Job Discussion Forums

[JonathanRossWC]

Hello, wonderful Latin America forum!

I posted a thread in the General Discussion forum a few days ago trying to come to a shortlist of countries to teach English in. After doing more research and looking hard at Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, Colombia, etc., I think that I would be happiest teaching EFL in a nice Latin American city. My Spanish is decent and I can get it up to a near-fluent level by the time I land abroad.

I will be heading into the TEFL industry with an American Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Finance, and will be gaining a CELTA certification. I do not have any experience teaching English, and will not have any before getting this first job abroad.

Optimally, I am looking for a country/city to go teach English where I could earn a decent wage, live comfortably, not have legal issues regarding visas/immigration, and build up a career over time. I do not expect/need to land in a country and start raking in bundles of cash; I just need enough of an income to live comfortably and work my way up the pay ladder over the years.

I would like to TEFL as a career, not just as a short one-year stint filled with partying. I will continue to develop my skills and network, to seek out better positions as time goes on. I budget my finances well and will not be drinking or indulging in any expensive things.

So, Latin American TEFLers, what country would be best for me, and why? Thank you ahead of time for any and all comments to help me figure it out.

Jonathan

[HLJHLJ]

There are pros and cons to all of them, try and narrow it down a little:

Chile, Panama, Uruguay

Have relatively high cost of living, so you will need more money in the bank to see you through to your first pay cheque.


Colombia, Ecuador

Probably have the lowest, so your start up fund will last longer there.

The others probably fall somewhere in between. (These are gross generalisations, obviously it depends where in each country you are).

With the right job, you can get a visa in any of them, with the possible exception of Panama. However, in Peru you probably won't get a visa, and will just be expected to work under the table on a tourist visa and pay $1/day fine for over staying.

Other than that, what are you looking for? Rural, city, beach, mountains? What sort of climate? What sort of job? If it's your first teaching job you will probably be looking to cut your teeth in one of the big language schools.

Finally, have you already got a CELTA course in mind? For various reasons it's generally better to do your training in the country you want to work in. So the availability of a CELTA course might influence your decision.

[spanglish]

Colombia is actually at the upper end of cost of living. I read in a Dinero recently (a Colombian finance magazine) that Bogota has the 3rd highest cost of living in Latin America after Brasilia and Montevideo.

I can't vote in your poll because I only have experience in Colombia and can't compare. If you do end up coming here, get your SIT cert or CELTA and you'll get on easily enough with IH Bogota. After that, you'll either move up to better jobs or be burned for life on ESL (IH isn't that bad, but most of my fellow teachers really hated it, I thought it was quite an easy job but with a few frustrations and fairly low pay, all in all an OK starter job).

I'll tell you this about Colombia: I've got a great life and a decent income now. With over 3 years of steady work, networking, great Spanish skills and a B.A. and CELTA, I've managed to get one of the better (ESL) jobs in the country. Would I do it all again? To be honest, probably not. There have been some very difficult moments along the way, and I haven't exactly ended up in a very good financial situation. Living abroad as an ESL teacher isn't really my thing either, but that's my personal preference.

So, If you want to pursue a career in ESL in Latin America.....well, it's up to you. Weigh the information you receive and make your choice. And good luck; it sounds like you have a better chance of success than most.

[JonathanRossWC]

Wow- Thanks HLJHLJ and Spanglish for your helpful replies...I really appreciate it.

In response to HLJHLJ: I would preferably like to live in a city. Being a native of Philadelphia in the US and living in New York, I've kind of become accustomed to city life and prefer it to rural life. Climate-wise, I think almost anywhere in Latin America is warmer than Pennsylvania, and that's great for me. I love the heat. I'm sure as a first teaching job I'll be grinding it out at a language school like International House - as long as the pay keeps me afloat, I'm ok with that. Paying my dues, I suppose. I'm new, I don't expect to be paid like a veteran. I do not have a CELTA course in mind; I was thinking the same thing as you, that I'd take it in the country I decide to go to. I think that is the best thing.

In response to Spanglish: Thank you very much for your wish of good luck, and for your advice about IH Bogota - I was strongly considering doing the CELTA there and getting a job after. If I'm not mistaken, is there also a CELTA in Bogota being offered by the British Council? Even though it costs more, do you think it would be worth it to take my CELTA there if I decide to move to Colombia?

