Help Me Decide: Thailand, Nicaragua, Japan, Costa Rica, Bali

Np. Doesn't really seem like babbling to me.

I just want to be honest about my situation. I don't want come on and bs a bunch of people so i get myself into a bs situation. So considering my situation, what would you guys say the baseline teaching requirement for lets say.some place like Thailand?

It was mentioned earlier, you need to have some form of TEFL certification to get a work visa. I was originally under the impression that you didn't HAVE to have one, you just had to be cool with a pay cut; up to 1/3 of 1/4. I lived like I was in a was in 3rd world country for most college and when I was in Vietnam, I ate street food and slept on roll out matt on the floor. I figured people who were complaining about the pay cut were just used to their western lifestyle.

And I really saw the certification as having nothing to do with with teaching. It seemed like it was just an accreditation to get paid more. I figured if i could get by on less money than most people then why bother with it.

So here I am, a simple man with simple dreams. I don't need much, just a foot in the door really. What would you guys say is the minimum requirement and how effective is it in getting a job? Would this requirement work in all the countries I have listed? Is it definitely worth it?

Oh yeah, are there any official price tags on these certifications? It seems suspiciously difficult to track down what the costs are. I keep hearing 1,000-2,500.

It was mentioned earlier, you need to have some form of TEFL certification to get a work visa. I was originally under the impression that you didn't HAVE to have one, you just had to be cool with a pay cut;

Every country is different. Indonesia and Thailand, for example, require a good 100-120 hour TEFL certification. That is a requirement for obtaining your working papers - not an option.

Technically even China requires a TEFL cert - but schools have ways of getting around the requirement. You need to inquire about specific requirements for specific countries to get an accurate answer.

Many times, when an employer requires a TEFL cert, it is because it is legally required, not necessarily because they want you to have one.

are there any official price tags on these certifications? It seems suspiciously difficult to track down what the costs are. I keep hearing 1,000-2,500.

Prices are specific to countries, even locations and by type of program. So, yes, you will see wide variation in prices. It is not suspicious, it just depends on where and sometimes even when.

CELTA requires a hefty royalty payment back from the franchisee, so their prices will almost always be highest. Some countries like Thailand are known for lower prices due to the high level of competition for such programs in the country (due to the large demand as a certification is required by the MOE for your teaching license).

Take a CELTA in London, you'll be paying on the high end of what you suggested or even more. Take a generic TEFL course in Krabi, Thailand and you'll be paying on the low end.

And I really saw the certification as having nothing to do with with teaching. It seemed like it was just an accreditation to get paid more

It has a LOT to do with teaching. Even the most basic of TEFL training programs will have some pretty specific and important ideas about teaching methodology that will make a huge difference in the quality of what you deliver to your students.

Untrained teachers often think TEFL is about them talking to the students and telling them about English, when - in fact - it needs to be about the students learning to talk and the less a teacher talks, usually the better.

With a trained teacher, there is a very big difference in method and in results - in my opinion and experience.

I would go to Nicaragua or Indonesia. Not Bali, too expensive and touristy. Go to Java instead. An island also in Indonesia. I think it should be possible to get an English teaching job there. If you live like a local you could make your 4000 dollars last a year for sure, without working. However you'd have to live like a local...

Where did he say $4,000? Did i miss something? Over a year that's $350/month. Half of that would go to an apartment and basic bills (no internet as he's "living local") That leaves $6/day. Assuming he eats for $1/meal, that leaves $3/day for ALL other expenses and emergencies. Possible? Perhaps. But it would be nothing more than sustaining life. Locals go to work/school, go home and watch tv. OP would pretty much have to stay at home and stare at the wall (can't afford cable or internet remember)

Live like a local. That's funny. So he should bring all his family members to live in his house until they are married. Even then, the newlyweds will likely live with them to cut down on costs. He should never eat out or explore the area. He should fill his time with "watching tv" which seems to be the national sport. He should never take a taxi. He should have a diet mainly consisting of rice.

Sadly, as he won't speak Bahasa or Indonesian or Malay or any other regional language it'll be hard to bargain. And just looking like a foreigner automatically means higher prices. Considering he plans on selling pictures and articles, he'd need internet thus blowing the budget and the whole "living local" thing.

Obviously I'm not going to be living exactly like a local. The goal is to stack up some money, head over to another country, find a job and just try to use that plus my savings to support myself.

The photography thing has to do with beefing up my journalistic portfolio, and pure pleasure. It has nothing to do with making money while abroad. Figuring out if the pictures are worth anything will be decided upon when (if) I get back.

The plan would be to live considerably better than most locals (pertaining to the standard set above), yet worse than most tourists. The average american stays on a resort and doesn't even leave the property. That is obviously out of the question. I'm thinking like tiny one bedroom with AC and internet connection. That is pretty much the extent of my luxury. I also would be eating out but not at nice restaurants.

