Job Discussion Forums

[NikNak]

Hi everyone,

My Background:

-I'm 21 about to be 22
-I'm a college graduate with a Bachelors in Marketing
-I took 2 years of Spanish in H.S. started self-study with Pimsleur last
January, and have been using my friends here in Miami to help me get better
-My passion is in Public Relations/Event Planning, and networking is a
key factor in this business
-My home is Miami; I lived in NY and hated it. Miami has it problems but
I'd definitely choose Miami over NY
-Most businesses in Miami require bilinguals
-Besides bilingualism being a necessity, something in me tells me I HAVE
to do it, for my own personal accomplishment
-I work at a Media agency, and volunteer with an Event Planning firm
-I live on my own and pay off my loan/school debt

With that said, I've decided the best thing for me, is to throw myself in a Latin American country and learn Spanish the immersion way. There are a lot of Spanish speakers here, but to tell you the truth, it's hard to get a Spanish speaker to speak with you in Spanish, it's like they get impatient and revert to English whenever you seem confused. Besides that, I want to experience the culture. Granted, not every Latin American country is the same, but I'd have a better chance of understanding the so-called 'Hispanic" culture if I spend some time in at least one country. I've researched for about two weeks now, and determined that getting a position in advertising/pr would be extremely difficult because of my level of fluency in Spanish. I spoke with an expat in Korea who told me the easiest work to get is EFL teaching. I considered simply saving up to maintain my bills while I'm away, but I'd still have to take care of myself while I'm in the said Latin American country. I'm not as passionate about teaching as many of you guys are, and spending so much on a certificate that I would use no more than 6-12 months feels unnecessary, but I'm ABSOLUTELY, WITHOUT A DOUBT, certain that I want to spend some time in say Mexico or Colombia (my friends have swayed me into choosing these countries) to become fluent in Spanish and learn more about the culture. Do you guys have any advice as to how I should approach this situation? I do have a proclivity towards teaching, as I've been tutoring in elementary and middle schools my entire college career, and have assisted teachers in a classroom setting. How can I spend 6 months to a year in a Latin America country while paying off my $215/month debt?

Any ideas or advice are welcome.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

One possibility might be to work for one of the chain schools in Mexico. Most of them don't pay a lot, but they do provide free teacher training to potential employees. If you have enough money saved up in advance to supplement your teaching income and are willing to live rather conservatively for a year, it could work.

[lozwich]

[corporatehuman]

You also don't have to passionate about teaching. This does not necessarily make you a bad teacher either. As long as you are a social person, have a good time in class (the key), the time will breeze by.

I am in a slightly similar position as you, in that I specifically came to Mexico to learn Spanish, as well I was thinking of job prospects for the future.

Look into schools that offer teaching AND spanish classes. The one unfortunate part about teaching English is that you have to speak English, which can (I believe) slow down learning Spanish. Unfortunately, unless you have a lot of money just to enroll full time in Spanish class, you often have no choice.

Couple things to consider for your spanish and to 'immerse' yourself.

Head to a small town. Small towns have less English speakers. As well, since life can get very boring you'll have to befriend people.

Find a program that includes a homestay.

And last, hopefully a program which gives you time to continue your Spanish studies (if you need them).

it sounds like living in Miami has at least been a great start. I came to Mexico speaking absolutely no Spanish, having studied none, and it is really amazing how quickly you begin to retain the language. Even just a month makes a huge difference, and a year....

I don't know enough about Colombia to tell you where to go, or really enough about the whole of Mexico. I went to Mexico because I had some friends here, and I was told (as lozwich said) that Mexican Spanish was the 'best' one to learn.

Anyway, best of luck with your decision

- Chris

[NikNak]

[lozwich]

What about finding a volunteer or internship program in Cuba?

[NikNak]

[NikNak]

So I've been conversing with English First, and someone at Harmon Hall, and they are telling me they can't find me work unless I'm willing to get a TEFL certificate. I checked up on it and unless I'm being misinformed, it will cost me around US$1,000 to take an intensive 4 wk course.

Do you think it makes more sense to use that $1,000 and pay for a Spanish immersion school, and then try and look for work outside of teaching, say in something I already have experience with? Or should I just invest in the TEFL certificate; are EFL teaching jobs that easy to get in Latin America, I mean onee I have the certificate?

[lozwich]

[MELEE]

Loz is wise beyond her years!
You might also want to look at Amerispan, (I believe their website is www.amerispan.org) for internships that are coupled with Spanish immersion. If you don't want to be a TEFL teacher, and you don't have money to burn a repuitable TEFL course might not be worth it for you. Or a school like Harmon Hall that has in house training. Like Corporatehuman said, teaching English can hinder your Spanish learning.
But I also started teaching English because I wanted to advance my Spanish and it was a way to live in LA again. (I started in Ecuador) Low and behold I liked it! and 11 years! later, here I am, still at it.

[naturegirl321]

Teaching English, unfortunately doesn't provide much opportunity to learn Spanish. You might be better just coming here to study.

[lozwich]

[RyanS]

Cuba is awesome, don't listen to those Mafiasos in Miami. That place is retardly anti-communist and has anti-cuba terrorists group that openly declare themselves as terrorists on television and don't get charged.

[NikNak]

@RyanS

Oh, I'm going there eventually, at least to visit. I was thinking about getting a pen pal from there. Just to see how it is. It might be a plus as well, that it would improve my Spanish, at least written Spanish.

[danielita]