ESL Jobs: When To Go Where? (Part 2)
In Part 1, I provided you with some general timelines of when you should apply for jobs in certain countries in Asia . In Part 2, I am offering some complimentary advice on two more things you should be aware of when searching for a job in Asia . Again, please feel free to comment on anything you read, whether it is to provide further advice based on your experiences or if you have found this article to be of any help to you. International Schools: These schools can be a good option for qualified teachers or someone with a Bachelor’s of Education. But don’t judge a book by its cover. These schools are sometimes nothing more than glorified private academies. Although International schools pay higher salaries on average than most private academies and boast prestige because of their “international” staff, they also require longer hours and more work that is often times incommensurate with their salaries. International schools can be affiliated with Universities as well as government-run programs, but this is not always the case. Bottom line, do your research and don’t assume from the title of the school that you will be working for a reputable company. In terms of the best times to teach at one of these institutions, their semesters follow the same pattern as most Universities. January and September are the months when most new teachers are hired. That means teachers should apply at least a month before, in December and August.
Countries: Every country in Asia has at least a few International schools. If you are interested in working for them, try directly contacting someone at the school if possible. Don’t rely on what a recruiter has to say.
Calendars: If you were planning on teaching in Asia , it would be wise to consult a lunar calendar as most holidays that affect ESL hiring dates are based upon it. It’s a good idea to always check out a local calendar of the country in which you intend to teach for special events and festivals. All of them are available from government and tourist homepages.
If Asia is not the place for you, please stay in touch in the coming weeks as we will also be covering the best times to teach in Europe and South America .
Posted by ESL Daily at 2/12/2008 
Categories: 2008, Universities, Money, China, International Schools, Vietnam, Visa, ASIA, salary, Government, Thailand, Finding ESL employment, Immigration, Taiwan, Spencer McCall, esl reform
Categories: 2008, Universities, Money, China, International Schools, Vietnam, Visa, ASIA, salary, Government, Thailand, Finding ESL employment, Immigration, Taiwan, Spencer McCall, esl reform
It is nice to see someone tell the truth about these fly by night wanna be school. Some are abusive and don't pay.
Canadian schools are #1 best.
Reply to this
Baloney. American schools are by far the most stable and academically rich.
You better check the record.
Reply to this
My objection to your article is this: you only talk about one option for esl teachers (International Schools). There is also the public school system (high school, middle school and elementary school) and the private academies (Hagwons in South Korea). I have had experience at both a hagwon and a public elementary school. The base salary for both is similar, but more holidays with the public schools. Also the public school are very reputable especially if you make your contract with the board of education and not a specific school. Hagwons require more research on your part. Never ever go to a school that is just "starting up" they will not be organized, probably have no lesson curriculum or material and they might not have the funds to pay you. Also if you plan on going to South Korea I wouldn't recommend working at one of the largest franchises called "Wonderland". I have yet to hear anything positive from teachers who have worked there. It would also be a good idea to e-mail a teacher at the hagwon you plan to attend and ask them their opinion of the school and if it is reputable. If the school and/or recruiter won't give you a techer's e-mail to contact them then it is probably not a good school to make a contract with.
Reply to this
Did you read part one of the article?
The author of this article has been working in Korea for over two years (Hogwons).
You must understand that the author wrote the article a few months ago and due to changes in the immigration procedures and the increase in demand, teacher's salaries have gone up. Yes, part two of the article is primarily focused on international schools, however, I think you should read part one of the article.
Reply to this