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Teach English Abroad Interviews

Interested in teaching English abroad? Learn from the experiences of these English teachers around the world.

Teach English in Japan: Interview with Neil Mullens

Teach English in Japan with Neil Mullens
Teach English in Japan with Neil Mullens

How long have you been teaching English in Japan?

I came to Japan in late 1996, initially with the intention of working my way around Asia. However, within three years, I’d gotten married, started my own school and the rest, as they say, is history. Apart from a 12 month stint in Osaka, I’ve spent the entire time in Shizuoka, famous for its mountains, rivers and beaches.
 

How did you find your first teaching job?

Obviously, back in 1996, there wasn’t access to jobs online. If I remember correctly, I used to subscribe to a monthly overseas jobs publication that had a small section for TEFL/TESL jobs. I think I landed my very first teaching gig in Denmark by responding to one of those ads, and may well have found my first job in Japan that way, too.
I’m not entirely sure whether I would have made the same choices if I’d had access to the wealth of online information available today. It’s certainly easier these days to make a more informed choice and avoid some of the pitfalls lying in wait for prospective teachers.

How easy is it to find teaching jobs?

Once you’re established in Japan, it’s very easy to find teaching jobs, even in the present economic climate. That’s why it’s often beneficial to secure an initial contract with one of the big chain schools, or perhaps try to enter the JET Program. Once you’ve got your foot in the door, numerous other opportunities will become available.
However, there is a caveat. The quality of jobs offered, in terms of salary, working hours and conditions varies greatly from school to school. If you limit yourself to a narrow location when job searching you may find yourself having to take whatever you can get. If, however, you’re prepared to be flexible and move anywhere in the country, far greater opportunities will arise.

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

In recent times, a few companies have been requesting TEFL certificates, but it is not the norm. Most schools provide some kind of in-house training, which is usually paid, and generally only takes 3-7 days to complete. However, for university positions, an M.A. or PhD is a prerequisite, and many good universities also expect a number of publications.

Is it necessary to be able to speak Japanese to find employment?

Language schools generally insist that only English is used in the classroom, and they invariably have staff that can communicate well enough to be able to assist the teachers. English-only classrooms would also be encountered by those working within the JET Program. However, as you would be working in State schools, often in remote places, some ability in Japanese would certainly make your life easier.
In recent times, many school boards have taken to using third-party dispatch agencies for the purposes of hiring teachers. Although you would be teaching the same kind of classes as those working within the JET Program, you are essentially employed by the dispatch agency. On the whole, these agencies provide a very limited support network for their teachers and, indeed, requesting help is often frowned upon and may result in your contract not being renewed. Not only do many of these agencies request basic Japanese proficiency in their job advertisements, but you should also consider it essential for survival in the workplace. You should also be aware, that while these agencies often require Japanese ability and previous experience, the salaries and working conditions they offer are among the worst in Japan.

How did you get your first work visa?

My first visa was arranged by my employer before I landed in Japan. This certainly saved me a lot of stress and heartache down the line. In Japan, once the visa has been issued, it belongs to you, not your employer, as is the case in some other countries. This means that there are no problems switching employer within the duration of the visa. Of course, that’s not to say there won’t be other contractual complications!

Is it possible for teachers to arrive without a work visa and look for a job?

Yes, it is possible, but be aware that it can be costly and time consuming to get a visa later, as you will have to leave and reenter the country in order for a visa to be issued. Also, because of the large number of teachers already in Japan, with a legitimate visa on hand, it’s unlikely that most reputable employers would even consider hiring you. In the case of renewing visas, however, most companies are quite happy to handle the paperwork and assist you with the submission of those documents.

What is the cost of living in Japan?

