English teachers in Asia
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free skin care · Wed Sep 15, 2010 10:21 pm

Hi everyone

I've been thinking and thinking of teaching English in China or Japan or South Korea, but I'm getting mixed views from my friends. None of them have taught abroad before but one says that it's dangerous but hte other says that its a great opportunity to learn a differnt language and meet new people.
I'm hoping to gather as much info as possible this year and make my decision by 2011.
Any lovely ladies taught in those countries before?

free skin care · Sun Sep 19, 2010 2:18 pm

I don't see how it's dangerous except for the unpredictability of finding a job. Japan and S Korea are among the safest places in the world. I would say just go for it.

free skin care · Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:33 am

That's true for South Korea and Japan but I'm gearing for China, as I can learn Mandarin as well. But I;ve heard lots of terrible stories of people going to China and being conned and all sorts. I've even been to one interview and the school principal told me that it's not desirable to teach in China...That got me worried!

free skin care · Thu Sep 23, 2010 7:05 pm

Yeahyeah, I taught English in Japan for one year. Overall I think it was a good experience, but it was also very challenging---- I wasn't used to going without heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer, and as a result I got sick a lot.... Confused

While I've never been to China before, I think living in China would be even more extreme. My brother-in-law (who already speaks Mandarin) went there to study for a few weeks and I think he was a little shocked by the lack of cleanliness, etc. In any country you're considering, you kind of have to mentally prepare yourself for some tough stuff--- things like biking to work even in rain or snow, sleeping in your winter coat because there's no heat in your apartment, having a dental emergency in an area where the dentistry is 20 years behind the west, getting bronchitis and being too sick to take yourself to the doctor... and worst of all, pretty much forgetting about Sephora!!! (I met my husband while I lived in Japan, and once when he came to visit me he brought me a whole bag of goodies from Sephora--- I knew he was a keeper!^-^) Still, some people end up really loving the whole experience--- as a matter of fact, I know we have some members here like Tiger Tim (who lives in Japan) and Appletini (who lives in maybe China or Hong Kong, I can't remember...) who have been in Asia for several years now, so maybe they will chime in.

Let us know what you decide!

free skin care · Thu Sep 23, 2010 7:43 pm

I have friends who have done this (now in their 50's) and would not have missed the experience. How wonderful to interface in another culture - Like manslayerliz says be prepared (like a boyscout) and be open minded and soak it in... I'd say Go for it.

free skin care · Fri Sep 24, 2010 8:30 am

Thanks for your replies manslayerliz and sister sweets.

I'm still undecided. I've considered the living conditions but didnt think it would be that bad... I'm thinking of going to more developed cities, so I dont have to deal with all those situations, but I've been to Beijing for a holiday and couldnt quite get used to their toilets Shock

. Even though I am Chinese, I was shocked at the fact that one bathroom didnt have cubicle doors.

I think I will do more research and make my decision early next year. I'm not spotaneaous at all, so maybe at the end of the day, I'll just go back to the UK!

free skin care · Sun Sep 26, 2010 6:23 am

I studied Mandarin at university in China and loved every minute of it. I found China to be extremely safe and was never worried (I was there by myself).

There are allot of opportunities to teach English there - I was offered a couple of jobs by my university, but I wanted to spend my time there studying not teaching so I didn't take up the offer. But like anywhere, it pays to thoroughly check out the situation.

It's quite possible to find accommodation equal to anything that you're used to at home, so that shouldn't be an issue.

My daughter also lived in Japan for a couple of years and loved it.

Mon Aug 29, 2011 9:09 pm

I hope you went for it (I know this thread is old).

Boyfriend taught in mainland China for a year and loved it, although a year was enough. He can speak Mandarin (read and write- he did Chinese as a degree quite by accident) and the year in China was good for ensuring he didn't forget it! There were plenty of female teachers as well from the US/UK etc.

Teaching in Hong Kong (as opposed to China etc) is a fantastic experience if you want creature comforts and to not be out of touch...and you can get paid a fair amount for doing so (and if you like HK, may be able to move into an international school eventually). I live in Hong Kong and know plenty of teachers.

Teaching in Japan I hear is also an amazing experience- and it's easier to pick up spoken Japanese and Korean than Mandarin/Cantonese. Most people I know who taught in Japan come back speaking decent Japanese, whereas most people who teach in China come back not speaking much Chinese at all.

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