Search found 3 matches

by seouljaboi
Sun Dec 13, 2020 10:58 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Is it too late to begin?
Replies: 11
Views: 10988

Re: Response

PsyGuy wrote:
> @seouljaboi
>
> Oky, thats not going to fly, what happens when the kid is sick, or doctor
> appointment or meetings or anyone of the dozen things that young kids need,
> but okay you have that taken care of and assuming its not an issue with
> leadership.
>
> First, you need a really big IS because your both essentially competing
> against each other so you need two primary positions that an IS is willing
> to give to two noobs. Big ISs are either top tier ISs or bottom tier
> bilingual ISs. You have no experience that matters so that means the bottom
> tier ISs
>
> Second, your spouse isnt a NES, and even if they were she doesnt look the
> part. An IS might make that deal with a spouse to make a contract with an
> IT they really want but not a noob primary IT.
>
> Third, your making about USD$60K thats USD$30K each which is below the IE
> global average, youre not average but China pays well but for step 0 with a
> bachelors you should be able to meet the salary requirement, and with an
> OSH package youll essentially be saving what you are now on housing, though
> an IS isnt going to give you a 3LDK and if you get a housing allowance you
> might have to go into pocket to cover what you have now. So yes you could
> live off one of your salaries and save the rest which is double what you
> are saving now. This assumes, and its a major variable that an IS wants
> your spouse.
>
> Fourth, your going to need to be where you want to settle at in your 50s.
> You dont have much time and your competing against each other which is
> much more difficult scenario to find at an upper tier IS.
>
> Fifth, Youre not going to find much of a retirement option in China until
> you at an upper tier ISs, and you dont have a lot of time to get there.
>
> I wouldnt do Teach Now, thats a lot of coin to spend and resources to find
> out if anybody wants you. You would be better off looking at the MA
> Provisional credential which is a couple exams and even with travel a
> fraction of what youd pay for Teach Now. Youd be better off spending that
> coin on a Masters in Ed.Ld at a Uni like Portsmouth and then spinning your
> ESOL experience into a leadership position. For that matter youd be better
> off spending that coin on a Masters at UPe, meanwhile working in IE as soon
> as you can.


Thanks for the response.

A couple of the things you said took me a bit by surprise.

First, that we would be competing against each other. That's concerning as all I've heard so far is that being a teaching couple is a bonus when applying for positions as schools will save on housing. This is a new point of view that's worth pondering/more research.

2nd, my wife not being a NES. It's true, technically, but attended international schools outside of Korea from the 2nd grade until she graduated highschool. English is in fact her best language. But schools might not care much about that.

3rd, your concern about childcare. Are there no teaching couples with children? There are loads of households with both parents working, not sure how this is different.
Hopefully having a nannie is financially doable.

I appreciate your perspective. Gives me a lot to think about
by seouljaboi
Sun Dec 13, 2020 9:32 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Is it too late to begin?
Replies: 11
Views: 10988

Re: Inquiry

PsyGuy wrote:
> Who is going to take care of your newborn if both of you are working?
> Thats what recruiters are going to be concerned about which really means
> its just one of you teaching meaning your a forty plus noob primary IT with
> a trailing spouse and a child.

If we stay in Korea then we'll be sending him/her to childcare once he/she turns 1yr. We'd do the same in China.

My primary concerns have to do with the potential issues i may face later on due to my age
by seouljaboi
Sun Dec 13, 2020 8:09 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Is it too late to begin?
Replies: 11
Views: 10988

Is it too late to begin?

My wife and I are considering doing the Teach-now (Moreland) teacher licensure program. It's something I've wanted to do for awhile but I've recently become hesitant and not sure if it is the right choice at this point. Perhaps I've waited too long. Here's some background info on us

We live in South Korea and have a little one on the way. My wife is Korean
I'm nearly 46 and she is 33.
I have degree in Physical Ed. and hers is from a US university in Marketing
My teaching experience consists of 1 yr of substitute teaching in my home country (Canada) followed by nearly 15 years of ESL in Korea. She has also taught ESL for 1.5 years.
We will both likely be elementary school generalists (but will look into other qualifications that might make us more competitive).
I would begin the program in either Jan or Feb of 2021 so would have it completed in the Fall. She would begin in the Fall so wouldn't be finished until June-ish 2022. So I would be 47 or 48 before starting at our new school.

I've heard that it is quite difficult to get decent teaching positions in your 50's and nearly impossible in your 60s (for those countries that even allow you to work past 60). Is this true? In my later teaching years would we be any more competitive because we are a teaching couple and she would still be relatively young? Or would my age discourage most employers?

We currently make on average (net) 5000 usd/mth, but could make more if I were to apply myself as the majority of my slice of the income is from private lessons and I currently only work 4days/wk. However, have no benefits and pay for our own 3bdrm housing. We save around 1300-1500usd/mth.
If we were hired as a couple (with child) would we reasonably be able to save this much working at a lower tier international school in China as we begin our careers?

Essentially, is it too late for me to begin this journey with the hopes of saving a substantial amount for retirement? As newbies do we have any hope of securing jobs (likely in China) that will allow us to maintain saving at our current rate into my 60s while raising one child and likely taking family vacations home to Canada each summer?

I appreciate your thoughts/info.
Thank you