The cost of living in Japan varies greatly depending upon where you are based. New arrivals generally get assistance in finding accommodation from their employers, and it may be subsidized. Still, expect to pay anything from ¥50-65,000 (US$549-714) per month for an apartment that will be small, by western standards. It’s usually much cheaper to find your own apartment, however, most Japanese landlords would prefer to have empty apartments than rent to a foreigner. Those who are more open-minded may still require a Japanese guarantor. Also bear in mind that renting by yourself will incur quite high deposits. This can be equal to two months rent in the Kanto region or as much as seven months rent in Kansai.
Although food is expensive by American standards, Brits won’t see such a huge difference. If you cook and prepare most of your own meals, you can get by on ¥40,000 (US$ 440) per month, and eat pretty well. Utilities and other costs such as a broadband internet connection are likely to set you back another ¥20,000 (US$220) per month. Public transportation is cheap and efficient, and work travel is generally paid for.
Your lifestyle will have a huge bearing on your total monthly costs. Entertainment is very expensive in Japan. Drinking, clubbing, eating out, going to the movies, visiting museums and staying in hotels, will quickly dispose of your ‘disposable’ income!

How much money can the average teacher expect to save?

A lot of recent (and some not so recent) college graduates come here and want to continue the full-on lifestyle they enjoyed as a student. Invariably, they save almost nothing, and more likely find themselves borrowing money from their frugal friends the week before payday. Having said that, I have known some people who were able to save ¥100,000 (US$1,100) per month on an average salary.

What is the typical number of teaching hours per week?

For anything other than university positions expect to work a minimum of 40 hours per week, however 50 hours per week is becoming increasingly common. Actual contact teaching hours varies greatly from school to school, and can be anything from 20-40 hours per week. You should also be aware that working for dispatch agencies may incur a considerable amount of (unpaid) commuting time.

How many weeks of holidays per year can teachers expect?

Again this varies greatly from school to school. On average, you can expect 5-10 days paid leave per annum. Foreign-run languages schools may give up to three weeks paid leave per year. JET program teachers can expect most of the regular school holidays. However, teachers doing essentially the same job as their JET program equivalents, are either not paid during school vacations or receive a greatly reduced income.

Did your employer provide you with medical Insurance?

Some employers do provide State healthcare and pension contributions, as they are required to do by law. However, it is increasingly becoming the norm that employers find ways to circumvent these contributions. This is usually done by registering teachers as part-time workers, counting only their contact teaching hours. The government is perfectly aware of these illegal practices but seems unwilling to take any action. Therefore, you may well need to take out private healthcare insurance which can be quite expensive.

Do you recommend Japan for other English teachers?

I probably sound very negative about teaching in Japan, but I think people should be aware of the possible pitfalls. Despite everything, Japan is wonderful country in which to live. The cuisine is first-class; the cities cater for almost every imaginable interest; and the countryside is simply breathtaking. There are still some good jobs available in Japan, but you may not find them immediately upon arrival. If you can suck it up at a lousy job for a while and be flexible in your approach to finding something better, you perseverance will be worthwhile.

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

At the end of the day almost anyone can teach abroad but there are three words which will make the difference between a rewarding experience and utter misery: research, research and RESEARCH!
Links
Follow Neil Mullens on Twitter
Japan Information (More information on teaching English in Japan)
TEFL jobs in Japan (English teaching jobs available in Japan)

Teach English in China: Interview with Gordie Rogers

Gordie Rogers is a Kiwi, who has been teaching English in Tianjin, China for nearly 7 years and also has runs the blog Lifestyle Design for You. He was kind enough to share some of his experiences teaching English in this interview.

Teach English in China with Gordie Rogers
Teach English in China with Gordie Rogers

How long have you been teaching English in China?

I have been teaching English in China for about six and a half years since early 2003.
In that time I’ve taught mostly at the university level, but also spent a year teaching English to primary school kids and taught adults at various times in private English language schools.

How did you find your first teaching job?

I’ll talk about how I found my first job in China, even though I taught for a year first in South Korea. I was travelling in Malaysia at the time. I placed my resume on several English teaching websites such as Dave’s ESL Café. A university in Tianjin, China found my resume on one of those sites and emailed me asking if I was interested in working for them. I replied that I was and then got a tourist visa and flew to China to start teaching.

How easy is it to find teaching jobs in China?

It’s getting more difficult for the inexperienced, under qualified and the older teachers. It also varies from city to city. I don’t know the reasoning, but the government has introduced rules where most schools can’t employ EFL teachers over 60 years old. As a result many older foreign teachers I knew struggled to find regular work and couldn’t get a work visa and so in the end went back home. I’ve actually heard of universities even refusing to employ EFL teachers over 45 years old.
However, if you aren’t too old and are properly qualified i.e. have a degree and either a TESOL/TEFL certificate and/or at least two years teaching experience then it’s still pretty easy. The English learning market is still growing here, and demand for good teachers is growing, especially in the private school sector.

