Job Discussion Forums

chuchaqui · Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 13 Location: Baltimore, MD

Greetings everone. I am new to the TEFL world and am trying to make up my mind about where I want to go. I am a 24 year old American and I do have one year of teaching experience; I taught Spanish in the eighth grade last year in a public school. I currently have two good TEFL options.

Option one: I got accepted to teach TEFL in Thailand with the Peace Corps beggining in January.

Option two: I got accepted to take a TEFL course in Cuenca, Ecuador in late December. Upon completing it, I could stay at the CEDEI and teach TEFL, or move on to another country in South America.

I have a BA and MA in Spanish, and haved lived in Spain, but yearn to live in Latin America, so that is where my heart tells me to go. But I know the Peace Corps in hard to get into, has some post assignment cach�, etc. I must admit I have some trepidation about going to Thailand as well, principally because of the language. The Peace Corps assignments last 27 months, during which time you live with Thais exclusively, pretty much isolated from other Farangs. I just do not really think that the inabilty to really communicate well with others for over 2 years, would do very much for me. Or am I wrong? Has anyone lived in Thailand for an extended period of time and REALLY, TRULY adapted to the culture and learned the language? Is there anyone out there who has taught TEFL in Thailand and Latin America and could comment on the pros and cons of the two? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I have been in Thailand. I have not beeen in Ameroica, North or South.

It seems to me that after investing thousands of hours acquiring competence in Spanish, it would make sense to go to an environment where you can benefit from that !

Speaking the language makes it so much easier ! Not teaching but just life !

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

Living in Thailand exclusively with Thais would make it easier to learn the language. Thai is considered a difficult language to learn and would take much longer than Spanish so you would struggle for the first year but after that things would begin to fall into place and you will find it easier

chelsea · Joined: 05 Mar 2003 Posts: 22

Since you have a BA and MA in Spanish, and love latin cultures, I'd say go for teaching in S. America. Personally, I love Thailand, and wouldn't mind spending two years there, but it might not be the best idea to take the assignment and spend two years wishing you were living in south america.
Have you considered turning down the assignment, and telling your placement officer that you would really prefer to be placed in Latin America? I know a few volunteers who have done just that, held out for an assignment they really want. You could even head down to south america and do the TEFL course while you wait for them to send you another assignment, since sometimes that takes awhile. If they send you a second invitation your not crazy about, you'll still be in S America and onto plan B.

chuchaqui · Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 13 Location: Baltimore, MD

Thanks for all the info guys. I think that I am going to go to Ecuador instead of Thailand after all. It would be just so much easier, and probably more enjoyable and rewarding, given my background. I had not thought about requesting that the PC placed me in LA because I had requested that from the getgo. It seems to me that the options in LA are limited to more specialized jobs for the PC, which I am unqualified for, but I will definitely mention that to them and if worse coms to worse, I can just decline the invitation.

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

Peace Corps. it's hard to get into, you can always do a TEFL course later. And for Latin America, you probably don't need one.

chelsea · Joined: 05 Mar 2003 Posts: 22

fyi - the peace corps has lots of different types of assignments in LA, definitely not just specialized ones. i know quite a few people who served in that area, straight out of college - no specialized skills.
i am no authority, but from my experience it seems that where someone gets placed can sometimes depend on quotas that the placement officers are trying to fill for certain assignments - it doesn't mean you are unqualified for all other assignments.

MolsonCanadian · Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 9 Location: Toronto

Hi

I just wanted to know how easy/hard it is, if at all possible, for Canadians to join the peace corps, especially 20 year old ones who are still in university?

Thanks in advance

MolsonCanadian

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

Give it a shot. I know they accept other people than Americans, but they are few and far between. It depends on how many others applied and the quotas and such.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

What happened to CUSO, the Canadian equivalent of the Peace Corps and VSO ?

chinagirl · Joined: 27 May 2003 Posts: 235 Location: United States

I have lived in Cuenca. It is a quaint city, and CEDEI is reputable. That said, I would go to Thailand. (Been there, too, but not as a resident.) The Peace Corps is much more prestigious. You can always go back to Cuenca. But you may never be at a time of your life when you are single, young, and free to commit 2 years of your life to a challenge!

I know!

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

MolsonCanadian,

Sorry, the Peace Corps only accepts US citizens. Take a look at VSO, I think they may accept Canadian citizens.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I had HEARD that the Peace Corps will also accept US residents but I have no real evidence for this.

For Canadians there used to be an outfit called CUSO. Is that now defunct ?

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

scot47,

Wait a minute. Sarcasm in that last post of yours? Ah, that's why I'm a fan of yours.