Job Discussion Forums

[hollyjeanette]

I am seeking to find out how the cultural attitude is in Argentina regarding the following:

As all you estadounidences know, we have a flood of spanish speaking immigrants coming into the country. Some of us, like most on this forum, welcome to opportunity to break down communication barriers by learning their languages and teaching ours. We want to help them assimilate into our culture. However, there are those who do not welcome immigrants with open arms and on the contrary have an ethnocentric attitude that our language is the best language, our way is the best way, and they should speak English first before coming here. That means that just because we are native English speakers does NOT mean that we are clammering at the opportunity to be ESL teachers.

So, as Boomonde advised me, it may be difficult to compete with obviously more qualified Spanish teachers as they are native speakers no matter how proficient I become in Spanish. This is my question: How is their cultural attitude in Argentina regarding teaching foreigners to speak Spanish? Are the natives happy and willing to work as Spanish teachers or do they pass up on the opportunity because of cultural barriers?

Anyone who has worked or is working there, I would appreciate your input and perspective on this cultural aspect. Gracias!

[Palmettoman]

I haven�t worked in ESL here, but am myself a Spanish teacher back in the states. First and foremost, I don�t think any qualified language teacher would turn down the chance to teach foreigners--especially those with dollars or euros. Aside from economical issues, I think BA is the exception in Argentina, and many people (most young people) do speak at least a basic level of English. Here in BA I haven�t really seen the anti-foreign attitude that you mentioned from the states. I do think that the general consensus is that Americans do not make much effort to speak the language. I remember overhearing a couple of waiters talking in Mar del Plata about how Americans travel the world, never attempting to speak the local languages, however foreigners who travel to the states are expected to speak in English.

While I don�t necessarily think that encouraging other nationalities to learn English makes us ethnocentric, I do agree that in the states that sentiment does exist. I would have to say that I haven�t had anyone treat me much differently because they know I�m foreign. Most people respond with a friendly "De donde sos" and many share their stories about when they were there (most in Miami, and all before the 2001 crisis). But remember that this anti-foreigner sentiment DOES exist in reference to Bolivians, Peruvians, and other nationalities, much as it does in the states.

I�m not sure what your particular plans are in BA, but with respect to teaching Spanish as a non-native, remember that Porte�o Spanish is a very "deformed" (as one Argentine put it) version of Spanish. And let�s be honest, the traditional "T� eres" is much more practical than the "vos sos" when traveling in Latin American countries, though I have grown to really enjoy hearing this dialect. But if you had a chance to teach Spanish somewhere in BA (where I�m not sure), I�d say it would be because of that.

Well this is probably not exactly the information that you asked for, but maybe it will be a springboard for other posters to share some opinions.

[hollyjeanette]

Thanks Palmettoman for your time to weigh in. I was already aware of the attitude in the country toward other South American immigrants. I just didn't know if Argentine young adult students while in school aspire to Spanish teachers as opposed to any other profession. From your reply, sounds like there's no shortage of Spanish instructors. Guess I will stick to teaching Spanish in the states and double major with English so that I can teach English there.

I still have two questions:

Has anyone heard of or know anyone who works at the international school Lincoln School in the north of BA?

Is anyone familiar with circumstances working in private secondary school teaching English, ie qualifications and salary? Maybe the same as University?

Muchisima Gracias! Holly