CeciliaYmgta:
Hi! Wow, I was wondering if you could maybe say how your job is and what it's like? I love linguistics and English is my native language so I was considering working as an ESL teacher in either China or Japan after I graduate. That seems like such an amazing experience!
Oh wow, I meant to keep up with this site, but I haven't. xD; I'm sorry. I can still answer, though!
Personally, I love it a lot. It's important to find the right destination to teach, though. There are three huge things that I love about my job: 1) the area I'm in has a low cost of living (AKA not Shanghai or Beijing), 2) I have a decent salary--I can afford to travel about Asia, and 3) I have enough annual leave to actually do the traveling. I've been about China, to Korea, and Japan is currently my next vacation--but I'm debating doing Thailand before that actually lol.
That being said, I chose this job after graduating with an Anthropology degree because I want to travel and see the world. Teaching overseas allows me to do that. If your motivation is more for kids or the language, that is good too. From the linguistics side, you'll be in a great position to study and learn other languages, obviously.
The job itself isn't too difficult either. I do the usual 40 hour work week, but a good chunk of it is just admin work. I work for a sort of cram school for English, so we only get kids when they're out of school--evenings and weekends.
I'm kind of lucky and settled in nicely, though, too. I know a lot of people who will not be staying here as long as I have because they struggle with the culture shock or the struggle to make friends (with locals, usually). But if you're serious about it and are open the opportunities and experiences living in another country can provide you, I definitely at least recommending applying.
I know I'm months late, but, I hope this helps lol;;