Post: #426

(09-07-2015 03:16 AM)Adrenaline Wrote:  Don't have time to read through 17 pages right now so just a quick question- What's the cheapest, reputable 120 hour TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certificate online? I don't need classroom teaching experience, just the basics. I've found a few in the 240-300 USD range which I assume are the top providers, but is there anything decent that's cheaper?

I'm afraid you will have to read through the 17 pages to get the pointers. The only way to get a decent job in the ESL field is to shell out the cash for the Cambridge CELTA, book a month off to do the full time course which will give you on the spot class room experience. I did it. It was the most intensive course I ever did but in the end, I came out the other side a better man. No regrets. The days of every man and his dog just turning up in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou etc. and grabbing the dream job off the street are well and truly over. You are going to have to put the work in.

Post: #427

^ He's right, save up and do the most recognized one.

Post: #428

I was advised that an online course to learn the ESL aspect of teaching would be sufficient, seem I already have a 4 year Education degree with countless hours of classroom experience. It's still a 120 hour course which is what most employers ask for.

Post: #429

(09-07-2015 04:14 AM)Adrenaline Wrote:  I was advised that an online course to learn the ESL aspect of teaching would be sufficient, seem I already have a 4 year Education degree with countless hours of classroom experience. It's still a 120 hour course which is what most employers ask for.

I think it would be better to do the full time one month course for the following reasons:

1) Get it over and done with asap. The part time online course takes 15 weeks to complete.

2) Doing the CELTA is not only a great way to refresh your already existing classroom teaching skills, but gives you added knowledge and a specific skill of teaching English in a classroom environment. On my course there were a number of fellow colleagues who already had a BA in Education but found CELTA to be invaluable as its approach was not only different but more intense. In short doing the CELTA equips you to teach English and covers areas that a BA in Education does not. Their words, not mine.

Post: #430

(09-07-2015 04:14 AM)Adrenaline Wrote:  I was advised that an online course to learn the ESL aspect of teaching would be sufficient, seem I already have a 4 year Education degree with countless hours of classroom experience. It's still a 120 hour course which is what most employers ask for.

Where are you planning to teach?

Post: #431

(09-07-2015 04:14 AM)Adrenaline Wrote:  I was advised that an online course to learn the ESL aspect of teaching would be sufficient, seem I already have a 4 year Education degree with countless hours of classroom experience. It's still a 120 hour course which is what most employers ask for.

Yes, it's required now for certain types of teaching visas.

I used TEFL247 and took their 140 course. It's fairly cheap. You could easily finish this course in two days if you really put your nose to the grindstone.

This will take care of your minimum visa requirements, which will open more avenues of employment.

If you are serious about teaching and want to be as competitive as possible, you might want to consider a non-online course or at least take a respected one, but generally this industry isn't about being a good teacher -- its more about surviving being a teacher.

Post: #432

For Korea and Taiwan: Just get any old shit TEFL qualification. It is NOT a visa requirement and they do NOT care about it. Get one for 10 pesos. Or just lie on your resume about working at a nursery or something. Unless you apply for EPIK!

For Thailand (Bangkok), get the CELTA. A) a TEFL qualification is a visa requirement. B) WAY Too many guys here looking for a job to support their bar girl 'Nok' and the house in Isaan before the locks get changed.

Also, to reiterate:

Don't believe all the negativity and backwards-rationalisation you see on places like Dave's ESL forum. Most of those guys complain all day that they can't find Fish n' Chips and the price of 'ladydrinks' is getting exorbitant (After 18 months here I still do not know what a 'ladydrink' even is)

There are still some very cushty ESL gigs in the TEFL industry if you have a CELTA, look handsome/clean and have the gift of the gab. If you're on this forum, you should have the two latter ones!

So choose where you wanna go, get the right credentials and try and out-do the stiff competition (Unfunctioning alcoholics and miserable farang women looking to 'find themselves')

Post: #433

(09-07-2015 11:33 AM)LeightonBlackstock Wrote:  After 18 months here I still do not know what a 'ladydrink' even is

I hear it's a tradition whereby you purchase an alcoholic beverage, but you feed it to a prostitute instead of drinking it yourself. Quite peculiar.

