

Absolutely. You have to be entrepreneurial, but there are plenty of opportunities.

Do you recommend France as a place for English teachers?

I would recommend English teachers who are interested in France or French to consider it, and maybe take a trip here first. I love it and there’s lots to enjoy, but the barrier to entry is a bit higher than elsewhere so you really have to want to come and teach here. But France is wonderful 😉

Would you recommend a particular city to teach in?

Depends on what you’re looking for, but I love rural and non-capital cities in France. Paris is great but it’s expensive. So much out there and lots worth exploring. Maybe try Rennes, Aix-en-Provence or somewhere in the Alps if you weren’t interested in Paris.

What advice would you offer for others thinking of teaching English in France?

Come visit. Contact me. See what’s going on at Tesol-france.org. Join the discussion online and see what opportunities there are.

Can you please provide some links to online sites geared towards foreigners in France?

Developing a personal network is important and Tesol France is a great place to start. The also have almost daily job postings here and I’ve had a nice experience of finding jobs that way:
Links
Edulang Blog
Edulang on Twittter
Edulang on Facebook

Teach English in Spain – Interview with Textbook Author Iwonna Dubicka

How long have you been teaching English in Spain?

Ages. Since 1990.

Please tell us about the teaching work you did when you first arrived, and what you do now?

In the first couple of years I worked for academies teaching both children and adults, but then I specialized in Business English early on – mainly to avoid having to teach on Saturday morning, but also because I enjoyed learning from those kinds of students.

How did you find your first and any subsequent jobs in Spain?

My first job was advertised on a noticeboard in International House in Barcelona. When I got a job at Merit School in Barcelona I remember walking in on spec, CV in hand and being interviewed on the spot by the Director of Studies. Later, when I got a job as Director of Studies of a centre teaching in-company classes, the vacancy was advertised in the regional business paper, La Vanguardia. These days, I tend to pick up work through a recommendation via a colleague or student, so job searching has changed a great deal over the years, but it’s related to how much experience and how many contacts you have. I think the British Council still have a list of recommended schools and centers.

Did your employers provide accommodation or pay for your travel expenses?

No, that’s not typical in Spain where the market is very competitive, unless you are teaching teenagers on a summer camp.

Is it necessary to have teaching certificates or teaching experience to find employment in Spain?

Yes, the CELTA and a minimum of two years’ experience, and most employers will expect you to have the DELTA once you’ve been teaching for about three years.

Do Spanish schools provide assistance with work visas for non-EU nationals?

Not as a rule, no.

Is it possible to arrive without a work visa and find work?

Yes, it’s certainly more difficult but there are recently arrived teachers who offer competitive rates for reduced groups.

Are there opportunities to earn income on the side from more than one employer?

Most teachers I know are freelancers, like myself. They work for different institutions and/or companies, and also have private students. Teachers on permanent contracts working for one employer tend to be very well-established.

What is Spain like?

How long have you got? Spain, its landscape, food and people, differ incredibly according to the autonomous region you are in. People coming here are usually attracted to the quality of life, the food and the people, who are generally warm, friendly and pretty lively, although Catalans have a reputation for being a bit more reserved, than, say people from Seville. In Barcelona locals always say, ‘We have mountains and sea’, so you can spend your time enjoying the night life in the city, chilling out on the beach, or walking and cycling in the hills. Spanish people love sports, be it football, basketball, tennis, mountain biking, skiing, scuba diving, or synchronised swimming. Then, of course, there are the local fiestas. But it isn’t all bull-fighting and tomato-throwing. The la Mercè festival in Barcelona takes place the weekend of 24th September and the Grec in July, and they are just two examples of Barcelona’s many music, theatre and cultural events.

What is your cost of living?

If you’re renting a room in a shared flat in Barcelona average monthly rent is €350 plus bills. It’s a little cheaper in smaller towns. Spain, unfortunately, has the highest telephone and energy bills in Europe. We also have to pay for water here, which comes to a surprise to some foreigners. As a freelancer you have to pay about €260 monthly for your social security payments, which will set you back a bit whilst you’re waiting for classes to come in. VAT also went up in Spain as from 1st September 2012, so food prices have gone up. It’s definitely not as cheap as it used to be. One advantage is that public transport is still relatively cheap, compared to places like London: you can get a 10-journey travel card for about €9 that’s valid on the bus, metro, tram and trains.
Entertainment is perhaps slightly cheaper than in the UK, for example, cinemas have special offers on Wednesdays. Eating out in a reasonable restaurant went up considerably with the introduction of the Euro and an average evening meal for two will set you back about €90 including wine. It’s better value for money to eat out mid-week at lunchtime because local bars and restaurants offer three-course meals for €12 a head. You can also find discounts for restaurants, entrance tickets, and activities on websites like Atrápalo and LetsBonus.