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

By Chinese law, all foreign English teachers should have a college/university degree and either a TESOL/TEFL certificate or at least two years teaching experience.

How did you get your first work visa?

In 2003, I came to China on a tourist visa. In the first week the university took me to get a health check and then they got the tourist visa converted to a work visa within a couple of weeks. The university did all the processing for me.
However, this way of doing things is no longer possible. Now, if you want to teach legally in China, you should get your health check and work visa organized in your home country before arriving to work at your school in China. They may even make you double up by taking another health check upon your arrival in China.

Is it possible for teachers to arrive without a work visa and look for a job?

Yes, they could come in on a tourist visa to look for work, but they would have to leave China to get their work visa and re-enter which defeats the idea of coming here to look for and start working in the first place. Laws in China change frequently and are enforced differently and arbitrarily. I wouldn’t recommend you come here to look for work without a work visa and a job unless you wanted to explore and travel to get a feel for China and be willing to leave again until your work visa has been processed so you can start teaching. If you find a job, you can get the school to send the paper work including work invitation back to you in your own country.

What is the cost of living in China?

Rent varies hugely from city to city. Beijing and Shanghai are the most expensive. I can talk about Tianjin, which is China’s third largest city. You can find an average two bedroom apartment for about RMB 1800-2500 (US$264-$366) per month. Going out varies. Most clubs don’t have a door charge, so you’ll just be paying for what you drink inside. Average price of a pint of beer in a club is RMB 20-30 (US$2.93-$4.39). However, in restaurants and cheaper bars, you could get a pint for 6-10RMB (US$0.88-$1.46).
Food in markets is usually cheaper than supermarkets, however because you’re a foreigner, you may be charged more because they view you as being rich and therefore worthy of being cheated because the color of your skin. Lol! You can get by on 1500-2500 (US$220-$366) per month on food. However, if you like Western food and other imported foods, then you’ll be paying substantially more.

How much money can the average teacher expect to save?

This naturally will vary. Saving much is not that likely if you only teach at a university because they normally give you a free apartment, return airfare and only 10-16 hours of classes per week. However, if you wanted to supplement your income by doing private lessons then you should be able to start saving.
If you work at a private school, you’ll be working more hours, but you should also be able save a bit. If you like to go out a bit and eat out a lot, then I think on a RMB 8,000-10,000 (US$1,172-$1,464) monthly salary you could save RMB 2000-4000 (US$293-$586) per month.

Do you recommend China for other English teachers?

Yes and no. It depends what you want. If you’re an education idealist who wants develop your teaching to a highly professional level and have a professional environment and a school which puts a strong emphasis on English teaching then perhaps not.
However, if you want to get some experience teaching and are realistic that most schools here do the bare minimum in regards to English education then it can be a good place to teach.

Have you found opportunities to do work other than teaching?

Very few. I had a brief stint for a few months with a private school as their human resources manager, but then they ran into the trouble with the law and moved away. So, it was back to teaching for me. In China, the law strictly states that if you’re invited here to teach, then you should only teach and not engage in any other kind of employment as the condition of your visa is that you’re a teaching expert. There are expats here who work illegally doing business here, but they’re normally on tourist or student visas.

What do you love and hate about China?

I just love the fact that it’s so different from my home country, New Zealand. There’s lots of growth and change, different culture, etc. I love China for traveling. It has a huge variety of places to travel to. I also love the cross-section of expatriates that I can meet here from all over the world. It’s cheaper and more convenient to go out here in the evenings too than it is back in the West.
Hygiene is a major problem in China. Spitting, public urination and littering are common place. Air and water pollution are shocking. Corruption and inefficiency can also be frustrating when dealing with Government departments and businesses.
However, these are bearable once you get used to them. I don’t regret one moment of my time in China and will be sad to leave next July to return home.