Post: #434

What's my job prospects in Medellin or another major city in Colombia as a college graduate with a BA in Economics and Philosophy but not teaching experience or qualifications? Could I find a job down there if I looked that pays a liveable wage?

Post: #435

(09-07-2015 12:40 PM)allanw Wrote:  What's my job prospects in Medellin or another major city in Colombia as a college graduate with a BA in Economics and Philosophy but not teaching experience or qualifications? Could I find a job down there if I looked that pays a liveable wage?

With a CELTA, yes. I had companies interested in me to go to Colombia. They did not hook me up with a work permit before arriving, however. You're not likely to get that. However, many people start out on a tourist visa then get the work visa later (if at all). I'd even recommend you go down there to take the CELTA. It's cheaper, and they can help you more to find a job in the area.

Post: #436

Another poster in the lifestyle thread said:

" So regarding moving abroad, I see comments saying English teachers are aimless, pathetic losers without a future."

Does this properly reflect the mainstream body of opinion on this forum? I'm in my mid40s, and thinking about moving to Russia to teach English, not so much to make money, but rather to learn the language and experience a totally different way of life. Call it a mid-life crisis, but as I'm not tied down to a wife or mortgage, it just seems to be an irresistible adventure.
I desperately need a change of scenery. Sure, I wont make a killing, but I just want to make enough not to have to tap into my savings/investments too much. Also, I would have thought that with the right skills and attitude, it could be possible for one to transition from English teaching to something more substantial. Any thoughts? I would greatly appreciate input from those of you with experience in Russia.

Post: #437

Try Russia - the Cyrillic is basically derived from the Greek alphabet which is related to the Latin one (I should know since the Cyrillic alphabet was after all created in my country - Bulgaria).

Of course, I am blessed when it comes to Russia(evil face) since Bulgarian and Russian are close but to a non-russian speaker from a Western country once you learn the Cyrillic you just need to watch lots of Russian movies with subtitles and you'd learn Russian in about 6 months as it's actually simpler compared to Bulgarian/Macedonian.

Post: #438

It can be done as a temporary gig to supplement your income while traveling, It's definitely not a full time profession I'd like to pursue when I'm in my 30's, 40's. It's basically a bottom of the barrel job unless you work in one of those international schools. I think taking the FSOT and joining the state department is much better, you'd be armed with diplomatic immunity and move within the higher social circles. The poster above me who has a background in law could definitely opt for this route.

Post: #439

In reply to "Pathetic losers without a future" and "A bottom of the barrel job"

Firstly, just to be clear. I'm not responding because I feel insulted/bitten or anything like that, I'm replying because I genuinely don't see where this comes from. In my experience it's inaccurate.

I often seen guys stuck in the Anglosphere attack those doing well overseas with crab mentality. Often they actually start off the conversation with attempts to put guys down who live out here. ("Oh your a teacher, I heard the money sucks, right?"). ("So when will you return to the real world?").

I've even had this from guys I've met on this very forum. This behaviour should be reserved for females.

If you like and want to live in a certain country, teaching there can be a far better option than making good money in the west and only being able to go there for two months every year. (It may even be better economically).

The truth is, I (an English teacher) live in a hi-so condo with a pool on the roof. I have all my visa stuff sorted. I earn the same as a Thai doctor (and probably more than a lot of digital nomads ironically). My job is piss easy and genuinely fun. I have pretty girls lining up. The weather's never cold. The food is good and cheap. When I go out I get bottle service. My stake in society is higher than middle-class. I have no debt, and I save about the same here as I did as a graduate engineer in England.

Will I do this into my forties? Through logic and experience, why wouldn't I? I like it.

Post: #440

(09-13-2015 07:03 AM)LeightonBlackstock Wrote:  In reply to "Pathetic losers without a future" and "A bottom of the barrel job"

Firstly, just to be clear. I'm not responding because I feel insulted/bitten or anything like that, I'm replying because I genuinely don't see where this comes from. In my experience it's inaccurate.

