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Stickman Article
I have to agree with Butterfly here and say that 'buying' a dodgy TEFL qualification or degree does not help the kids get an education, especially if thier parents are having to dig very deep in thier pockets for the priveledge of sending thier siblings to some young British bloke who is totally out of his depth with a biggish class who get very bored, very quickly.
I used some of my 'resettlement' money from the Mob to get a full TEFL qualification at Cardiff University. Newly divorced, I jumped on the TEFL 'circuit' and headed for Vietnam. I lived and taught in HCM City for about six months, sharing a flat with a Dutch bloke and a Canadian guy, both English teachers.
I very quickly realised that it doesn't pay at all well (if you get paid and after deductions etc etc) There are many pitfalls. They normally want 30 hours teaching from you as a minimum and to prepare fully for a one hour lesson should ideally take at least an hour. Therefore, for a 60 hour week for 300 quid or there abouts, is it worth it? I taught in Pusan, South Korea again for another six months and enjoyed the experience yes, but was scrimping and saving to pay my rent, travel and bills with little time off to go and 'explore' Most Far Eastern countries want you to teach at the weekends anyway and don't expect to be stood in front of a class unshaved, in shorts, flip-flops and a scabby t-shirt, suit and tie is normally the minimum and you will be supervised from the back of the class by the 'Headmaster' He will decide if you get paid or not.
Grass huts in Cambodia are great for about a month or so. There is fantastic feedback from the kids and parents. However, when it gets dark at eight o'clock with no electricity to read your only book for the seventh time by candlelight, no tetleys teabags and dodgy soup for tea, it can get a little bit boring after a while.
Tell your mate to read the article by Stickman, it is extensive and very, very informative, see how he feels after reading it. If like you PARA, your mate is ex-mob, wobbly boats, gun club or Inf etc then try to come out here for a year or two in a private capacity and you will be able to retire to anywhere in the Far East and live very comfortably.
All the best to you PARA and good luck to your mate, I think I know where he is coming from and respect his desire to get back to what he really enjoyed.
Utrinque Paratus,
Denver
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