Job Discussion Forums

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

It almost seems like a joke to me. But it's on the job board. Any takers?

Teachers Needed: Granada, Nicaragua

We pay $2/hour.
It will cost you at least $400/month to live here.
If you work 25 hours a week, you will make $200/month.
We have a furnished room in a nice house for $200/month.
Homestays with a Granadino family are $300/month, food included.

We do not provide housing.
We do not provide transportation from your country.
Work visas are not an issue at this time.

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

Brutally honest, but I'll wager it's real. This is Nicaragua after all. It should be relabelled as a volunteer position. If it was on the job board on this site, they paid almost two weeks of a teacher's salary to advertise it. Shocked

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 6:03 pm Post subject:

Work here and lose $200 a month? Gee, I can't wait.

In fairness, it's that way with a lot of stipended volunteer programs. And if it's a for a good cause, well, you all probably know by now that I'm NOT opposed to volunteer work.

But, if it were for a good cause, why wouldn't they SAY it was for a good cause. Lots of people say their cause is good when it ain't. But I haven't heard of too many organisations who don't say it is, if it is.

So this one sounds like yet another small company, figuring to take advantage of "rich gringos" who want to live in Latin America. What I like to do in this situation is see if I can put a name on the organisation, check their webpage, and see how much they charge students for a teachers services. Bets that it beats $400 a month?

Regards,

Justin

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 6:27 pm Post subject:

Erm, ah, RETRACTION OF PREVIOUS STATEMENT:

It actually does look like a good cause, or at least like it's trying to be.

Naturegirl, you took the funny part of the ad, and I'll admit that it caught my eye, but their entire posting puts it in much better context.

To hear the whole story, here's the ad in question. I'm not sending a CV, but I do feel they deserve a fair hearing. It might be a great place for somebody who wants teaching experience, wants to learn about latin culture, and wants to practice their Spanish.(Especially if they have a grand or so in the bank.): http://www.eslcafe.com/joblist/index.cgi?read=10713

I say good luck to them. Trying to run an educational organizacion professionally, when economic resources are scare, and the people who most need your services don't earn jack *BEEP*, is NOT an easy task. And if they're thinking about doing it by offering a unique experience, and short term contracts, to inexperienced teachers who want that experience, well, why not?

And at least they're straight up. Anybody who responds to this add knows they aren't going to be saving money.

Regards,
Justin