I often seen guys stuck in the Anglosphere attack those doing well overseas with crab mentality. Often they actually start off the conversation with attempts to put guys down who live out here. ("Oh your a teacher, I heard the money sucks, right?"). ("So when will you return to the real world?").

I've even had this from guys I've met on this very forum. This behaviour should be reserved for females.

If you like and want to live in a certain country, teaching there can be a far better option than making good money in the west and only being able to go there for two months every year. (It may even be better economically).

The truth is, I (an English teacher) live in a hi-so condo with a pool on the roof. I have all my visa stuff sorted. I earn the same as a Thai doctor (and probably more than a lot of digital nomads ironically). My job is piss easy and genuinely fun. I have pretty girls lining up. The weather's never cold. The food is good and cheap. When I go out I get bottle service. My stake in society is higher than middle-class. I have no debt, and I save about the same here as I did as a graduate engineer in England.

Will I do this into my forties? Through logic and experience, why wouldn't I? I like it.

If you plan to remain as a bachelor for life then its not that bad. However English teachers in Bangkok make around $1000-1500 on average.
If you happened to get married in the near future, can you support a family on this income? Send your kid to an international school? A decent international school will set you back at least 10 grand a year. Can you rent a 3br apartment in a decent neighborhood? Joining the state department is a much better option. The tuition of your kids will be covered by the government, you'll earn at least 6-7k $ a month after taxes, you'll be in contact with people who hold position of power. Maintaining an upper-middle class lifestyle in Bangkok with an income of $1000-1500, or even $2000 is impossible. Wages in Bangkok for locals aren't that low, the thai driver of the Turkish Ambassador in Bangkok earns 60k baht tax free.

Come to think of it, Bangkok is a city filled with many rich people. There are 2 Lamborghini dealers. I've met so many rich people in Bangkok you'd be amazed. And it's not that cheap either, if you want a nice hi-so condo for 15-20k baht you're gonna have to settle for a studio, there is no way you can rent a decent 2 bedroom condo in a nice part of the city for less than 45k. It's an amazing city I'd like to live in, but I don't see myself as a bachelor when I'm in my 40's so being an English teacher wont cut it for me.

Post: #441

Too many of us are caught up in our day-to-day life and don't realize that salaries in the West are too low. People are graduating college into jobs that pay 4,000 a month pre-tax, and 3k after tax. Then when you have rent costs going through the roof, the payment for your 3-series, food and booze, you're left with nothing at the end of the month. That and the job probably sucks and the only time you have for gaming is using Tinder.

Also, you're tied down to the 80,000 in student loans you owe, so you're stuck here.

Even if I made 2,000 a month in Bangkok, it would be comparable to making 8,000 a month in the US in a city of Bangkok's caliber. Plus it's easy as hell to get laid in Bangkok and the competition is non-existent.

Post: #442

(09-13-2015 10:31 AM)elcidcampeador Wrote:  Too many of us are caught up in our day-to-day life and don't realize that salaries in the West are too low. People are graduating college into jobs that pay 4,000 a month pre-tax, and 3k after tax. Then when you have rent costs going through the roof, the payment for your 3-series, food and booze, you're left with nothing at the end of the month. That and the job probably sucks and the only time you have for gaming is using Tinder.

Also, you're tied down to the 80,000 in student loans you owe, so you're stuck here.

Even if I made 2,000 a month in Bangkok, it would be comparable to making 8,000 a month in the US in a city of Bangkok's caliber. Plus it's easy as hell to get laid in Bangkok and the competition is non-existent.

You're totally right about the situation in the west. But it seems to me you think earning 2,000 usd in Bangkok as a English teacher is easy, trust me its not. The country is filled with English teachers, the salaries start from 1k. You'll definitely lead a decent lifestyle on 2k as a bachelor, but only as a bachelor. But if you manage to lock down some hi-so girl whose dad is worth a fortune, then the tide might change in your favor

Post: #443

I agree, I wouldn't be able to support sending a child to an expensive International school on this wage, but it strikes me as a bit of an outlier situation.

Firstly, the middle-class here do not send their children to international schools, that's reserved for the rich upper-class. Your example could carry over to the UK. It would take a hell of a lot of money before I'd be able to send my child to a top British private school. My previous career path in Civil Engineering, would likely never give me that salary. So I dunno how relevant that is.

