Job Discussion Forums

[slas7713]

Hello Alll,

I'm new so I'll first give some brief background on myself. I recently quit a systems analyst/Project manager job, Computing Science bachelors degree, and will be taking the CELTA certification course at Houstons North Harris College in June of 2005. I have traveled extensively in the past but more recently in 2003 I spent close to a year in the Dominican Republic where I taught English for four months at the local language school in Luperon and studied Spanish. Besides that, my teaching experience involves writing user manuals for the software my group developed and then personally teaching the software classes throughout the US.

In July I plan on beginning my search for ESL employment. I am still weighing the pros and cons of the various locations but I am leaning towards Mexico, Central or South America because of my Spanish skills and general attraction to Latin American culture.

Now the questions sticking in my crawl:
Do any of you have experience in marrying technology skills with your language teaching skills and what type of position did it involve? What type of company or organization do you think would find this type of experience most useful and how? Is there a job market in this area?

I read that Mexico is the best paying location to teach throughout the Central and South American region. Is this in fact true? What cities are the most attractive for prospective employees?

I would also be interested in Columbia, Panama, or Honduras. Can you give me any insight into the current status of employment in these areas?


OK, enough for now. I am open to suggestions and not opposed the going anywhere in the world. Just get me out of the cubical!!!

I appreciate all input, advice, and help you can provide.

Steve

[Tamara]

I'm an ESL computer lab manager. First, though, I was an English teacher, then an ESL instructor. I learned the software available in our lab, and someone thought it'd be a good idea to have me there on a regular basis. Since then, I've been able to find new software to suggest, do some training on our programs or Power Point for our teachers, and a few other things that have been helpful to the program. I make sure the students can use the software, which usually requires some intense tutorials the first few weeks of a new semester, but then they just kind of take off on their own and ask questions when they need to. I don't know if I'd say I have technology skills, because all I do is use what's in front of me. I don't open computers or do any kind of programming.

Also, I'm working at a community college in North Carolina--so I can't help you with overseas info.

[slas7713]

Thanks Tamara,

This gives me more options to look into.

Steve