Job Discussion Forums

[MikeyG]

Does anyone have any knowledge or experience of teaching in Argentine universities?

[hollyjeanette]

I have been wondering the same. I am in the US now working toward my spanish degree. I hope someday to work in BA teaching English in a university. Did you find anything out? I will be meeting soon with a counselor at the university I attend here. I will post if I find out qualifications, salary, etc.

[Palmettoman]

I would assume it would be basically the same as in the states. You would need an M.A. in English or higher to teach at the college level here.

Fluency in Spanish would be necessary, but the Spanish degree itself doesn�t entitle you to teach English.

One more thing--coming to South America to teach is only worth it if you�re in it for the EXPERIENCE of being here. There are very few financial incentives to education in Argentina.

[hollyjeanette]

Awesome! But does a spanish degree plus TEFL cert work? Do you know about salaries? Is there much need for spanish teachers? I know there is an international school in BA called Lincoln School where they have spanish curriculum. Its sponsered by the State Department. Are there any other schools that may have a spanish program? Thanks!

[boomonde]

this is just my fyi, but do you really think that you would be competitive teaching SPANISH in BA?

No offense but I would laugh if some Japanese university hired a japanese non native speaker who studied English to teach English, when there are 100s of qualfied English teacher like me in Japan with a tefl and an english lit degree. It would just be silly. And I teach people who actually teach English who are Japanese and they make TONS of errors, even little ones are just glaring, so no matter how proficient you are, you will never be as proficient as the native speaker, who also has your same degree.

just my fyi

[hollyjeanette]

No, I don't think anything, that's the point of the forum to ask questions and find out. I was specifically referring to the international school. I don't know how much of a presence there is of English speakers vs. Spanish teachers, that's all I meant. Relax!

[Palmettoman]

I�d say if you want to teach Spanish, stay in the states. There is a big need for Spanish teachers at the secondary level.

If you want to be in BA then you will probably be teaching English. If it�s at a University you want to teach, then I�d go for a M.A. in English.

Also as far as salary goes, I think it really depends on whether the university is public or private, but either way I wouldn�t expect much. Public (secondary) teachers here make around 400 pesos per month, which ain�t exactly "the good life."

[hollyjeanette]

Palmettoman, thanks for the concrete info, that's really helpful. If I do move there to teach, my husband will have his retirement and we will both have our social security as well. So even if I only make 400 pesos a month, that will be living the good life in our case. I really am more interested in having fun teaching and loving my students and my work. The 400 pesos will be icing on the cake to enjoy eating well at my favorite, La Biela! Chau y gracias.

[gigisehr]

You will make VERY little money, if any. At the Universidad de Buenos Aires, more than half of the teachers work ad honorem, and the rest make about 700 pesos (recently changed to minimum of 840 pesos) per month. I would recommend working in a private university (I doubt you could get hired at a public one). Last year I missed almost a month of classes at UBA because the teachers were on strike (and with good reason, they make absolutely nothing compared to their qualifications). But I would definately not depend on finding a university level position here, and yes, you would need a Masters.

[MRosa]

I will be arriving in BA very soon for a TEFL course that starts on April 24. I will be teaching English for a while but the thought of studying for my MA in Spanish in BA has crossed my mind. I will be teaching English to pay for my stay, but I'd like to be able to do an MA in Spanish at the UBA so when I go back to the States I can teach Spanish at university level position. How feasible is this plan in BA? Work as an English teacher and study for an MA at the same time? Also being a non Argentine citizen will I be able to go to a public university like UBA? Any advice is appreciated.

Maria Rosa

[matttheboy]

To study for an MA at an argentine uni you'll need to enrol on a course and organise your student visa BEFORE coming to argentina. Contact the various unis and they'll let you know how but remember that it can take 2-4 months to organise the visa which you have to pick up in your home country.

[mep3]

I have a PhD in English lit (and a CELTA & a bunch of Eng. & ESL teaching experience). Would I be able to get a job at a private uni? Also:

--is the pay semi-decent at the private uni's?

--would I need to be on the ground there to get the job, or might I be able to get it applying before I come?

--any private health insurance at the private uni's?

Thanks a lot ... mep

[Luder]

I was in Argentina in the late 90s and had a friend who taught English at the university. He didn't have an MA and he wasn't exactly a university employee; instead, he was paid by some sort of association that provided English classes to students in other subjects at UBA. At the time, the pay was as good as in the best private institutes.

I remember dropping a CV off at this place too (somewhere on avenida C�rdoba). I got a call a few months later, but by then I'd already made up my mind to leave.