I

zzark, what do you think the price difference would be as far as getting certified in the states versus Thailand?

StrifeAnderson wrote:
>what do you think the price difference would be as far as getting certified in the states versus Thailand?

Probably close to a thousand dollars, but I don't really know. There are some other issues at hand more important than price though.

In my opinion is usually best to take such a course in the country where you first intend to teach. For lots of reasons. First some practical aspects. It gives you an opportunity to acclimate to the culture. You can job hunt while you are in school. A good TEFL school will often have people coming by looking for teachers to hire. Good schools will also know the best places to find work and even where NOT to work - the lousy employers that you should avoid (just as important!). These are things the newbie just off the plane won't know.

There is another important issue and that is doing your observed teaching practice with the population that you will first teach. I've taught full time in four countries and a bit in a couple others - and every country has some idiosyncratic things that it will be difficult for the first time teacher to deal with. I am a reasonably well trained teacher, but it still takes me a bit of time to get up to speed in each country. Pronunciation issues, grammar issues, L1 interfering with L2, even behavioral issues. Things that a new teacher can get a handle on while they are in training - rather than trying to solve when actually on their first job.

These are all issues a good TEFL school will address and you will, while doing your observed teaching practice, get an opportunity to work on them while someone with lots of experience observes you and gives you some guidance after the class.

All that just to say - you will be a far better prepared teacher your first day on the job, if you have a bit of experience in that country, with those students and those specific language issues.

Just my opinion. And - sorry - that was not really what you asked! I am just avoiding some work right now and, well, you know.

The goal is to stack up some money, head over to another country, find a job and just try to use that plus my savings to support myself.

If the goal is to spend 3 months or so traveling in a country to get increase your photo portfolio you will quickly find that having a job will strictly limit the time that you have to pursue photo opportunities. You will be working. You will get up every morning, shower, eat breakfast and go to work. You will have some time off, perhaps weekends and holidays, to do laundry, shopping etc.

Living overseas means just that. It isn't the same as traveling. You can put up with a couple of nights in a sleeping bag on the floor and street food for traveling but most people aren't willing to do this for long once they settle on a place.

Personally, I think if your goal is to do more for your photography career, find a couple of jobs in the US, make as much money as you possibly can and then take off for two months traveling throughout one of these countries and get your photos and see what happens.

ESL teachers who aren't committed to making this a career rarely make enough money to use this to move to the next location and in many cases, don't make much more than survival or funding their trip home overland.

Where people make money is getting the training, getting the long term experience, making the commitment to stay for a year or more likely two years, getting the higher paid jobs teaching at the university, etc. You won't get there without some trade off and that trade off will be less time to do your photography.

If your ESL goals are not long term, then the idea of teaching makes little sense. IF they are long term, then you may find that your photography time gets pinched by the time teaching. If you think that you potentially have what it takes to make a career in photography, then ESL training for the short time makes little sense. If you think that ESL is a long term option and photography will be a way to get some fulfillment and to supplement your income long term, then do it right - get the ESL training and make the one year commitments. I suspect that you will discover that the photo opportunities living someplace more than 3 months will be very different. Three months barely lets you scratch the surface of a country and certainly doesn't really let you understand a country.

Have you talked or corresponded with other people who are making a career with photography? You might want to do this to get some ideas. Try Losang who hangs on the NEAsia branch. Check out his website: Land of Snows and his blog: Life on the Tibetan Plateau

Ruth

Anyone been to Japan, Thailand, Costa Rica, Nicaragua or Bali?

I've been to all of these places. As you have noted, each has their pros and cons. Japan is the most expensive, but IMHO, the most incredible. If you are a photographer, this is the place for you. Amazing. I am not up on the teaching end anymore, as I decided not to go that route, but I do have friends who teach there. As with everywhere, you have to be careful with scams. China seems the worst place for that right now. Another option is S. Korea. Lots of demand there. Cheaper than Japan, but still has a great Asian feel to it. Something that is disappearing in many other Asian countries....

Nicaragua was OK...but I would not want to live there. Bali is OK, but IMHO, best as a vacation spot. But it is for sure really beautiful. I would think getting a teaching job there would be tough. But you can find cheap places to rent.

CR is beautiful, but IMHO, too expensive for what you get. And too many Americans and Canadians. I am an American.

Thailand is quite cheap and has lots of options for teaching. I live there now. They have a new initiative to make English their second language. It hasn't kicked off yet, but it's in the press...which means a huge demand for English teachers. Lots of schools here to get your certificate. And as a single guy, a great place to be...

Tough choice! All are great except Nicaragua. You should also research the visa issues. That could come into play for sure...I know here in Thailand, it's getting harder and harder all the time....but you can for sure get a student visa easily. And some of the schools are right next to the beach!