Job Discussion Forums

[Jlanman4]

Looking to teach English in South America, leaning towards Colombia and Chile. Just curious as to peoples opinions on safety and ease of obtaining a job. I speak very little spanish, I have a degree, and will have my TEFL license very soon. Any advice or insight is greatly appreciated.

[spiral78]

TEFL license?
Who's printing one of those? Where is it valid? Does it have an expiry date?

Are you referring to a certification? And if so, from what provider?

[esl_prof]

Generally, most jobs in Latin America are found by going to the country of your choice, knocking on doors of schools and institutes, and distributing copies of your resume far and wide. This, of course, requires basic conversational proficiency in Spanish.

Do your research before you go. Use the internet to locate websites of the better known schools that you might target once you arrive. You might begin by googling the names of the various Binational Centers located in Colombia and Chile: http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/usia/E-USIA/education/engteaching/eal-elp1.htm But don't limit yourself to just those schools.

Learn about work permit/residency requirements. Join discussion groups, message forums, or Facebook groups organized by expats living in the country of your choice and begin networking before you go. Expats who've been living for years in the country of your choice will be able to answer thorny questions like how to work legally, where to network, what schools have good reputations, etc.

And most importantly, have a backup plan if things don't work out. Decide how much money you're willing to spend on food and lodging while looking for a job and. if that runs out before a job materializes, then be prepared to either fly home or onward to an alternative destination.

[Jlanman4]

[naturegirl321]

I'd ask about visas as in Latin America they are often not given. Employers don't seem to mind that much about TEFL certs. Though they may not pay that well nor offer housing or flights.

As esl prof said it's more about showing up and being willing to work under their conditions.

[esl_prof]

[roadwalker]

I agree with the advice to do an in-person TEFL certificate course if possible; one with a practice teaching component evaluated by experienced trainers. That way you get any jitters out during the course and also see where you need to improve, etc.

As for safety, I was in Santiago for a half year and never really felt unsafe. However I knew at least a couple people who were robbed of some money. Other than pickpockets, I suppose it comes down to luck and lifestyle. Coming out of a bar alone at night and flashing cash or valuables, I wouldn't say it is very safe. Being aware of your surroundings and going out in groups at night, you'll probably be fine. I don't know the situation in Columbia.

[Jlanman4]

Do you think its worth the money the apply to a program in Chile for a first time teacher?

[esl_prof]

[lagringalindissima]

Even with fluent Spanish, controlling students (and even adults!) in Latin America is very difficult. If you don't know much it will be almost impossible..unless your school gives you a local "baby sitter" to help..and yes many K-12 schools do that.

Students are often near total beginners; a large school in Cusco, Peru--where English is very needed and people hear it often-- told me 93% of their students were beginners. The students both need and expect Spanish in class. The American bosses I worked under all called the students "spoiled"--and said had the job to cut out the need for Spanish-- but I feel that that is the height of hypocrisy! Not only do WE expect English in foreign language classes demand that anyone in our country speak English, we assume we can get around in their country (and any country) without knowing the local language.

If you don't know Spanish you'll find it much harder to connect with your classes, make friends, get things done--and make no mistake, getting a legal visa will be a HUGE hassle!!-- and travel locally. This is triply true if are in a small town or rural area or if you are working with less affluent people through either a volunteer program or a school that has less affluent clients.

This is not a popular statement, but it is true! If you don't know Spanish, your students will ask teachers who do for help. I never minded, but other teachers did; sometimes I wouldn't understand a teacher's worksheet. If teachers do mind you'll have some strained relations with your peers.

If you go with almost none and assume you'll be bilingual in a month you might be unpleasantly surprised; we almost always work with English speakers, and if you can't function in Spanish at all it's very hard to get enough practice to learn.

Also consider that a good salary in Latin America is 600/month.. with no experience expect to make 400 tops. So..do you want to pay for Spanish lessons from a salary that small? Some schools do offer free classes, but many don't--and if classes conflict with you teaching schedule, then usually it sucks to be you.

Other facts.. visas are a huge problem in most countries. I was unwilling to stay because I could not understand the visa process and I didn't trust that things would really work out. Are you willing to leave your passport in a government office? Is that still a yes if there is no concrete return date for you to pick up your passport with the visa--or a date it should be mailed back by? Are you willing to pay for the visa even if it ends up costing you much more than the school quoted you? Are you okay with working illegally? Are you okay with constantly changing visa rules..and thus being told "now you do x, need y and have to sign z"? If you said no, don't go.

You can't save money and you are highly unlikely to have basic resources; you also can't assume pay is on time, you won't work 6-8 am/non-3/7-9 daily and 8-1 on Saturdays, or that you'll have any control at all of either what content or how you can teach. Is that okay? If not, don't go.

[esl_prof]

[HLJHLJ]

[esl_prof]

[lagringalindissima]

How many Americans had a monolingual teacher and/or a teacher who refused to use English in our high school classes? NONE. Okay, none might not be literally none, but if you can't speak English you can't be hired in the USA. Telling students that used to=imperfect and thus I used to live in Quito is vivia en Quito is in fact a very effective way to teach..it's not "what naive teachers do until they learn better". I know the drill..I was always told never to use Spanish. But I did..and with other students, not just mine. The students were more comfortable, they liked me since I could have a sense of humor in Spanish and explain things if they were upset, and they often said "we learned/are learning a lot". A class can become just a lecture class about English (of course) but good teachers know when to use Spanish and when to make then use English. What always amazed me was seeing people who'd lived in Latin America for several years and learned no Spanish insist that if we as teachers just stopped "spoiling the students like their school classroom teachers do" they'll learn English in English..but they "aren't learning anything" if they are translating or asking questions in Spanish.

[HLJHLJ]

I don't necessarily believe that very occasional L1 use is the hanging offence it is often portrayed to be, particularly with low level learners. However, it is a huge pedagogical leap from there to: