Are My Expectations Too High??? (Latin America Preferably)
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overseasvet2
- Posts: 191
- Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2011 10:50 pm
Pets
My friends lived in two places with school housing and pets were not an issue. In two places they found their own housing. It's all dependent on individual situations - since you feel so strongly, it's definately a question you need to ask in interviews! I know that as much as I'd love to go to England, it would kill me and stress out my pets to endure the long quarantine (which seems a bit antiquated).
As usual, Psyguy provided some really good, extensive, reasonably accurate information in regards to your questions. However, I do have to correct one tiny thing :
Japan may be really expensive but the salary is pretty high. My first international teaching experience was in Japan and that got me 4.7 million / year ( tax free ) = $ 60, 773 USD. This is the STARTING range for a 2nd tier school with 0-2 experiences ( I had none when I started because I was a newbie then ). The standards of living are not as high as people make them out to be. In fact, prices are quite comparable and remember that the yen is more often than not, quite strong, thus demanding a fair bit from other currencies when you exchange money. Just last week, I exchanged 25, 000 yen which brought over $ 310 USD / $ 315 CDN. This is my 3rd international teaching experience at a premier school in Tokyo. I now have 8-10 years of experience. My salary right now is at the 6-digit range. I find that I can save 60 % of my salary (and this is me traveling 3-4 times a year both outside and within Japan for vacations ). Accommodations ( subsidised ), round trip flights, medical and national taxes are covered by the school. The prices of things are comparably higher than let's say NYC, LA, Toronto, London or Paris.....BUT, the salary is quite high enough.
But Psyguy is correct in stating that it is highly competitive to get into Japan. There are many reasons for this :
a) The country is one of the easiest places to live at. The people are just lovely, highly accommodating, work hard to make things easier for everyone.
b) The students are model students. At my school, we have mostly Europeans, Americans and Canadians, but also a fair bit of mixed Japanese nationals and some really wealthy Japanese nationals. All have the " work ethic " ingrained in them.
c) As for my first school that I worked at, where it was mostly Japanese or mixed Japanese nationals, the students were just as amazing. Very dilligent, participatory, caring, conscientious and well, brilliant in academics.
d) The salary is extremely high. Turn over is low in most Japanese international schools. You will find that most of the staff have been there for years ( 5 - 10 years ).
e) There are plenty of national holidays and vacations that Japanese international schools abide by bc of culture.
Japan may be really expensive but the salary is pretty high. My first international teaching experience was in Japan and that got me 4.7 million / year ( tax free ) = $ 60, 773 USD. This is the STARTING range for a 2nd tier school with 0-2 experiences ( I had none when I started because I was a newbie then ). The standards of living are not as high as people make them out to be. In fact, prices are quite comparable and remember that the yen is more often than not, quite strong, thus demanding a fair bit from other currencies when you exchange money. Just last week, I exchanged 25, 000 yen which brought over $ 310 USD / $ 315 CDN. This is my 3rd international teaching experience at a premier school in Tokyo. I now have 8-10 years of experience. My salary right now is at the 6-digit range. I find that I can save 60 % of my salary (and this is me traveling 3-4 times a year both outside and within Japan for vacations ). Accommodations ( subsidised ), round trip flights, medical and national taxes are covered by the school. The prices of things are comparably higher than let's say NYC, LA, Toronto, London or Paris.....BUT, the salary is quite high enough.
But Psyguy is correct in stating that it is highly competitive to get into Japan. There are many reasons for this :
a) The country is one of the easiest places to live at. The people are just lovely, highly accommodating, work hard to make things easier for everyone.
b) The students are model students. At my school, we have mostly Europeans, Americans and Canadians, but also a fair bit of mixed Japanese nationals and some really wealthy Japanese nationals. All have the " work ethic " ingrained in them.
c) As for my first school that I worked at, where it was mostly Japanese or mixed Japanese nationals, the students were just as amazing. Very dilligent, participatory, caring, conscientious and well, brilliant in academics.
d) The salary is extremely high. Turn over is low in most Japanese international schools. You will find that most of the staff have been there for years ( 5 - 10 years ).
e) There are plenty of national holidays and vacations that Japanese international schools abide by bc of culture.
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HistoryEducator
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2011 4:29 pm
- Location: United States
Thanks again PsyGuy!
The Guadalajara school looks the best to me. The San Pedro Sula school looks like the next best. The fact that I would have to share an apartment for the Monterrey school may be a deal breaker for me plus there is no moving allowance. The Puerto Vallarta school also looks like a no-go for me due to the lack of airfare. It's crazy how those schools are supposed to be tier 1 schools yet the pay is so astronomically low! I wonder what the teacher turnover rate is for the schools I mentioned? Hopefully, it would work in my favor.
The Guadalajara school looks the best to me. The San Pedro Sula school looks like the next best. The fact that I would have to share an apartment for the Monterrey school may be a deal breaker for me plus there is no moving allowance. The Puerto Vallarta school also looks like a no-go for me due to the lack of airfare. It's crazy how those schools are supposed to be tier 1 schools yet the pay is so astronomically low! I wonder what the teacher turnover rate is for the schools I mentioned? Hopefully, it would work in my favor.
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HistoryEducator
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2011 4:29 pm
- Location: United States
Thanks Bkonality for the response!
Was it difficult for you to obtain a job in Japan being a "newbie?" I'd be interested in spending a couple of years at least in Japan for the experience. $60,000 tax free sounds really good, but I do understand that the costs of living would be higher than I'm used to. I would imagine that the pressure to perform well as a teacher would be overwhelming in Japan. I have had Japanese friends for a long time (they still live in Japan and have visited us in the states several times). I have heard nothing but good things about Japanese students. My mother's friend that lives there says that there are jobs in Japan where you just walk in the classroom and read a children's book in English to the kids. They pay you really well just to hear your voice reading to them in English. Not sure if her friend is exaggerating or not.
Was it difficult for you to obtain a job in Japan being a "newbie?" I'd be interested in spending a couple of years at least in Japan for the experience. $60,000 tax free sounds really good, but I do understand that the costs of living would be higher than I'm used to. I would imagine that the pressure to perform well as a teacher would be overwhelming in Japan. I have had Japanese friends for a long time (they still live in Japan and have visited us in the states several times). I have heard nothing but good things about Japanese students. My mother's friend that lives there says that there are jobs in Japan where you just walk in the classroom and read a children's book in English to the kids. They pay you really well just to hear your voice reading to them in English. Not sure if her friend is exaggerating or not.
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overseasvet2
- Posts: 191
- Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2011 10:50 pm
jobs in Japan
I taught in public schools in Japan. They said I was there to model the English language. It was the easiest money I ever made but was bored out of my mind! If you want a serious educational career, you'll stick to what PsyGuy keeps referring to as "Tier 1" schools. It's all about what you want out of life. By the way, the school in Monterrey has an excellent reputation as a place for new teachers to get started. They provide a lot of PD and there are top schools who will hire anyone coming out of this school. You have to decide what your long term goals are and then strategically go for it. Good luck!
[quote="HistoryEducator"]Thanks Bkonality for the response!
Was it difficult for you to obtain a job in Japan being a "newbie?" I'd be interested in spending a couple of years at least in Japan for the experience. $60,000 tax free sounds really good, but I do understand that the costs of living would be higher than I'm used to. I would imagine that the pressure to perform well as a teacher would be overwhelming in Japan. I have had Japanese friends for a long time (they still live in Japan and have visited us in the states several times). I have heard nothing but good things about Japanese students. My mother's friend that lives there says that there are jobs in Japan where you just walk in the classroom and read a children's book in English to the kids. They pay you really well just to hear your voice reading to them in English. Not sure if her friend is exaggerating or not.[/quote]
No, it wasn't too hard for me at all to get into my first international school in Japan. I had obtained two qualifications then ( Junior/Intermediate - Grades 4 - 8 & Senior Grades 9 - 12 ). I also specialised in English-Language Arts. Within 2-3 years, I obtained professional development in IB Math, then gained IB experience in Math for 2 years. The next two years was a return to English with PD for IB English and then another two years of IB English. This year, I have to decide on whether I want to stay with Math or English-Language Arts. I suppose it all depends on what you can teach and what the school is looking for. English and Math always seem to be prioritised.
As far as your friend's mom's statement about reading English books in Japan, that might just be an exaggeration....or it might be an ESL school she is talking about. ESL and international schools in Japan are quite different.
Was it difficult for you to obtain a job in Japan being a "newbie?" I'd be interested in spending a couple of years at least in Japan for the experience. $60,000 tax free sounds really good, but I do understand that the costs of living would be higher than I'm used to. I would imagine that the pressure to perform well as a teacher would be overwhelming in Japan. I have had Japanese friends for a long time (they still live in Japan and have visited us in the states several times). I have heard nothing but good things about Japanese students. My mother's friend that lives there says that there are jobs in Japan where you just walk in the classroom and read a children's book in English to the kids. They pay you really well just to hear your voice reading to them in English. Not sure if her friend is exaggerating or not.[/quote]
No, it wasn't too hard for me at all to get into my first international school in Japan. I had obtained two qualifications then ( Junior/Intermediate - Grades 4 - 8 & Senior Grades 9 - 12 ). I also specialised in English-Language Arts. Within 2-3 years, I obtained professional development in IB Math, then gained IB experience in Math for 2 years. The next two years was a return to English with PD for IB English and then another two years of IB English. This year, I have to decide on whether I want to stay with Math or English-Language Arts. I suppose it all depends on what you can teach and what the school is looking for. English and Math always seem to be prioritised.
As far as your friend's mom's statement about reading English books in Japan, that might just be an exaggeration....or it might be an ESL school she is talking about. ESL and international schools in Japan are quite different.
Wow, Psyguy, you put a lot of time and effort into answering these questions, and on behalf of all of us, I want to say "thank you"! Very impressive, and I think all the information you gave was very accurate and honest.
On the subject of pets, I moved our dog from China to Korea, into school housing, with almost no hassles (other than a glitch with Chinese customs who gave us some incorrect information which meant an extra day to get a particular form stamped). I find having her with us has made life so much more homey for me and my daughter.
On the subject of pets, I moved our dog from China to Korea, into school housing, with almost no hassles (other than a glitch with Chinese customs who gave us some incorrect information which meant an extra day to get a particular form stamped). I find having her with us has made life so much more homey for me and my daughter.