Job Discussion Forums

[naturegirl321]

I've found a lot of info here on Dave's over the years and it seems like there are a few better than average employers that keep coming up in the posts for TEFL teachers. These places don't usually require PhDs or teaching licenses. Some of these employers I've found out about through other posters such as shebab, Gerund, and windowlicker and others have posted their adverts here on the job boards.

Colombia
Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla Colombia: about US $2400 a month, plus 30 days paid vacation, plus Carnival and Holy Week off. Can get tenure after one year. The year to year contract people get 15 days paid vacation, but they get a ticket home every year, instead of every two years.
International House Bogot� (pay around $2 million pesos / month):
Universidad EAN (pay around $3-4million pesos / month)
Universidad de la Sabana
Universidad Manuela Beltran (pay around $3million pesos / month
Universidad EAFIT

Costa Rica
Maxino Nivel teacher trainer: 1000 to 1800

Ecuador
EIL
Southern Cross

Guatemala
Maxino Nivel teacher trainer: 1000 to 1800

Mexico
Monterrey Tec

Peru
Maxino Nivel teacher trainer: 1000 to 1800
UDEP

Worldwide Organisations
Bell
British Council
EF
Being an IELTS examiner
International House
Wall Street
Open English: teaching online

[spanglish]

Top places in Bogota to teach (more or less in order, excluding high schools):

British Council
Universidad de los Andes
Universidad Externado
Universidad de la Sabana

I've heard very little good about teaching for EAFIT unfortunately.

[Argofoto]

Do you have any more info on working for Southern Cross? I know they have a nice Celta with an extra week of class, food + accom for $2250 sure looks good.

[naturegirl321]

There are a couple people who have worked for them, They don't just hire Brits like some people say. I've heard nothing but good things about them. Have you tried a search? Best of luck!

[newdayrising]

[spanglish]

[just_a_mirage]

I have been working in Ecuador for the last decade and I have heard some not so good things about Southern Cross. Particularly as far as expectations go. Things that are expected from teachers, are not made clear, according to those I have talked to. Most of those I have talked with have been from the UK, and although they will sometimes hire a non-UK citizen, that does not seem to be common. I want to be completely honest and say that I have never worked for them, nor have I taken their CELTA course. I am involved in hiring teachers here in Guayaquil, and have heard quite a few complaints about Southern Cross from prospective teachers. I had thought perhaps it was sour grapes, from teachers who were not up to snuff, but most had good references that checked out, and the ones that we did hire have done very well.

[spanglish]

[spanglish]

[Argofoto]

wow... with a DELTA only 1500 a month? I would think DELTA would help more than that... but then the living expenses are probably very very low.

[HLJHLJ]

$1500/month is a reasonable wage in Ecuador. You could easily save $500/month if you were sensible with it.

There are 2 main problems with Sth X. First is that the top management can be ... challenging .... to work with. If you work at any big language school in Quito or Guayaquil you will come across an ex-Sth X teacher with a story to tell. The extent to which this matters depends mainly on where you are working. The main office is in Guayaquil, so it's a bit more hands-off in Quito. Things generally stay hands-off in Quito as long as they have good admin staff there, but they have trouble keeping staff, so you don't always know what you'll be getting.

The second problem is that the image they promote is that of something bigger and better than your average language mill. They pay a little more than most schools and tend to hire better teachers as a result. Those teachers arrive with higher expectations, and then discover that it is just another language mill and one that expects a pound of flesh for the extra dollar or two they pay. There are other issues, but a lot of them are just the 'Ecuadorian' way of doing business. Teachers don't expect it because it's promoted as being high quality and British run so it causes a lot of discontentment among staff. Go in with the low expectations people usually have at a language mill and you probably won't be disappointed.

Having said that, the staff at Quito seems (relatively) stable right now. There are teachers there who are just finishing 12 month full time contracts, and it's been a few years since that's happened, so hopefully that's a good sign.

[HLJHLJ]

Oh, also the CELTA course is run virtually independently of the language schools. I have nothing but good things to say about the CELTA course. There are quite a few posts about it on here if you search.

[KatrinaESL]

Thanks a lot, Naturegirl! I'm looking for university jobs in Colombia. I have a masters degree and currently work at a university in the US.

If you have any advice for me, I'd appreciate it!!!! I'll keep checking back!

[Xie Lin]

[naturegirl321]