Teaching English as a Foreign Language for Dummies (54 page)

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Qualifications:
Degree, but TEFL certificate not always necessary.

Foreign Teachers are classified differently from Foreign Experts who must have an MA in a related field and teaching experience in higher education. This distinction applies mainly to university work.

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Salary:
Foreign Experts have half their salaries paid in a hard currency, approximately £1,000 per month and the rest in the local currency.

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Travelling:
China Eastern Airlines, China Airlines

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Visa:
You need a Z-visa before arriving, and this takes two months or more to obtain.

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Where to teach:
Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzho, Shenzhen. These cities are better paid but very crowded.

Italy

The north and south vary greatly in terms of pace of life. Life in the south follows a more leisurely Mediterranean pace but the north is faster and more efficient. People are very image conscious but hospitable. This is a beautiful country and a good place to start a career.

Appendix B: TEFL Locations around the World

357

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Accommodation:
£400 per month.

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Classes:
Many private schools run courses for adults but state schools ask for native speaker conversation classes. Students tend to be a bit rowdy but good natured.

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Contracts:
Contracts run from autumn to spring.

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Cost of living:
Slightly cheaper than the UK but eating out costs less.

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Qualifications:
Native speakers can find work without qualifications but not at the best schools.

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Salaries:
£900 per month or more

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Travelling
: Cheap airlines like Ryanair fly here.

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Visa:
EU citizens don’t need one.

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Where to teach:
Rome, Milan and tourist cities

Japan

The Japanese are still interested in old traditions. Japanese people follow rules so expect to conform. They are hospitable people but live a very high-speed lifestyle. They give more importance to body language than most English speakers and tend to be ambitious.

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Accommodation:
About 20 per cent of net salary.

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Classes:
Classes are varied and can include local primary schools or business people. The students’ focus is often on correctness, but most lessons are conversation based.

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Contracts:
Contracts run April to March with long teaching hours.

But you get a bonus on completion of contract and seven weeks paid holiday. Apply for the best jobs in your home country.

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Cost of living:
It’s possible to save if you don’t splurge on bars and entertainment.

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Qualifications:
A degree is needed for an instructor visa but you can find work without one while in Japan.

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Salaries:
£1,700 per month.

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Travelling:
Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, United Airlines.

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Visa:
You need a working visa and you can obtain a teaching licence through accredited schools.

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Where to teach:
Tokyo

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Teaching English as a Foreign Language For Dummies

Poland

The people are very keen to learn as English is important to get a good job.

The people can appear serious but they aren’t particularly.

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Accommodation:
Around £300 depending on the location.

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Classes:
Some schools use team teaching with a Polish teacher. Students are of all ages and the focus is on conversation.

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Contracts:
Contracts from September to June include 20 days paid holiday (some schools offer a free ski pass). You teach 23 hours a week on average. You get help with accommodation, Polish lessons and medical insurance.

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Cost of living:
The cost of living is low, about a quarter of UK costs.

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Qualifications:
Degree and TEFL certificate but no experience necessary.

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Salaries:
About £600 per month.

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Travelling:
British Airways, American Airlines, Polskie Linie Lotnicze (national carrier).

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Visa:
EU nationals preferred as no visa is required.

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Where to teach:
Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Gdansk and Poznan.

Russia

Russia is relatively safe but violent crime is on the increase. Winters are very harsh. There are still a high number of unscrupulous schools who pay late or not at all. The people are very open and there are scores of places of historical interest.

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Accommodation:
Affordable, but power cuts are frequent.

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Classes:
Business English is particularly in demand.

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Contracts:
You work 25 hours a week starting in September for 9 months to a year with 3 weeks paid holiday.

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Cost of living:
Reasonably cheap. Transport and accommodation are affordable but more so in the smaller towns.

Appendix B: TEFL Locations around the World

359

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Qualifications:
A degree and certificate are required in most cases.

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Salaries:
£300 per month and free accommodation or about £25 an hour for private lessons.

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Travelling:
Aeroflot, KLM and Russian Sibir Airines.

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Visa:
Employers should arrange a work permit before you arrive but most foreigners work illegally and may end up paying bribes.

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Where to teach:
Moscow and St Petersburgh.

Saudi Arabia

Male and female students and staff are segregated at universities. It is a Muslim country under Sharia law. Alcohol is banned, most jobs are for men and everything stops for prayers.The daytime temperature is very high, often, above 50 degrees.

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Accommodation:
This is quite expensive if you are independent from a company but the standard is high.

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Classes:
Classes have up to 30 students and classroom discipline can be quite hard. You have to follow a strict curriculum and use set materials.

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Contracts:
You work 5 to 6 days a week, 33 contact hours plus administrative time on a one or two year contract that includes help with accommodation, airfare and medical cover. You get 4 weeks paid holidays plus national holidays and an end-of-contract bonus

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Cost of living:
The general costs are the same as most European countries but imported food is quite expensive.