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

I can only speak as one who has had teaching experience in South Korea and China. Realize that the private schools are all about maximizing profits from their students and teachers. Educational quality comes a distant second to profits.
In the public schools, they do the minimum to get by. At every university I’ve taught at, I’ve only taught each class once a week for two hours. I feel it’s very hard to make much of a difference with such little contact time with students. So, if you’re an idealist who thinks you’re going to be able to make a huge difference in the English level of students, then be prepared to do it in your unpaid free time.
Links
Lifestyle Design for You
Follow Gordie on Twitter
Information on Teaching English in China
Find English Teaching Jobs in China
China (Cost of Living)
China (Visa Requirements)
Interview with Kelly Sandor, teaching English in China
Interview with Roger Jones, teaching English in China
Interview with Gordie Rogers, teaching English in China

Teach English in Thailand Interview

Mark Reynolds, a five year veteran English teacher in Thailand shares his experiences in this fantastic interview.

Teach English in Thailand Mark Reynolds
Teach English in Thailand Mark Reynolds

How long have you been teaching English in Thailand?

I’ve been teaching in Thailand for 5 years.

How did you find your first teaching job?

Well first, I did some online research and visited many Thailand teaching sites to get an idea of who the major employers in the business were. I came up with a list of about 5 big language schools that I believed would be a good choice for a newcomer like myself. After that I rented a cheap apartment in Nonthaburi a province just outside of Bangkok and went out for a walk one day and came across a language school that I’d never heard of. I walked in the door and asked if they had any job vacancies. They told me that they were only a small franchise branch and that I should contact their head office in Bangkok.
This I did and an interview was arranged for the next day. I went down and got a start for the following week.

How easy is it to find teaching jobs?

It’s very easy to get a job teaching English here in Thailand. Though there are a few less jobs available now due to the recent world recession. Having said that the larger language institutes are always on the look out for teachers and if you want a job quick, then they are the places to go to.

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

Yes and no. Having a TEFL certificate or some other form of certification will help you, and it also shows that you know what you are doing. There are many agencies and schools who will hire you without certification, because they are desperate for teachers. Some of these agencies and schools are normally at the lower end of the ESL scale over here and the pay tends to be rather poor.

How did you get your first work visa?

The language institute that I worked for gave me some company documentation and a copy of my working contract that I had with them. After that I had to leave Thailand and fly to a neighboring country, I chose Laos. When I arrived in the capital Vientiane I then made my way to the Thai consulate there. At the Thai consulate, I filled in a visa application form and stated that I wanted the (non b visa) or non immigrant business visa I handed all the company documentation over to them along with a fee. Two days later I returned and picked up my passport with a new non b visa in it.

Is it possible for teachers to arrive without a work visa and look for a job?

Yes, in fact in 99% of cases you just turn up on a tourist visa start your job, then get your documentation from the employer. After that you fly to a neighboring country to pick up your non b visa. This is how it’s done over here.

What is the cost of living in Thailand?

You could ask this question to 5 different people and get 5 different answers! It all depends on the individual and how much or little they want to spend. I’m very frugal and don’t require a lavish lifestyle. I live in a small condo in a province outside of Bangkok.

  • Condo = 1,500 (US$44) baht per month.
  • Electric = 300 baht (US$9) per month if you get it direct from the supplier and not through your apartment owner. This will increase if you use an air conditioner.
  • Water = 60 – 180 (US$1.76 – 5.29) baht per month depending on where you live.
  • Food = plate of rice with pork/shrimp/squid 40 baht (US$1.18)
  • Pepsi = 15 baht (US$0.44)
  • Restaurant = varies however usually about 300 baht to 600 baht (US$9- 18) for two people.
  • Beer in Bangkok bars = 90 to 120 baht (US$2.64 – 3.53) per small bottle
  • Beer outside tourist areas = 40 baht (US$1.18) per bottle
  • Bus = 5 to 25 baht (US$0.15 – 0.74) depending on route and whether it’s air conditioned or not.
  • Taxi = approximately 400 baht (US$11.76) for a journey of 20 km

How much money can the average teacher expect to save?

This is another question where you’ll get many different answers. However on a salary of 35,000 baht (US$1,029) per month I could save 20,000 baht (US$588).

What is the typical number of teaching hours per week?