Just to clarify, I'm not suggesting being an English teacher will give you a middle-class status back in the UK, but in Thailand, it absolutely will if you get the right gig. And it probably would support raising a child in a middle-class setting, since middle-class Thai's do it on considerably less.

Also, yes of course, there are a hundred better ways to make money (as with many jobs), but I'm not going to allow the fallacy to be spread that being a teacher will give you an uncomfortable life here where the locals look down on you. It just isn't true (here and in Taiwan).

After three years of experience, I can confirm the vast majority of Asian people do not look down on English teachers (simply because they usually out-earn them)

My co-workers rent a two bedroom apartment in a decent neighbourhood (50sqm, pool and fitness) for 14K. Another one rents a three bedrom house for 11K. These are places which are either on, or are a short-motorycle ride from the BTS. If you go into the suburbs? you can get a three bedroom house for 10K a month. Go a bit outside of Bangkok? you can get something very comfortable.

Middle-class wages in Bangkok are low. I've taught hundreds of middle to upper-class adults here now. Here are some of their wages:

Fresh Chula. law graduate - 15K
Medical Equipment salesman - 15K
Chartered Chemical Engineer - 30K
Eletrical Engineer (non-chartered) -20K
Experienced office worker - 20-25K
Hotel receptionist (fluent English) - 20K
Doctor (public) - 35K (private) - 45K
Sales Consultant in my company - ~20K to 50K (3 days off a month and 12-hour long days)

Even on Friday night. I asked a girl if a middle-class wage was 30K. She said "No! .... not that high" (During the pause I expected her to say the opposite haha)

So to summarise, English teaching will give one a middle-class lifestyle in SEA and probably in many other 'non-first-world' countries. If you want that lifestyle, why not just 'cheat' and move abroad?

For raising a child? I'd say it's doable, but I don't have too much dog in that fight to be honest. Maybe it isn't enough. I'm on this forum because the wife and kids/mortgage aren't my goal in life. (That's not intended snarkily, just I would think a wife and kids doesn't apply to most here). Without a family, it's a nice life for sure.

My reason for replying is to give raw information so people can decide if teaching in Asia is something that would suit them.

If it's not, fair enough, but let's give accurate, balanced information. 90% of ESL threads make it sound like English teachers live under a bridge and have the staus of a migrant woker from Pakistan.

Truth is, I know no one back in the West with (what would translate to be) the baller setup I currently have.

EDIT: All this is based on my salary of ~60K a month. I could recommend a minimum salary needed for fun but forum member 'bacon' has a hundred times the fun/stories I do and he's on a different salary to mine.

Post: #444

Teachers are actually held in quite high regard in Asia, it's a respected profession. It's nice to see that you're doing well. But my honest opinion is that people especially in this forum should aim higher, a degree in civil engineering will help you maintain an upper middle class lifestyle in most countries. There were a lot of so called English teachers in Thailand who didn't even hold a university degree, that's why usually fellow expats look eddown on them. But now the rules got tighter and you're not allowed to teach without a bachelors.

Post: #445

Apologies, I only just saw your edit:

"if you want a nice hi-so condo for 15-20k baht you're gonna have to settle for a studio, there is no way you can rent a decent 2 bedroom condo in a nice part of the city for less than 45k"

This quote is utter nonsense. I don't profess to be stating fact with ESL stuff as it's subjective, but this is complete nonsense. You have no idea about Bangkok at all. 45K?! If it's next to Nung Len, then sure. But that's for the top 1% of earners in Bangkok.

I live in a 37sqm one-bedroom with a pool on the roof. It's literally RIGHT NEXT to the BTS. 13K a month.

As stated above, my co-workers live in a two-bed, 50sqm apartment which is a 20 baht motorcycle ride from the same BTS station, 14K.

You said in another thread that "Nearly all cabbies I came across refused to open the meter". For me it's the exact, equal opposite.

If you just came here for a short holiday then please don't spread inacurrate information.