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Qualifications:
A degree plus a diploma or MA and two years experience.

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Salaries:
£1,500 a month tax free plus £550 housing allowance or free accommodation plus help with transport costs.

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Travelling:
Saudi Airlines

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Visa:
It isn’t possible to get a working visa without a job offer. Individuals from certain religious faiths are not eligible and you need to be over 22.

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Where to teach:
Jeddah and Riyadh.

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Teaching English as a Foreign Language For Dummies

South Korea

South Korea has a reputation for being quite safe. It’s a good place to save money and still enjoy a high standard of living. There is basically one race and one language. Many people are religious. Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism and Shamanism are the most common religions. Lots of students are interested in technology and pop music.

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Accommodation:
It is usually arranged for you but deposits are very high.

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Classes:
Most students are primary and secondary school age. On average there are ten students per class. The focus is on conversation.

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Contracts:
On average, you work 30 hours a week on a one-year contract. You get a bonus for completing the contract, along with help with airfare and medical cover. You get two weeks paid holiday per year plus public holidays.

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Cost of living:
Outgoings only amount to about 30 per centof your salary.

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Qualifications:
It’s best to have a degree. Some jobs are available to those without a TEFL certificate and inexperienced teachers too.

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Salary:
Approximately £1300 per month. Local currency is South Korean Won (KRW).

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Travelling:
Korean Air, Jeju Air.

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Visa:
A working visa is necessary.

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Where to teach:
Seoul and Busan.

Spain

The Spanish enjoy socialising, eating out and their old traditions.

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Accommodation:
You need to see the property before you rent as you may not be able to pull out if you change your mind.

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Classes:
All ages and an average of 12 per class.

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Contracts:
Thry run September through June, about 25 hours per week and 4 weeks paid holidays plus national holidays. Help offered with accommodation and an end-of-contract bonus.

Appendix B: TEFL Locations around the World

361

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Cost of living:
Not as good value as it used to be but living is cheaper in the south.

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Qualifications:
Degree plus certificate. Experienced teachers and Spanish speakers are favoured.

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Salaries:
£1,150 per month.

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Travelling:
There are low cost airlines like Easyjet and Ryanair.

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Visa:
Not necessary for EU nationals.

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Where to teach:
Big cities – Madrid and Barcelona – have the best opportunities.

Turkey

Turkey offers fascinating places to visit and a warm climate. Although a Muslim country there is a buzzing nightlife and people dress in Western clothes in the cities.

In the large cities TEFL teachers are seen as expendable because they often come and go.

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Accommodation:
It can be expensive unless you share (for about £400

per month in Istanbul).

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Classes:
Most students are adult professionals but children’s classes are common too. Ten students per class in private schools but as many as thirty in state schools. There is demand for private lessons.

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Contracts:
A one year includes two weeks paid holiday, help with accommodation, utility bills and medical insurance for about 25 hours per week.

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Cost of living:
Quite low but you can’t save much.

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Qualifications:
Some jobs available for unqualified native speakers but graduate, certificate holders preferred.

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Salary:
£11 per hour.

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Travelling:
Turkish Airlines, Easyjet, British Airways

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Visa:
Schools should pay for a work permit but some teachers work on a three month tourist visa.

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Where to teach:
Ankara, Istanbul, Bursa

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Teaching English as a Foreign Language For Dummies

Vietnam

Vietnam is influenced by China, France, Russia and USA so it had a fascinating culture. It is a beautiful country and over half of the population is under 35 years old. The food is good and there are many foreign restaurants.

Apparently the cities are very noisy and polluted but exciting.

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Accommodation:
Only people in certain areas are allowed to rent to foreigners.

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Classes:
School and university age students. They are motivated and respectful.

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Contracts:
Most positions are part-time in private schools (many teachers work for two schools). You work 20 hours per week during a 12-month contract with 20 days paid holidays plus national holidays off. You get a bonus on completion of your contract and help with heath insurance, flights and accommodation.

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Cost of living:
Food is cheap and there are options to suit every budget.

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Qualifications:
Degree and certificate.

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Salary:
$15 per hour.

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Travelling:
British Airways, Air France, KLM.

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Visa:
Convert a tourist visa to a working visa.

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Where to teach:
Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Hanoi.

Index

• A •

• B •

abbreviation, 296–297

backchaining, 173

ability, 250

Baker, Anne (
Ship or Sheep
), 342

abroad, working.
See also
job

bank account, 14

described, 11

battleships game, 289

job search, 45–46, 343

BBC show, 199

locations, 12, 355–362

BEC (Business English Certifi cates), 307

seasonal work, 11–12

beginner-level student, 50–51, 119

academic calendar, 12–13

Bell International (language school), 46

accent, 33, 199–200, 312

Berlitz (language school), 33

accredited course, 35, 40

bilingual children, 284