Industry Profile -- by Jennifer Bysterveld and Karen Rocznik

Over the past few years, many young people have been lured by the prospects of teaching in Asia. While the thought of making big money without any real experience or qualifications may be enticing, it's far from the reality. Many schools and recruitment agencies require that you at least hold a bachelor's degree and the pay is average, considering many Asian cities have a higher standard of living. However, things like paid accommodations and airfare are offered by some schools. That said, if you are considering teaching English in Asia, spend some time researching the school or recruitment organization. To get you started here's a list of some recruitment agencies, what they offer (and pay) from Taiwan, Korea and Japan.

Taiwan

Taiwan's population boasts over 20 million people. This means the pollution levels are quite sever. Asthma suffers beware. This may not be the place for you. The climate ranges from hot and humid summers to heavy rains in the winter. Be sure to investigate the visa system before you go. One school noted that you must enter the country on a tourist visa, then apply for a resident/working visa once in the country, meaning that you might have to travel to an office of the Taiwan government outside the country. One school also noted that "the emphasis is on keeping the class entertaining, stimulating and interesting." So, the energetic andcreative need only apply!

South Korea

Korean culture stresses hard work and they take education seriously. However, most schools stressed the use of conversational English only, no worries about complex grammar. South Korea's population is over 44 million and most teaching positions are located in urban centres such as Seoul and Pusan. Most schools also say that no prior teaching experience is necessary, as training and teaching materials are provided. The money is by no means phenomenal, but most schools will pay for your airfare and accommodations.

Japan

Japan is still one of the most popular places to teach English. With a population of over 125 million, overcrowding is a given. Japan is also one of the most expensive countries in all of Asia. That in mind, you might consider a school which will pay for an apartment, which can range from $300 to $600 per month. The average salary for a teacher in Japan is 250,000 yen per month or $2,500. The school year starts around the middle of March and many teaching positions become available then. Also, most school will give the teachers four weeks vacation, however the revolve around the preset weeks to accommodate national holidays.