Is it possible to save much money teaching English in Spain?

No, not much, not unless you manage to find work here or abroad in the summer months. Although centres and academies offer July intensives, there isn’t much work to be found between July to September. Remember in Spain, August is the typical holiday month when most businesses and academies close.

Do you recommend Spain for other English teachers?

Spanish students are chatty and easy-going, although business students are the most demanding, as in other countries. My personal view is that the quality of life offsets the lower salaries. It’s a very competitive market but there’s still a demand for language teachers as many Spanish people tend to have something of an insecurity complex and constantly bemoan their language skills. Having said that, I find that many motivated, younger students studying Business have an Advanced level and are often learning a third or fourth language such as French, German, and even Chinese.

What advice would you offer for others thinking of teaching English in Spain?

As with any other location, I’d visit first and talk to teachers before you make the decision to stay. People are often attracted because of the weather, but the summer months can be very hot in Spain, except for the North, in places like Galicia, Asturias and the Basque country. It’s particularly humid in Barcelona in July and August and the climate doesn’t suit everyone.

Can you please provide some links to online sites geared towards foreigners in Spain?

Job sites:

Favourite Barcelona-based ELT website:

http://film-english.com/

International House teacher training:

http://www.ihes.com/bcn/tt/

Out and about:

http://www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/
http://www.timeout.com/barcelona/

Market Leader:

http://www.market-leader.net/coursebook.html

Advice on how to become an author:

How many textbooks have you written?

Together with my friend and colleague, Margaret O’Keeffe, we’ve written about four coursebooks, plus CDROMs and online materials, workbooks and teacher books: our first one was a secondary school book for Bachillerato published by the Spanish publisher, edebé, then there was English for International Tourism Pre-intermediate (1st and 2nd editions), Lifestyle Intermediate, and Market Leader Advanced (1st and 3rd editions), all of which are published by Pearson.

How do you work with your co-author?

Margaret and I have been writing together for about 15 years. There’s usually a kick-off meeting with the publisher who maps out the brief. Then we meet up to plan together at the start of a project, we might write some units together, but later we write units separately. We have teleconferences with editors as we write. Editors have said they often don’t know who has written what, but we definitely have different interests, styles and ways of working. I’d say Margaret is more organized and much better at meeting deadlines!

What prompted you to take up writing?

I’ve always loved writing. When I was 11 I wrote and directed a play for school. Later, I studied English and Drama at university and wrote a couple of radio scripts whilst I was doing an MA in Communication Studies. While teaching at Merit School in Barcelona, Margaret and I were asked to take part in a CDROM project, which was a great learning experience. I think we had a couple of lucky breaks but we’ve always enjoyed writing together as a team. After having my son, combining teaching and writing means I can have a flexible timetable and pick him up from school most days.

Did you continue to teach full-time when writing your first book?

When we were writing our first book, it was a bit odd because I was writing during the day and teaching evenings Mon-Thurs. Writers normally do the opposite.

At what point did you feel you had the necessary experience to write your first book?

We were privileged in that we were asked to write our first book, so I guess they liked the way we worked together and wrote.

How difficult is it to break into writing for ELT?

Things have changes considerably in the last ten years or so. If you want to get into writing these days, it’s probably best to have a blog or your own website and offer materials for free to get yourself a name. If you have a great idea for an original book, you could send a two-page proposal to a publishing contact, but it’s more likely that you are offered a low budget project first, like a CD-ROM, or workbook first. ELT conferences like IATEFL are the best place to meet publishers, but there is also the possibility of self-publishing.

Do you have any tips for those who are thinking about writing for English learners?

Firstly, don’t get despondent if your proposal is rejected. Publishers like Pearson do extensive market research to find out what learners and teachers want and they may approach you with a different kind of project all together. Secondly, if you have an idea for a course book, make sure it doesn’t have a short shelf life: ELT books tend to be on the market for about 4-5 years before there’s a second edition. Thirdly, think digital: publishers are looking for ways to offer more and more online materials. And finally, once you are writing, always teach a class or two of the level you are writing for. It’s the best way to get an idea of how the material flows, get instant feedback, and, of course, notice any typos!