Spendthrift's Guide to Teaching ESL Abroad. Benjamin Jelen

as demand for training increases. Soon everyone in the industry is moving, or at least talking about the new location. It can be tempting to jump countries in a heartbeat. Be aware though, just like in the economy, bubbles tend to “pop” which can significantly change your job prospects and your balance sheet overnight.

      Bubbles are also one reason to always be aware of the big picture and hedge your bets. Never keep too much of any one type of currency.

       Sidebar: On Bubbles and Economics- Japan, Korea, and Dubai

       The three biggest “bubbles” in the ESL industry in the past twenty years have been Japan, Korea, and Dubai (in that order.) These roughly correspond to economic conditions in the world abroad. For Japan, interest in English was at an all-time high in the 80’s and 90’s; schools where opening up on every block and many large corporations teaching English to students, and professionals were making millions; then came the Asian Financial Crisis. Quickly, consumer demand pulled back and teachers were suddenly let go. The most notable of these was NOVA; who cut several hundreds if not thousands of teachers off and never paid them for their last two months of work due to bankruptcy. Today, it is much more difficult (though still comparatively easy compared to other areas of the world) to find work in English Teaching in Japan. During the “boom” pretty much any native speaker could get a job.

       Korea was a similar story. It weathered the Asian Financial crisis slightly better than Japan. Its “boom” began in 1998 and continued well into 2007. Today, South Korea still has a vibrant teaching industry, however it’s “bust” came in 2007. Nearly overnight, South Korea’s currency (the “won”- pronounced ‘wahn’) lost close to 30% of its value within a week. I was caught in this crisis and felt the pain of my 40,000 dollars in rainy day savings quickly becoming much, much less.

       In 2010, Dubai experienced a similar phenomenon which extended to many industries (Dubai’s population is composed of between 80-90% foreigners.) The sky-rocketing cost of living and declining currency value sent many expatriates fleeing for the exits; literally. The government spent weeks cleaning up leased luxury cars that we just “abandoned” at the airport.

       The moral of the story- Bubbles are good, while they last, but never turn your back on a good thing!

      For the budget savvy novice, Asia is probably your best bet if you are strapped for cash. It is really hard to beat a South Korean contract for the first go around teaching abroad. The currency is still moderately valued; the cost of living is low. Employers typically provide airfare, and a furnished apartment. Medical care is readily available and cheap, and in many cases provided by your employers. South Korea has a good standard of living, and a vibrant community of foreigners to “show you the ropes”. Most other contracts available to beginners even hold a candle to these benefits.

      The next best bet economically is probably Taiwan. It has a similar foreigner culture compared with Korea, is moderately warmer, and still cheap. The standard of living here is a bit lower than South Korea, and you can expect to pay airfare and accommodations for most contracts. The plus side? Taiwan is semi-tropical, with lots of nice beaches!

      Japan comes in a distant third financially. Don’t be persuaded by potentially high yen exchange rates. If you are going alone, remember that costs are astronomically high in Japan! This applies to food, electricity, transportation, you name it! To illustrate this point 50,000 dollars a year is considered “minimum wage” in Japan. There are ways to save for sure, but Japan is better left to working couples, or being put off until you can get a contract that pays enough to offset the high cost of living. Japan also has a bit more of an isolated foreigner community and is a poor starting choice from a social perspective.

      Of course, finances are only one part of the overall picture, but they are important to consider when you are just starting out!

       Professional Goals

      The next question you should consider seriously is “Why do I want to teach English?” Equally important are the questions “What do I expect to get out of my experience?” and “Where do I want my career to take me?”

      If you are just starting out, any experience may well fit the bill. However, if you have your sights set on becoming a University Professor, or a business trainer, you should try to accumulate experience that will lead you to that goal now. Almost all experience in ESL is learned on the job; much of it by serendipity or accident at the beginning. There are entry level positions in each sector (General, EAP, and ESP), so taking a less than desirable job that gets you closer to your key goal or demographic may be worth considering. It may even be worth considering taking a less than desirable location or salary to get the experience you want more quickly.

      If you are thinking of ESL as a career for more than 2 years, then you should approach it from the perspective of “the long con” (no you don’t need to actually ‘con’ people!) You should however, approach every job in terms of the experience it has to add to your resume. If you want to teach in Universities, then there is no point in starting in a school that only has General English classes, unless this is your only option. You want an opportunity to develop key skills, for the future. Think about these things as you begin to navigate the job search boards! Don’t be persuaded to accept a job which doesn’t get you where you want to go!

       Personal Psychology

      Thinking about your personality can be difficult, because we most often distort our own perceptions of ourselves. Maybe it’s a good idea to talk with friends to get a better perspective on the questions in this section. Knowing what type of person you are and what “makes you tick” can pay dividends in regards to your experience on the ground in a foreign country. Ultimately, you should strive to pick a country which suits you personally. Foreign environments often play strange tricks on you, so have an idea of who you are

      1.) How would I react if no one around me spoke or understood English?

      2.) What would I do if I had virtually no friends around me?

      3.) How would I react to strangers staring at me in a hostile or creepy way?

      4.) What would I do if I felt that my safety was in danger?

      5.) How would I react to not fitting in?

      6.) What would happen if a group of strangers started laughing at me in public? How would I react?

      These questions can seem a little creepy, or depressing. These are extreme examples of situations you might be placed in while living in some foreign countries.

      Most likely, it is hard to tell how you would react before being in this situation. However, if any of these really (and I mean REALLY) bother you, then that should shape the type of assignment that you look for. Answering these questions and having friends answer them is also a great first step to preparing yourself for potential unexpected situations that you might encounter abroad- in public, or in the classroom.

       Opportunity

      The most practical aspect that may affect your choice of a job is opportunity, and your current situation. This is easy to apply to almost any situation by answering the following questions.

      1. Do I have the necessary startup funds?

      2. Are there available opportunities in the country I am going to?

      3. Do my qualifications meet the visa requirements and those of employers?

      4. How soon do I need to leave? Is there time to get the visa paperwork completed and make all arrangements?

      5. Is it the season for hiring in this location?

      6. How soon do I need to start making income?

      7. Can I get legal permission to work in the location I am interested in?

      By answering these questions, the decision of balancing lifestyle, personality, psychology, finances, and education quickly becomes easier. These are pragmatic questions that can help you decide on virtually any job or contract.