If you work in the government school sector anything from 16 up to 25 per week.

How many weeks of holidays per year can teachers expect?

Depending on who you work for some companies might offer you two weeks holiday and some might offer you nothing. Though there are a lot of public holidays scattered throughout the year and you get paid for these.

Did your employer provide you with medical Insurance?

Yes, The insurance was part of the package which the employer provided. This sounds good doesn’t it? That’s what I thought until I looked closer at the package. I was only covered up to I think about 10,000 baht (US$294) per visit! Which certainly isn’t going to buy you a lot of medical treatment.

Do you recommend Thailand for other English teachers?

Yes, I do! Thailand has a few faults as do other places. Thailand’s visa laws are always in a constant state of change these days, and it’s getting harder to work without the proper certification now. On the whole I’d recommend Thailand as a good training ground for newcomer teachers into the esl world. Thai’s are fun to teach and quite laid back along with the cheap cost of living and friendly people Thailand is a great starting place.

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

Get certified! You’ll need a Bachelors degree in any field! Then get some kind of tefl certificate and you’ll have no problems gaining employment. After that just do it! Pick your destination do your background research then get on that plane and make it happen!
Links
Thailand Delights
Follow Mark on Twitter
More Information on Teaching English in Thailand
English Teaching Jobs in Thailand

Teach English in Korea, Interview with David Deubelbeiss

David Deubelbeiss is a teacher, writer and runner. He is an educator with over 17 years experience teaching ESL / EFL. He has taught and presented in Korea, Canada, France, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Russia. and specializes in Web 2.0 and using technology in the classroom. Currently, he is giving professional development courses within the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. He is an avid creator of instructional materials and shares his resources through his online community EFL Classroom 2.0 – a professional development site with thousands of members. Also, find many of his ideas for teaching on Teaching Recipes. He shares the simple teaching philosophy of inspiring both teachers and learners, believing “when one teaches, two learn”.

Teach English in Korea with David Deubelbeiss
Teach English in Korea with David Deubelbeiss

How long have you been teaching English in Korea?

4 years today! I’m presently the head teacher trainer, training both foreign and Korean teachers in the world’s largest school board, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.

How did you find your first teaching job?

I went out to Vancouver to get a job “in paradise” after finishing teacher’s college in Ontario. However, it was the summer of 92 and they were in the middle of a teacher’s strike. While out and about, I met a retired couple who had started a school in Karlovy Vary, the Czech Republic so I decided, “why not?”.

How easy is it to find teaching jobs?

It depends. These days generally, native English speakers ARE in demand as teachers but conditions vary. National visa policies, salary levels, credential requirements, economic conditions, and local demands (accents/nationalities, age, education) all are pertinent factors. People around the world want to learn English and see it as a way to upward mobility and economic opportunity. However, as time goes by, demand will decrease. The internet will offer more opportunities to learn English online through self-learning and access. Travel will be more available so students will in greater numbers be able to travel and learn in English speaking countries. Most importantly, there will be a larger pool of non-native speaking teachers, fluent enough to teach well in many developing nations. All this will decrease demand for teachers in 5-10 years. See David Graddol’s excellent online book, “English Next” for lots more information about this.
I recommend a recent Radio Canada Int. interview with Ben Glickman from Footprints Recruiting who talks about the present dearth of teaching jobs as so many recent graduates are clamoring for teaching jobs overseas.

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

No, it isn’t but it can be helpful. Employers always like credentials. However, I’m of the school that teachers are born, not accredited. Meaning, the most important thing is the person and their emotional and intellectual qualities. Only upon that, can one “make” a teacher.

How did you get your first work visa?

It was in the Czech Rep. and taken care of by the employer. Compared to Korea though (and they complain here!), it was still a lot of work on my part in terms of documents and paperwork. I even had to check into the police station every month my first year there!

Is it possible for teachers to arrive without a work visa and look for a job?

