Job Discussion Forums

brice00 · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 1 Location: Fort Collins, CO

A newbie looking for advice.

I've got a Masters in English (but not TEFL) and no TEFL cert. I also have three years teaching experience (basic composition and creative writing) and I'm just now beginning my search for TEFL jobs. (I am not sure yet if I'm in for the long haul or just 2-3 years.)

What I want to know, though, is where should I be focusing my search. I'm most interested right now in Argentina and Brazil, but am entirely open to suggestions. I've got student loans to pay off and need to be able to make enough for that. (In other words, I'm not looking to get rich, just pay off loans.) What countries should I be looking at and do I need a TEFL Cert?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Brice

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

ElNota · Joined: 28 Mar 2005 Posts: 123 Location: Buenos Aires

Why SE Asia? I think you can save a lot more money in Korea, Japan, or Taiwan... if that is your goal.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

I agree with ls650. Don't come to work in Latin America if you have student loans. Unless you are planning not to pay them off....

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

In the five years I have lived in Mexico, I find the cost of living has nearly doubled. Unfortunately the wages don't keep pace, and in fact if you aren't careful you can easily slip into deeper debt here (never mind having enough to pay off existing debt). Try to steer clear of the tourist areas or areas which have been discovered by foreign expats.

portochuck · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 48 Location: Brazil

I would check out Brazil....Although Im not sure what you think "GOOD MONEY" would be....Most Private English school pay around R$10-14per hour...but you could get a job at a Private School..Primary...or high Shool or maybe one of the many Collegea...and make more.....but you first have to learn Portuguese....after that you could make OK money...but remember the exchange is about 2.5 to 1.....

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

stay home if it's a matter of $$$. Even if you have to teach in a small community college in northern North Dakota for $35-$40 grand a year.
You can live very comfortably in this part of the world with the right TEFL job, but to pay off student loans is really something else entirely.
Good luck!

jello1 · Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Posts: 40

Pirate, where are you from? THe way you wrote N ND makes me think you may be from there.

If so, small world, I spent two years in Grand Forks....

sheena maclean · Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:11 pm Post subject: Bogota

Well for the last year I have been working in bogota and it has worked fo me!! Because there aren`t many native speakers here they are especially in demand. I have a mix of private and business students. for my private students I charge 30,000 per hour for one student thats about $12.50 or about $7 for the business peaople thru and intitute. i think this is pretty good money for south america. It is very vheap to live here aswell and you could survive easily on less than $500 permonth.
hope thts helped
sheena

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

It may be pretty good money if you are teaching 40 hours a week--or at least contracted for that many hours per week. If you choose to spend only about 15 hours a week--maybe 20 maximum--in the classroom it's not enough to live decently and also pay back student loans.

thelmadatter · Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 5:36 pm Post subject: disagree

I have to disagree with the posters above. It may be possible for you to find a job with ITESM. They hire teachers for their bicultural and bilingual programs (which teach a number of classes in English, including U.S. history and composition). They probably would hire you for EFL because your degree is in English. Your master's is what I am focusing on here. There is a big push, system-wide to have teachers with master's degrees - an uphill battle for them.

Send me an email or pm ... theres more Id like to share with you if you are interested.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Caution required with ITESM.

It is not a politically correct place to work.

gambasbo · Joined: 23 Nov 2003 Posts: 93 Location: Cochabamba, Bolivia

Definitely not Bolivia

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Bolivia--for someone who wants some excitement--is THE place to be right now.

thelmadatter · Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 8:12 pm Post subject: OK

OK, Ill bite. What do you mean by