Job Discussion Forums

[Kushluk]

I posted this in the Chile forum, but there was no answer, so I guess I'll introduce it to a wider audience here. Some of you may have worked in Chile in the past. I posted this :

hey,

I'm interested in looking into ESL teaching in Chile. I was adopted as a child FROM Chile and as far as I know I'm a Chilean citizen. Will this be a problem? I can speak Spanish. I'm also an American citizen. I have both passports, one being my new american, one the other being an ancient Chilean passport from the Pinochet regime (scary bright red ;P).

I will be getting my degrees soon in English and Chinese, maybe I might go a little longer and add Spanish.

If I were to get a MA Tesol could I teach at University? Are there strictures about what schools are acceptable to the government (ala the MOE of Taiwan).

What is the job market like in Chile? Is anyone going to pay for my flight? I know very well flights to Chile are big bucks. I am ok with a 1 yr contract.

I heard someoen call Santiago Santiasco. Whats so Ascoso about it, ha. Is it polluted? Keep in mind I spent my life in NY or Wash DC, that is superpolluted ubercities so... if you come from east Texas and tell me it's a sesspool.... well I might be used to that kind of sesspool. People said that about Taiwan, and it was about as gross as NYC, maybe cleaner. I wasn't shocked at all.

I lived in Taiwan for a while so I am more clear about the situation there than here. I can speak Chinese too if that helps ha.

I just want some information here. I am MUCH obliged to whoever answers these queries! Thanks a lot.

[matttheboy]

well i shan't comment on tefling in chile beyond that i know you can make ends meet in santiago and if you're lucky in vina or valpo. not being a teacher anymore, i haven't really kept up with that side of things.

it was probably me that called santiago santiasco or santiar sehole. put it this way, the government calls levels of pollution "good" that are 3 times higher than the "emergency" levels in US cities. in winter, smog can reach 300ppm-that's 10 times higher than emergency levels in the US.

Santiaguinos are also not the most pleasant bunch but i guess that's down to the individual. I can't stand being in santiago for more than a day or so because of the smog and the people. Some don't have this reaction to either issue.

Valpo is much nicer-outside of santiago the locals are friendlier and there's no smog (both usual for capital v provincial city in any country). I'd rather have a hot poker inserted where the sun refuses to shine than live in santiago.

You'll still have chilean citizenship but it's likely you'll have to re-register and get a new c�dula. Being a citizen is an advantage as you won't have to get a work visa, meaning you're free to work legally for whoever you want. Foreigners get work visas tied to their contract-lose the job and you lose the visa. It's better to have a bit more freedom.

[Kushluk]

Thanks for the information!

As far as finding an esl job would it be easier to arrive then look or look over the net then arrive?

yes you are right about the ced�la. What about Millitary Service? Can I get out of it, or does that require a 'small contribution' to the right people? Is bribery still big, or no? My parents tell me stories.

[matttheboy]

you're probably best off looking for a job when you arrive. have some money saved up to cover your start up costs-check the chile forum for info on how much.

not much idea about military service. according to my girlfriend, university students don't have to do it-they have to present papers proving they're going to uni. it basically means that the only people who do the service are the poor. you'd probably have to make some kind of presentation to the military but i very much doubt you'd have to complete the service. Bribery in chile is not the done thing-http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/global/cpi actually ranks chile level with the US and belgium and higer than spain when it comes to bribery and corruption. Don't ever try to bribe a policeman here, you'll end up in jail very quickly.

[Kushluk]

Thanks a lot for the info.

Thanks for the heads up about bribes, my parent's stuff comes from years and years ago.

And as far as the service I guess I should see the counsulate. I wrote a letter but it never got answered I do remmeber seeing something like an "excuse card" or something which you get for going to uni. I'm kinda vauge about how the whole thing works. If you go to uni does that excuse you permanently? Or do you have to go after? These are just questions in my mind.

I'm grateful for all the info!
Andre

[Kushluk]

bump!