In Korea, this is possible but I personally don’t recommend it. A visa in Korea is offered through one’s employer. If you arrive without a work visa (on a tourist visa), you will have to fly out of the country after finding a job and do what is called a “visa run”. The usual run is Osaka, the closest foreign Korean embassy. From there, your visa is processed, usually within a few days. However, I advise teachers to avoid the perils of this (unless having previously worked in Korea and knowing the ropes) and work with a reputable recruiter or employer to first secure an offer of employment and then get the visa before flying to Korea. And one big “caveat emptor” for teachers – never, never, never pay for a company or employer to get you a visa!!!!!! You are that which is valuable and there is no need to pay a cent. If they ask, run for the hills.

What is the cost of living in Korea?

Generally, employment in Korea comes with accommodation or an accommodation allowance. So without paying for this, expenses are low. Utilities are very reasonable, also cell phone costs. Eating out is very cheap but groceries are quite a bit more expensive, especially if you like to buy foreign goods. Local bars are fairly cheap if you stick to domestic stuff.
Taxes are very low and your net pay will only be 5-10% of your gross. Teachers also get one month’s pay severance for every year worked and many nationalities also get their pension payments in cash when they leave Korea (and what their employer paid in matching payments).

How much money can the average teacher expect to save?

Expenses can be quite low and teachers can save 40-70% of their take home pay, depending on how they live. However, if you want a lot of the same things as back home, you’ll save a lot less. Travel often out of Korea and that will cut into savings also.

What is the typical number of teaching hours per week?

Public school teachers typically work 18-22 hours / week. However, they also get a lot of downtime from cancelled classes in many cases. If you work at a “hagwon”, what we might call a private language school or “cram school”, you will work considerably more hours 28-36 and usually a split shift.

How many weeks of holidays per year can teachers expect?

Teachers in public schools can expect 14 -21 days paid holiday + national holidays (but if they fall on a weekend, you are out of luck!). If you renew a contract you get an additional amount of paid holiday (usually 10 working days). Those in private language schools get considerably less paid holidays, usually only 10 working days.

Did your employer provide you with medical Insurance?

Employers in Korea are obliged to pay their employee’s medical insurance. It usually isn’t a significant amount and covers very basic things. Those working in Korea get a health booklet which they present when getting medical treatment. Teachers will have to pay something out of pocket for any major tests / exams / treatment.
There have been many cases of private language schools not paying this, but deducting it from the teacher’s salary. I advise all teachers to check with the Korean health and pension offices after their first month, to ensure that their employers are indeed meeting their contractual obligations.

Do you recommend Korea for other English teachers?

I recommend travel and teaching to anyone! It really is a special career – you broaden your own horizons, help others and get to make the world a bit more of a “smaller” and more understanding place. Working in the countryside of Korea can be a challenge but all in all, if the teacher brings a flexible and open mind set, “seeing the glass half full” – they will succeed and be the better for it.
I’ve grown a lot while here in Korea. Both professionally and personally. Lots of hiking and outdoors stuff – Korea is 75% mountainous. The country “works” much like Switzerland and the people hard working – if not to the extreme. There is a great expat culture here and unlike many of the places I’ve taught – it isn’t too “rough” a deal. Check out the “Korea” area on EFL Classroom 2.0 – lots of great videos and materials collected there.
Korea is also one of the few countries where teachers can save money in addition to having money to travel around. It also has significant opportunity for those who want to pursue ELT (English Language Teaching) as a career – both in the form of graduate courses and university and teacher training positions.

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

Great question! Here they are in a nutshell
#1 Ask yourself – Do I have a plan B?
What I mean is that teachers should have some basic savings before venturing abroad. 99% of the time, you don’t need this nest egg (usually a couple months salary in the bank) but “stuff happens” and teachers should be prepared and have the means to get themselves home or pay for unplanned expenses.
#2 Ask yourself – Can I live without all my usual “support” and “stuff”?
Teaching abroad means adapting to a different lifestyle. Sometimes not significantly but there will be things you won’t have or be able to get. There will be times when there isn’t someone there for you. There will be times when you are “culture shocked”. Can you live with that and most importantly, grow from that?
#3 Ask yourself – Do I enjoy people, really enjoy helping others and working closely with people?
That’s what teaching is ALL about – relationships. Language is a social artifice and it works because people are “into” people. If you are going to be teaching hours every day – make sure for the most part, you enjoy helping people. Just being able to do a good job for the money won’t suffice or get you to the finish line when far from home. You gotta love you do. Teaching at its most ideal, I believe, is a calling, a vocation. Teaching overseas a wonderful vocation!
Links
EFLclassroom on Twitter
ELTjobs on Twitter
EFLClassroom2.0
English Teaching Jobs in Korea
Information on Teaching English in Korea

Volunteer English Teaching in Ecuador: Interview with Jon Brandt

Jon Brandt volunteered to teach English in Ecuador for 11 months. He used WorldTeach to find and organize his teaching position. Jon shares his experiences living, traveling and teaching in Latin America in this interview.

