ianpants69 wrote:Hi,
Currenly living in Thailand with my wife and child where I teach English and am also studying at university. We have long decided that we do not want to send our daughter to school in Thailand and are sure that relocating to Singapore would be a sensible move.
Can anyone tell me, what are the prospects of finding English teaching work in Singapore for a native speaker with TEFL and experience but as yet no degree?
Is it possible to study in English towards a degree in Singapore, if so can it be done in the evening, what kind of costs are inlvolved?
I would also like to get in touch with anyone in a similar position in Singapore, (ex-pat teacher supporting a family) or indeed prospective employers!
Any other information, good areas to stay / cost of living / visa regs. (I am British + my wife is Indonesian) / good schools and costs, would be greatfully recieved.
Many thanks
Ian
Hi Ian,
As a Singaporean myself, I can offer you a candid comment.
If you would like to teach in any of the local schools here, you would need more than a degree. In fact, if the ministry does not deem your qualifications as sufficient, you are pretty much confined to teaching at the smaller, commercial schools.
On the other hand, you could try your luck as a private tutor.
Is it possible to study in English towards a degree in Singapore? YES! In fact, I was amused when I read this. THE LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION IN SINGAPORE IS ENGLISH. You shouldn't encounter any problem in that area.
There are plenty of part time and long distance degree courses in Singapore that are able to offer you flexibility in your study curriculum.
On the issue of living areas, if would be good if you could get yourself a cosy flat in the heartlands (We call them hearlands here, not suburbs). This would endow you with a good feel of the local lifestyle and heighten your appreciation of the multi-cultural life we have here in Singapore. The heartlands are not some depressing slums for your information. They are modern and clean areas that are filled with basic amenities and facilities such as grocery shops, food court and swimming pools. Some of the more popular heartland areas have shopping malls as well. And I'm not talking about those mundane 2 storey malls which you find in abundance in say, Australia. These neighbourhood malls are 4 to 5 storeys tall and filled with local and designer goods. Some even have their own cineplexes. So there you go, entertainment just right down the corner. My Japanese friend who came down to visit me last year asked me a question when she saw these malls,"Are we in the city centre?" Well, that goes to show how urbanised those areas seem.
If you are feeling loaded, you can try gunning for an apartment in the city centre. That's going to make your wallet a whole lot lighter. However, you would be close to the city's main shopping areas and nightlife.