Job Discussion Forums

alaskad · Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 20 Location: austin, tx

Hi there.

I'm a Texan Cool

, 24, BA in English, no TEFL or anything like that. I have an obligation to live here in Texas until mid-august.

My dream is to go to either Eastern Europe ( Prague?) or South America (Mendoza, Argentina?) but...

If I earned my TEFL in one of these countries, I would be looking for work by October or Novemeber. This is horrible timing, I gather from this forum. Should I do it anyway, and just hope for a job?

And how much cash do I need to start out somewhere? Embarassed

Thanks!
Deborah

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Language schools hire year round, as turnover at many is pretty high.

I suggest that the amount of money you need depends on your security needs. Somewhere between 2,000 and 5,000 dollars.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Come on Moonraven!!!! Surely there are no jobs in Eastern Europe for a 24 year old(in TEFL) earning 5000 dollars a month. If so can you let me know?(Although older than 24)

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I think Moonraven's referring to the amount of savings you should have before heading abroad, right? No one in Central Europe or South America is making that much per month with just a basic TEFL course and a BA!

And, I agree with Moonraven, if my interpretation is correct. It's important to have some cash in reserve (and KEEP it in reserve as much as possible) to tide you over until you can find a job.

Prague in November will not be the easiest job market. It's easier to find quick work in Poland or in smaller cities in the CZ. I would say it should be pretty safe that you could have work by January, but it's not so certain that you'd have immediate work right off your course.

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

If you have an obligation to be in Texas until August (unless this obligation is in order to finish your BA) then why don't you do an English language teaching certificate in Texas and keep checking job sites like this one for jobs in the areas in which you want to work.

Prague is not Eastern Europe and its country (Czech Republic) is in the EU (as of 2004). So if you don't have some sort of EU passport on top of the American one, you may be hard-pressed to find legal work there.

AsiaTraveller · Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 12:03 am Post subject:

A perfect job for you is now listed on the Internation Jobs board here at Dave's.

"Poland! - The Experience of a Lifetime Beckons!"

Although that position starts in mid-February, you might keep the school in mind. With your BA in English and any (optional) TEFL training you might pick up locally in Texas, you might like the place.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

South america will offer similar problems in Oct-Nov for job seeking, though not at all impossible. March of course is best in the Cone.

Moving just a little north in Latin America would be better for that time of year. Mexico or Costa rica me thinks

alaskad · Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 20 Location: austin, tx

Wow thanks for all the replies.

I will try to save as much $ as possible while I am here in Texas, it's just not my strong suit. Embarassed

Thanks for that estimate of 2-5K needed for savings.

Also thanks for the idea about Mexico -my dollar would stretch farther there I imagine. My old reservation is... because I�m a native Texan, Mexico just doesn't sound far away enough to uphold my romantic ideas of travel. Embarassed

But really, I'm very open minded at this point.

I would like of course to earn my TEFL while I am here in Texas anyways, but I would have to do it online - I cannot find a place here in Austin for classroom instruction, and I feel that I would get a lot out of a classroom taught course, from reading this forum. So, I thought it might be the best thing to get my TEFL in the country where I plan to move.

Ok, one more question, por favor:

How much should I expect to pay for the TEFL cert?

I just seen so many price ranges, that I feel I need to be set straight. If it is a lot less expensive to get it in, say, Poland - perhaps my sway would be to move to Poland... or wherever ... Having an English degree makes me feel somewhat more competent, but I understand that TEACHING English is a different game than studying literature, so, I'll get the TEFL cert but the cheapest possible, I think!

Any advise is totally wonderfully appreciated!

Thanks again,
Deborah
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Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

You might find central and southern Mexico very different from the norther region. There is much more indigenous influence in places like Oaxaca, Puebla, and Chiapas so as to be a world apart from Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana, and Ciudad Juarez. Even Mexico City is a world unto its own.

You should be paying between $1000 and $2000 usd for a 2 or 4 week TEFL course in a classroom.

alaskad · Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 20 Location: austin, tx

Oaxaca, Puebla, and Chiapas DO sound like places to absorb some interesting culture!

Do you think I could get by without a car there? This is one reason I was thinking of sticking to a bigger city - public transportation.

Also, do you think Mexico is safe for a young woman, traveling alone? (another big decision-making factor)

thanks thanks thanks
deborah
Cool

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Mexico is dangerous only if you percieve it to be. Yeah, that's cryptic, but I think it true. If you have a good head on your shoulders, and can deal with the cultural differences, including making some changes in your own attitudes and behaviors, meaning, keeping an open mind, you'll do fine.

Mexico City has good transport. I think you should wait for others to pipe in here for public transport in other cities. I don't have a car (wouldn't want one in Mexico City) and don't plan on getting one.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

I haven't found a car necessary anywhere in Mexico that I have lived. That's one reason I sold mine 5 years ago!

alaskad · Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 20 Location: austin, tx

I'm intrigued by this Mexico idea!!! Laughing

Moonraven, thanks for the reply.

May I ask,

Where in Mexico have you lived?
What town would you recommend to an interested English Teacher?

Also, does anyone recommend a school to earn my TEFL?

Thanks x 10

Deb

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Since 1992 my home base has been Anenecuilco, Morelos, the birth village of Emiliano Zapata. It is 6 kilometers south of Cuautla.

I have lived while working away from home in Cuernavaca, Morelos;Saltillo, Coahuila; Metepec, Estado de M�xico; Puerto �ngel, Oaxaca; and Loma Bonita, Oaxaca. The last two are pretty dinky spots, but I didn't need a car.

For someone starting out here I don't know a town I would particularly recommend for someone else--tastes and needs are too different.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

For a teaching job and city/town, you'll have to balance availability of jobs, what you can earn, what your budget is, and what atmosphere you would like.

Without question, Mexico City is the highest paying market. The drawbacks are traffic, pollution, traffic, being a large city, did I say traffic? don't drive to Mexico City!!! Wink

Smaller towns offer a more pleasant environment, but less jobs and less pay. Cost-of-living may be lower to compensate. Examples are Queretaro, Cuernavaca, Puebla, Oaxaca, Morelia, among others.

Coastal towns tend to be resorts, with high cost-of-living, and low paying jobs. Working on the beach is nice, but can de difficult economically. Thinking Cancun, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta here.

If you would like to email me, I can help you a little further on the TEFL course decision. I can't be advertising our own TEFL course here on Dave's. [email protected]