Teach English in Ecuador
Teach English in Ecuador

How did you find your volunteer teaching job in Ecuador?

I volunteered with a program called WorldTeach, which is a non-profit based out of the John F. Kennedy Center for International Development at Harvard University. After applying for the program and being accepted, we were given choices for where we would like to live. The directors then did their best to assess where we should be placed. I was originally placed in a small city on the southern coast called Machala, but because of a couple of incidents I wound up switching my site to Cuenca, a city high in the Andes. So long story short, no one really knew where we would be placed or why we wound up somewhere, but the directors tried their best to put us where they thought we would fit.

Why did you choose to volunteer and why Ecuador?

I chose to volunteer because after being fortunate enough to attend a university in the United States for 4 years, I wanted to give back in some way that had to do with international service. I’d done some volunteer work in Montevideo, Uruguay for a spring break my senior year and decided that I wanted to come back to South America. I was interested in WorldTeach, but the only program in South America that really interested me was Ecuador. I’d heard that their Spanish was very easy to understand and learn, and since I knew nothing about the country, I thought it would be a perfect way to learn and become an expert on it in my own way.

How easy is it to find volunteer teaching opportunities?

I’ve met a lot of people who volunteer is some way or another. You could literally visit a town while traveling and wind up staying as a volunteer for months. You probably won’t make money and will likely have to spend your own, but if you really want to do it you can. In bigger cities it might be easier to find jobs but in smaller towns it will be harder, but perhaps more worthwhile.

How did you get your visa to stay for 11 months?

WorldTeach arranged and took care of all of the visa applications. Aside from some things we had to do like signatures, our directors handled it all, which saved us a lot of hassle.

How much did WorldTeach Charge?

It costs around $5000, plus some other little expenses like the injections. There are cheaper WT programs, and this is one of the more expensive ones.

Are there many paid teaching jobs in Ecuador?

There are a lot of paid teaching jobs, but they don’t pay much. Generally, you make just enough to get by. In cities like Quito and Cuenca you might get a little more, but that is to match the cost of living. In other places, you get paid less but the cost of living is significantly less.

Is it possible for teachers to arrive without a work visa and look for a job?

I think it’s possible to show up in a city like Quito or Cuenca and find a job, but it will be time consuming and most likely involve a lot of work on your part. I have friends in Cuenca who just showed up and found jobs at institutes, but they had to get someone to vouch for them for a cultural visa, which can be difficult if you don’t know anyone. Other people started the search before coming down and had a job waiting for them. But getting the visa in the country can be hard if you’re not in Quito or Guayaquil. You will have to travel to those cities to take care of it.

What is the cost of living in Ecuador?

Cost of living depends on the city and region. I lived in Cuenca, which is one of the most expensive places in the country. Rent there could run from $70-220 on the higher end, depending on how many roommates you have. Things are generally cheaper on the coast–a big bowl of ceviche or encebollado (local dishes) could cost between 80 cents-$1.25. No matter where you are in the country, a lunch shouldn’t cost more than $2.50 or it’s a rip off. A liter of beer in a store could be 80 cents-$1.50, but in a bar could be more expensive. Living in Cuenca, I rarely spent more than $20 a night, and if I did was pretty upset. In other towns you might only need $5-10. But in Quito you need more, especially for taxis which cost more.

Did your school cover most of your expenses?

We got monthly stipends (when they paid us on time) which covered our rent for a host family and meals with the family. The remainder was ours to spend, but I never really had to dip into my own account unless I was traveling. The stipends depended on the site placement, but mine was $400 per month (though they originally only paid us $380 for about 6 months until we realized the problem). $200 had to go to our host families for food and housing, and the rest was ours.

