For most of my time in university my plan was to get a degree for the sole purpose of teaching English abroad. Most countries require a bachelor degree in any subject along with a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate. I graduated last year and ended up staying in Australia and got a job picking fruit instead. The harvest season will end in about two months so I'll soon be looking for a new job.
Teaching English abroad is still an option but not my main goal anymore, despite being allowed to leave Australia for work.
The main country I have in mind is Japan but China, Malaysia and South Korea are other options. I already have a solid foundation in both Japanese and Chinese. My knowledge of Korean is limited to some poorly pronounced greetings and profanities. To my understanding, China is the only country in this list which has the coronavirus under control.
I want to get vaccinated before leaving but this has several issues. I'm considered a low priority due to my young age and lack of relevant health problems. I'll probably have to wait until December before I can get my second dose. There is a long waiting list for those who wish to return to Australia but speaking hypothetically those who are vaccinated will likely be given priority. If my job doesn't work out, I'm stranded in a foreign country begging family and friends to send me money. The vaccines do not currently protect against the South African and Brazilian variants. Speaking hypothetically again, the original coronavirus and UK variant will soon become uncommon because vaccinated people who get infected will not cough excessively, limiting their spread. Until the vaccines are updated they offer limited protection. In Australia the chances of catching the coronavirus are almost 0.
Right now I live in the middle of nowhere. This itself is not an issue because the places I used to frequent are among the few which haven't reopened. But if I go overseas I will want to go out every weekend. I don't know what the current restrictions in Japan and the other countries in mind are but it's safe to assume I wont be able to go out whenever I'm free.
Fruit picking doesn't pay that well but the hours are decent and the cost of living is very low so I'm saving a respectable amount of money. If I go overseas the cost of living will be higher and the work culture will be different (probably more intense).
So this leads me to believe it's not worth it. I'm better off staying in Australia. I wont be able to go out freely, have a higher likelihood of catching the coronavirus and will work longer hours for less money. Apart from teaching English the other options I have in mind are waiting tables at a restaurant somewhere local and flying to the UK to keep picking fruit (not sure if this is possible). I don't want a job related to my degree.
I'm very curious to know what others have to say about this, especially those who have taught English abroad before. Am I thinking wisely or being a crying pessimist?
Teaching English abroad is still an option but not my main goal anymore, despite being allowed to leave Australia for work.
The main country I have in mind is Japan but China, Malaysia and South Korea are other options. I already have a solid foundation in both Japanese and Chinese. My knowledge of Korean is limited to some poorly pronounced greetings and profanities. To my understanding, China is the only country in this list which has the coronavirus under control.
I want to get vaccinated before leaving but this has several issues. I'm considered a low priority due to my young age and lack of relevant health problems. I'll probably have to wait until December before I can get my second dose. There is a long waiting list for those who wish to return to Australia but speaking hypothetically those who are vaccinated will likely be given priority. If my job doesn't work out, I'm stranded in a foreign country begging family and friends to send me money. The vaccines do not currently protect against the South African and Brazilian variants. Speaking hypothetically again, the original coronavirus and UK variant will soon become uncommon because vaccinated people who get infected will not cough excessively, limiting their spread. Until the vaccines are updated they offer limited protection. In Australia the chances of catching the coronavirus are almost 0.
Right now I live in the middle of nowhere. This itself is not an issue because the places I used to frequent are among the few which haven't reopened. But if I go overseas I will want to go out every weekend. I don't know what the current restrictions in Japan and the other countries in mind are but it's safe to assume I wont be able to go out whenever I'm free.
Fruit picking doesn't pay that well but the hours are decent and the cost of living is very low so I'm saving a respectable amount of money. If I go overseas the cost of living will be higher and the work culture will be different (probably more intense).
So this leads me to believe it's not worth it. I'm better off staying in Australia. I wont be able to go out freely, have a higher likelihood of catching the coronavirus and will work longer hours for less money. Apart from teaching English the other options I have in mind are waiting tables at a restaurant somewhere local and flying to the UK to keep picking fruit (not sure if this is possible). I don't want a job related to my degree.
I'm very curious to know what others have to say about this, especially those who have taught English abroad before. Am I thinking wisely or being a crying pessimist?