Post: #446

(09-13-2015 02:37 PM)LeightonBlackstock Wrote:  Apologies, I only just saw your edit:

"if you want a nice hi-so condo for 15-20k baht you're gonna have to settle for a studio, there is no way you can rent a decent 2 bedroom condo in a nice part of the city for less than 45k"

This quote is utter nonsense. I don't profess to be stating fact with ESL stuff as it's subjective, but this is complete nonsense. You have no idea about Bangkok at all. I can underatand 20K. Maybe even 25K of it's literally ON Thong lor. But 45K?! what are you talking about?!

I live in a 37sqm one-bedroom with a pool on the roof. It's literally RIGHT NEXT to the BTS. 13K a month.

As stated above, my co-workers live in a two-bed, 20 baht.motorcycle ride from the same.BTS station, 14K

Your quote is utter nonsense!

I'm not going to call your quote utter nonsense, instead I'll back it up with facts.

I said 45k for a 2 bedroom apartment, in a decent part of town. On average you'd expect a 2 bedroom condo to be around 80-90 sqm. By decent I mean a central aircondition system, proper lobby, relatively new building (<10 years old). BTW pool is not a luxury in Bangkok, its pretty much a given in a nice part of town.

http://www.hipflat.co.th/en/For-Rent-2-B...H-ZLLIPUOE

http://www.hipflat.co.th/en/For-Rent-2-B...H-ZRRXJJGI

http://www.hipflat.co.th/en/For-Rent-2-B...H-KXMYFJZX

http://www.hipflat.co.th/en/For-Rent-2-B...H-JCZUYKKS

http://www.hipflat.co.th/en/For-Rent-2-B...H-HQATMHYI

You can't gauge the Bangkok real estate market by looking at the places where ESL teachers live. Fact is average sqm rental in Bangkok is 585 baht, times that by 85 and you get 50,000 baht, which basically means a 2 bedroom apartment.

Average sqm sale price in a good part of bangkok is 3000 usd, this is actually quite expensive. Coming here and saying you can rent a 2br apartment in a nice part of town for 500-600$? I'm sorry mate, but thats not the case.

Post: #447

Fair enough, but that is the top one percentile of Bangkokians.

I fully understand if you have higher standards than I do. But I'm judging this by where the population of Bangkok live, in terms of raw data. Not where retirees from the West and the super-rich live.

You've merely provided a few links of places you like, rather than giving accurate information.

I teach middle/upper class Thai students. 99% of them shriek when I say I pay 13K a month.

We have different lifestyles for sure. But all I'm asking here is we be accurate to what constitutes middle-class lifestyle in Bangkok. With 18 months of time spent here, I feel am being very accurate indeed.

As with the condo for 500-600 dollars I'm not going to say it a third time haha.

Post: #448

I don't know if its the 1% or 5% but to me Bangkok is mad expensive, especially locations near the BTS. I've been in Bangkok 5 times in the last 2 years, fell in love with this wonderful city, but the real estate prices are insane. A decent apartment that can house 4 people will set you back at least $200-250k. It's not like I want a pool or anything, just a decent location would do it.

http://www.hipflat.co.th/en/search/sale/...2_z/list_v

According to this site sqm price is 100k, this is more or less on par with my experience. So a 80sqm condo is 8 million baht, thats crazy. Yes bangkok is a cheap place to party, but definitely not a cheap place to rent or buy real estate.

I don't have high standards at all really, I don't want to come off as a snob here. I don't need a pool or anything, air condition, and a nice location that is within a 20 minute BTS ride to Siam,Nana,Silom would do it for me.

Post: #449

I know there are places you can rent for 3000-4000-5000 baht in the outskirts of the city near the suvarbhumi airport. Once I went to one of those places to visit my TF girl, it was a gated community but there were literally no Farangs living there. It is actually a good thing that there are no farangs but the place had plenty of cons, you basically needed a car if you wanted to get to the central part of the city, the nearest BTS station was a 20 min cab ride away.

Post: #450

How about non native speakers? Do you have to have an American, British, Australian, etc. passport to land a good job in Asia or do they only care about your degree/certification? I noticed that many people in Asia don't even know if someone is American or not by listening to his English. People kept mistaking me with Americans or Australians even though I don't sound like them at all.