Job Discussion Forums

nagilluc · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 9 Location: Oregon, USA

Hi all,

I'm new to the TEFL job world and would love some feedback. I've been hoping to get down to LA to teach English for a while now, but life threw a few health-related curveballs and there was a bit of a delay. In the meantime, I did take a CELTA course and am currently finishing up a Masters in Teaching. I have some teaching experience, but not in EFL. Oh, and I can get by in Spanish (but it's not always pretty).

It sounds like it's best to just head down with a stack of CVs and start looking, but South America can seem overwhelmingly large and diverse to someone who's never been. I thought if I explained some of what I'm looking for, you all might be able to help me narrow it down.

Ideally I'm looking for a town or city that's lively but not super big/urban, and not as party oriented as say, Buenos Aires (like I said, health issues kind of mellowed me out). Otherwise, just warm people, places to hike, and the option to make enough $ to support myself and have some weekend adventures. I have thought about Cuenca and Mendoza because they sound like more manageably sized cities in beautiful areas. Any feedback on what it's like to live and find a job in either place? Or other smaller towns that might be a good match?

Thanks in advance. This forum's been a great way to start to orient myself.

KC

MamaOaxaca · Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 201 Location: Mixteca, Oaxaca

Are you at all interested in Mexico?
There are job opportunities in Universities through out Mexico for someone with an MA in Teaching.

I lived in Cuenca in 1995 and loved it there. So beautiful, and as a small town girl I felt it was plenty big enough to be exciting! Wink

I looked at going back in 1998, I had a job offer, but then I got another offer with a salary about 10 times higher in Mexico.

jgramms · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 1 Location: Seattle, WA

Mendoza is a awesome little city. You should be able to maintain yourself there as an ESL teacher once you get estabilished but it always helps to have dollar reserves so you don't have to struggle to make ends meet at the end of the month.
A lot of backpackers go through Medoza because you can do a lot of things for little money. Like go on excursions into the mountains and of course skiing.

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

There's some unis in the north of Peru that will get you a visa, try the University of Piura or the National University in Trujillo. See the LA job list for links. Otherwise as for Peru, you'll have to work in a primary or secondary school for a legal visa. BUt with all that said and done, lots of peopel work under the table.