Job Discussion Forums

matcauthon · Joined: 16 Dec 2004 Posts: 11 Location: Japan

Ok, I`ve decided to give Latin America a shot. From what I can understand through this forum I should just fly straight to Mexico, Brazil, Argentina (or wherever I finally decide to go) and search for work when I get there. If I leave in early/mid September of this year will I be going at a bad time to search for a TEFL job in this region. Which countries out of this region are the easiest to find work in. Will my Bsc, CELTA and 3 years teaching experience ensure that I can easily find work or will I have any problems? Will I be able to break even after living there for a year? Anything I should do before I leave? Much oblidged to thee.

MixtecaMike · Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 643 Location: Guatebad

amandajoy99 · Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 63 Location: Brazil

i don't think september is the best time - at least here in brazil, and most other southern hemisphere countries - the academic year begins in january. most schools (private language schools as well as public high schools and universities) have one month of vacation in december and one month off in july. the best time to look is nov - dec, before the new year begins, but you may also have some luck in june - july, as some places may be hiring for the new semester.
doesn't mean it's impossible to find jobs any other time, though, and i don't know about the rest of the continent or mexico. good luck!

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

January? Really surprised to hear that. Argentina and Chile are March for a new academic year as far as I've been told, after summer is finished.

Mexico and Central America are fine for September starts...in line with North America.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

I think September is kind of late. In my area most schools start the beginning of October, and you'll need time to find work and deal with Imagracion.

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

October? I'm again surprised...I guess it isn't unifrom at all even within Mexico. I suppose it depends on what kind fo school/employment we're talking about. Secondarias are back on in late August in DF. Universities in early September. Straight language schools, from what I see, pick up more staff at the start of September, catching a wave of student enrollment right after they go back to school.

Breezee · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Posts: 19 Location: Chile

Well at least in Chile...

The busy season starts March/April and goes through November, minus a few weeks in September for independence day celebrations.

amandajoy99 · Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 63 Location: Brazil

Yup, classes normally begin again in January here, and then there is another week of vacation for Carnaval. If Carnaval happens to be early, as it was this year, the summer vacation might stretch out to cover that too - so this year classes began in mid-Feb, the week after Carnaval.

crm769 · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 3

One of the replies above mentioned a subject close to my heart...arriving with enough money to live for two months.
I know it's a tough question given regional variation etc. but, if a person arrived in, for example, Panama, with $2,000 US, would that be sufficient for a two month period (this would include a reasonably cheap apartment, eating out say two or three times a week, limited drinking, and cigarettes...)
Thoughts are welcomed and appreciated.

Smile

pirateinpanama · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 93 Location: Panama City, Panama

crm769; you can make it on 2 grand in Panama, but barely. It would mean taking a room (about $150. per month) as opposed to an apt. Cigs are cheap at $1 a pack...if you can deal with Marlboro and Viceroy made in C.America. Beers will cost you $1, as well. That would be Coronas. The local crap would be cheaper. Budweiser has become an endangered specie. As for food; eating out each day is possible on $10.
As for work, it�s gotten somewhat more difficult over the past few years for various reasons. There�s the usual terrible jobs in private schools for about $800 a month. There�s always someone quitting or getting fired.
University jobs are much more difficult now for reasons I can�t discuss on this board because of my position, but you can always try. Cool

Weona · Joined: 11 Apr 2004 Posts: 166 Location: Chile

Well, pirateinpanama, if cm769 were to get a room for $150/mo and eat out three times a week on avg which would = $150/mo and then probably another $100 for eating in? Then beer and cigs probably wouldn't cost him more than $50/mo... (depending on how much he drinks and smokes) and then there's transportation and liesure but all of this doesn't even nearly add up to 1,000 a month. I think $2,000 for two months sounds like something someone could easily do in the States or parts of Western Europe!