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Q: What are some other Asian countries that are great to work in?
I am not interested in working in Japan or Korea. But, what are some other Asian countries worth spending a year or more teaching in. Pay, cost of living, and free time traveling are important to me. What scams are to be expected in those countries? Please describe some of the positive and negatives of the country too.
9 years 5 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
Southeast Asia:
Indonesia has a booming ESL industry, salaries are higher than here and cost of living is lower. Not well developed even Jakarta is like a second tier city in China but it favors quality development over quantity, infrastructure is building and is of international standards. The culture is a unique mix of islam and buddhism, people are very modern and open minded even though they are muslim.
Malaysia also has a mix of islam and buddhism but much less than Indonesia, it is more developed however, so everything costs more but salaries are about the same as Indonesia. The advantage is you can drive to Singapore is you live nearby for a taste of first world.
Thailand we all know the sandy beach and other things, cool country but there is lot of competition in the ESL industry since many, MANY foreigners live there and teach. Watch out, what you see might not be what it really is!
Vietnam is China 15 years ago with some local uniquenesses. Friendly people.
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South Asia:
India has great opportunities if you can teach other languages like Spanish, French or Portuguese but they don't need that many ESL teachers since many Indians speak good English already. Yes they have a funny accent but their vocabulary and grammar are usually above average. It's a cool country is you live in smaller towns along the coast, I do not recommend big cities as they are chaotic, dusty and crowded. Indians are nice though.
Can't talk about Sri Lanka, Nepal or Bangladesh since I have never been there and don't know anyone who did.
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Middle East:
Saudi Arabia offers the best packages (highest salaries, best benefits) in the ESL industry but there is a BIG con, the government will hold your passport and you need an authorization from your employer to exit the country. The country is rather pro-West since they get big $$$ from the oil industry, it's well developed in bigger cities but lacks infrastructures outside these cities, people are friendly and the food is great!.
UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, high salaries but crazy high costs of living, not much to do there unless you are loaded and willing to pay 3 to 4 times what you would pay back home for everything. People are nice and humble even when they are super rich.
Lebanon is great, beautiful, good salaries and the food is the best in the Middle East.
nashboroguy:
WOW! Much more information than I had hoped for. Thank you very much. That was very kind of you to spend so much time and effort on my question.
Southeast Asia:
Indonesia has a booming ESL industry, salaries are higher than here and cost of living is lower. Not well developed even Jakarta is like a second tier city in China but it favors quality development over quantity, infrastructure is building and is of international standards. The culture is a unique mix of islam and buddhism, people are very modern and open minded even though they are muslim.
Malaysia also has a mix of islam and buddhism but much less than Indonesia, it is more developed however, so everything costs more but salaries are about the same as Indonesia. The advantage is you can drive to Singapore is you live nearby for a taste of first world.
Thailand we all know the sandy beach and other things, cool country but there is lot of competition in the ESL industry since many, MANY foreigners live there and teach. Watch out, what you see might not be what it really is!
Vietnam is China 15 years ago with some local uniquenesses. Friendly people.
---------------------------------
South Asia:
India has great opportunities if you can teach other languages like Spanish, French or Portuguese but they don't need that many ESL teachers since many Indians speak good English already. Yes they have a funny accent but their vocabulary and grammar are usually above average. It's a cool country is you live in smaller towns along the coast, I do not recommend big cities as they are chaotic, dusty and crowded. Indians are nice though.
Can't talk about Sri Lanka, Nepal or Bangladesh since I have never been there and don't know anyone who did.
---------------------------------
Middle East:
Saudi Arabia offers the best packages (highest salaries, best benefits) in the ESL industry but there is a BIG con, the government will hold your passport and you need an authorization from your employer to exit the country. The country is rather pro-West since they get big $$$ from the oil industry, it's well developed in bigger cities but lacks infrastructures outside these cities, people are friendly and the food is great!.
UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, high salaries but crazy high costs of living, not much to do there unless you are loaded and willing to pay 3 to 4 times what you would pay back home for everything. People are nice and humble even when they are super rich.
Lebanon is great, beautiful, good salaries and the food is the best in the Middle East.
nashboroguy:
WOW! Much more information than I had hoped for. Thank you very much. That was very kind of you to spend so much time and effort on my question.
