My partner and I (I’m 28, he’s 32) are looking to emigrate from the U.K. to a vibrant, thriving city, preferably English-speaking and preferably with a warmer climate than here.
I am a primary school teacher specialising in modern foreign languages with 5 years experience, my partner is a journalist so he really just needs internet connection for his job. Mine would be the dominant salary; I believe I have a lot to offer with my language teaching skills and I have also gained awards for my current school.
We realise that in the current economic climate nowhere is particularly affluent, but being as we don’t own any property and are not planning on starting a family we decided that we need to leave England now while we are young enough to start afresh.
I just wondered if anybody had any recommendations. Obviously we have some ideas (Canada, Australia, the U.S.) but there may be somewhere we hadn’t considered. We would appreciate your advice!

Hi Tillybud,

Welcome to the forum.

Since you are considering Australia check out the sticky posts at the top of the Australia forum since they will give you steps to check out whether you will be able to get visas to enter Australia.

If you have any specific questions after that feel free to ask in the Australia forum (and someone will be along to answer your questions ).

We moved from the UK to South Australia in July 2007 and love it here.

Regards,
Karen

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Thank you very much for your help! I will look there now.

By the looks of things, in Australia Melbourne looks very thriving and up our street. Will have to check out the job situation though as this is of utmost importance. My partner and I are thinking we'll have to get married quickly in order to get visas as I am the skilled worker - is this the case?

I really appreciate your help and advice. The guidance on the sticky threads is invaluable.

There is no need to get married (unless you want to get married quickly). The visa application covers you, your partner (and kids - if you had any). As long as you can prove your relationship (if you use the search facility you'll find info on defacto relationships) then there shouldn't be a problem.

Regards,
Karen

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Oh, that's great - we've lived together for 8 years so I think we're ok!

Searching around it seems that Canada is out down to lack of teaching jobs. I'm very excited about the prospect of Australia now, but what about the U.S. and New Zealand - are there any prospects at all there?

Australia would be perfect. If you are willing to consider a country town posting you would have no problem finding a job as teachers are desperately needed. As long as you are willing to involve yourself in the community and are open to some friendly pommy teasing, you will find a warm welcome and an instant circle of life-long friends. Good luck

The US is going to be tough, as they don't recognize any form of "partnership" other than plain, old-fashioned marriage. Add to that the tendency to regulate most professions (including teaching) at the state level, so it can be pretty difficult to transfer your credentials unless you're willing to sign up for some additional classes.
Cheers,
Bev

Thank you so much for this...Australia is looking very promising now.

If we had to we would get married, but it would be a rushed thing then rather when if we had the choice we would save up for more of a 'wedding'. The US was our first idea initially, but I did wonder whether my qualifications would be transferable.

TaniaL, I am totally willing to get involved with community life and a bit of teasing wouldn't bother me at all. We are both very sociable people...it's funny, my boyf often gets told he sounds Australian anyway! By country towns do you mean a suburb? We desperately want to live a city life, but I wouldn't mind a short commute. Melbourne sounds very up our street.

It's funny, we've ordered an Australia DVD from the tourist place as all we know of it is 'Neighbours' and 'Home and Away'!

Thank you so much, you don't know how invaluable your advice is, I'm very new to this!

Do you teach English? ESL jobs?