How much savings should you plan on having to be able to volunteer for a year?

Save at least a couple thousand dollars as a back up, but as long as you live within your means, the monthly salaries should be enough to get you by.

What was the work like?

Everyone’s hours were different depending on their school, but we all worked no more than 20 hours a week and had vacations while receiving the stipend. I worked at a university, so I had mostly college aged kids, which was fun at times but also meant I had to deal with apathetic students who were tired and only took the course because they had to. So it was challenging in that I had to offer them something to bother caring about.

Did you have a lot of free time and holidays to explore the country?

I traveled a good amount on long weekends and vacations and saw a large portion of the country, as well as the Galapagos Islands. With our visa we were able to pay the Ecuadorian national price, saving us a lot of money. Transportation in the country can be difficult, so longer trips were usually saved for longer vacations.

Did your employer provide you with medical Insurance? If not, was it expensive?

WorldTeach provided us with Global Underwriters insurance, which was part of the fee for the program (the program fee was $4995 or so). Other things like Yellow Fever and Hepatitis shots, or Malaria pills were paid out of our pockets, at high prices.

Did you have computer and Internet access to blog and keep in touch with family?

My host family had an Internet connection so I was able to blog frequently, and the university had a computer lab also. But most families did not have Internet, and not all schools had it either. If that was the case, a volunteer would have to go to an Internet cafe when they had time. But the connections in Ecuador are generally slow and can be lost frequently.

Do you recommend volunteering and Ecuador for other English teachers?

I think volunteering was a good experience, though I know other people who went to Cuenca without paying for a volunteer agency and simply got a job. The same can be said in Quito. But if you want to get out of those cities and into smaller communities, volunteering is a better option. Ecuador is a great place to see some amazing cultures and diverse people. Though less traveled by tourists, it’s definitely worth spending time in.

What advice would you offer for others thinking of volunteering to teach English abroad?

I would recommend getting some experience at home, but not expecting a classroom overseas to be anything like that. I also suggest learning as much about a culture before you arrive–everything from history to etiquette at the dinner table, this way you can more easily assimilate into the society and truly learn about the place you’re in, rather than just scratching your head for 12 months and feeling like an outsider. Read books by local authors, watch the local news, and talk to people. Accept what they tell you, but ask other people for more information as well. Everyone has a different opinion in some way.
Links
Travel Guy Jon Brandt’s blog
La Vida Idealist Jon contributes to this blog about Latin America travel and volunteer opportunities
WorldTeach The organization that arranged Jon’s volunteer teaching experience
Teaching Jobs in Ecuador

Teach English in Japan, Interview with John Bardos

Long time Japan expat, English teacher, school owner and entrepreneur, John Bardos shares some of his experiences teaching English in Japan.

Teach English in Japan
Teach English in Japan

How long have you been teaching English in Japan?

I have been teaching here for over 12 years now. The first 2.5 were working for other companies and the last 10 years have been in my own English school.

How did you find your first teaching job?

I came to Japan without a visa or a job. When I arrived I started looking in the English language publications and found a couple of jobs within the first few weeks. I didn’t have a work visa to start so I worked illegally in a bar and at a small English school. At the same time I also was hired in another English school but I had to wait approximately two months for my visa application to be processed to start working legally.

How easy is it to find teaching jobs?

I found it very easy to find jobs, teaching and otherwise. There are always dozens of positions advertised online and in print publications so I don’t think there is ever a shortage of opportunities. However, to legally teach in Japan, you must have a university degree, be here on a work-holiday visa or be married to a Japanese national. Illegal jobs are available but they are not as plentiful as legitimate work and the quality of positions and employers tend to be much lower. One caveat to this, is that Asian looking teachers tend to have a more difficult time finding employment because of stereotypes of what an English teacher should look like. I would also say that blue-eyed, blonde, female teachers are also at an advantage.

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

As I said, a university degree is required unless you have a work-holiday visa, but other English training is not necessary. I think it helps. Anything that makes you stand out from other candidates is beneficial, but it is not required. In hindsight, I would recommend a reputable training program because you will gain a much better understanding of how to teach, but you don’t really need it to find a job. …

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