Thanks a lot for the comments so far...looking forward to more discussion!

Jonathan

[HLJHLJ]

I've only been to Colombia on holiday, but the costs there were not massively different to Ecuador. It was a little more expensive, but nowhere near the league of say Chile or Uruguay. So in terms of short-let accommodation and eating out, I'd still put Ecuador and Colombia in the same bracket.

Perhaps costs increase significantly once you become resident. I can imagine that things like gas and electric would be higher, as it's subsidized in Ecuador. I have no idea about rents in Colombia either. However, once you reach that stage, you would hopefully have a job with a wage appropriate to local living costs, so it's less of an issue.

[JonathanRossWC]

I see four votes for Mexico. Would any of the Mexico teachers care to share why they think Mexico beats out Colombia or Ecuador for TEFL?
I have looked into Mexico, but it seemed like the salaries were low in comparison to the rent prices and general cost of living...maybe someone can shed light on this.

Thanks,
Jonathan

[spanglish]

Check out the thread Mexico City vs. Bogota; that should give you plenty of info.

HLJHLJ - I've only spent time in Central America and Colombia, so I'll defer to you on cost of living comparisons. Thinking about Justin Trullinger's (an Ecuador veteran) posts in the past, I'm guessing that cost of living in a major city in Ecuador is a fair bit lower than in Bogota. I can't make any definitive statements though given my lack of direct experience.

[JonathanRossWC]

Thanks spanglish...checking it out now!

Jonathan

[Guy Courchesne]

Ditto Spanglish...we hashed out some of the costs/pay rates there between the two cities. I think they come out even in most respects. Mexico City probably has the edge on more opportunity just for the sheer size.

Mexico outside the capital is another story though. Pay rates drop off significantly in most teaching scenarios, making it hard to save.

[JonathanRossWC]

Thanks for the input Guy. I am really interested in Mexico City...how have you found your work to be there?

I saw in the Mexico City vs. Bogota thread that EFLeducator experienced "low wages, students who had no respect for TEFLer's, classes cancelled every week, and no career path for a professional TEFLer. "

Does this ring true for you? It seems like investing the time and effort into networking and building your skill set would help a TEFLer advance in Mexico, just like anywhere else. Am I being too naive to think that with a Bachelor's, a CELTA, and after some years of teaching (and maybe a Master's), that I could advance in a TEFL career?

Thanks,
Jonathan

[spanglish]

Of course the answer to your question will be yes: you can and will get ahead as you upgrade your quals and get experience.

The issue here is how tolerant you are to living in the developing world, and to living in a part of the developing world that considers teachers a step or 2 above maids, who tend to be treated like indentured servants. After laboring as an ESL teacher for a few years you may begin wondering why you don't have the high roller life of a 'humble' NGO worker, an oil company worker or a diplomat, most of whom within a couple of years of starting their career will be making far more than you EVER will as an ESL teacher (okay, maybe not true for most NGO workers, but still....).

Sorry, sometimes it's frustrating to compare my salary with my successful Colombian friends who went into IT, the oil industry or have good government jobs. Their jaws drop when I tell them my salary and they assure me that I'm making 'really, really good money.' Meanwhile they are making 2, 3 or 4 times as much as me (or more!). It's just that a teacher 'doesn't deserve' to make a decent living.

Of course, in time you can make a decent living as a teacher, but the above is the mentality in Colombia.

Edit - I just want to point out that the salaries of many of my Colombian friends are not typical; they've definitely been much more successful than the average Latin American professional. On the other hand, they all come from normal, middle-class families, not the upper-class.

[MotherF]

I'm also inclinded to say you could do well over time.
I do not live in a big city and where I work is not suitable for people accustomed to city life--the culture shock of big city vs small town will hit you way harder than any USA vs Mexico culture shock. The professors from Mexico City and other cities have a lot harder time adapting here than I ever did.

Most of the Mexican's I rub shoulders with do think being a teacher is a really good job. There are a lot of benefits in the local teacher's package that really add up beyond their salary. But also, I don't rub shoulders with upper class or even that many middle class Mexicans. Most of my neighbors and all of my extended family members make significantly less money than I do. But I do see a kind of Mexican society that would fit in well with Spaniglish's description of Colombians, but not in the circles I move in. I

[naturegirl321]

[Guy Courchesne]

[Guy Courchesne]