Job Discussion Forums

[valdemar]

Hi there!
I would really appreciate your advise and assistance concerning relocating to Chile;

What are the chances of finding a job teaching English in Chile being a non-native speaker and not being in posession of a recognised teaching diploma? I am fluent in Danish, Spanish and English and can speak some German and French. I also have experience in consultancy, the NGO world and is really very internationally minded (whatever that means...). I have lived abroad (the EU and LA) for many years and do not find it difficult to adapt to new situations and new ways of life. BUT; 1) would I be able to find a job in Santiago? 2) what would I realistically be able to earn per month as an English teacher in Santiago? (hours and transportation etc.) 3) does anybody know if is very difficult (ie. impossible) to get a job at the universities, in consultancies or NGO's as a consultant/adviser and where would you suggest that I start my search?
Please, provide me with whatever information you may find useful....

Thanks!

[valdemar]

Ah, come on...Somebody must have something to tell? Pleaseeee

[john_n_carolina]

in general, in LA you earn about $500-700 a month as an ESL teacher. usually, you have to get your own health insurance.

Santiago pays a little better than normal, and Argentina pays the lowest (after you pay rent).

You probably won't find work for an NGO unless you are Wash DC based or something.

So, your best bet is to teach as much as you can, and teach privates on the side. Most of your income will be 0 at the end of the month, so it's best to bring about $10k in savings to LA, and you'll be fine.

For Santiago, just come on down, like the Price is Right.

[valdemar]

Dear johninmaine
Thanks for your reply...
One thing - do you think being Danish is a problem? I mean Danish is afterall my native language!
Thanks!

[john_n_carolina]

....depends on how strong your accent is? if it's hardly recognizable, no problem...but, in LA they pick up on this and are very good listeners. i had a German co-worker teacher whose accent was "medium" and my friends told me it was hard for them to understand a little.

but, in general you shouldn't have a problem. in fact, there might be a need for Danish tutoring but your best bet is still ESL and more secure.

like i said, all of LA, almost 80-90% of the institutes hire once you're down there, face to face. because, they need to hear you. for example, a strong Texas / Mississippi accent is very hard to understand also.

[valdemar]

Thanks John...

Though I was brought up to be modest, I really don't think that I have much of an accent and definitely not as spelled out as many germans (sorry guys... ) I assume it shouldn't be a major problem!

Hmm, tutoring Danish???? I would probably only have one student a year - who would like to learn Danish??? Semi-useless language!

Please, let the advise/suggestions coming - I really do appreciate it!

[koshechka]

i am sorry, i am a little confused, do you want to go to chile or to la? i thought from your post that you were interested in santiago but then i read the answers. anyway, in santiago you can make something like a million chilean pesos per month, it will take some time to build up to that but it's not all that difficult. this translates (roughly) to 2 thousand american which is enough to live on if you have a normal lifestyle which does not include snowboarding and other things some people chose to do. the apartments cost around 300-400 dollars (150, 200,000 chilenos) and umm, i don't think that anyone will notice if you are not a native. i am russian myself and this has never been a problem. what else did you ask, i forget but in general work at university is more difficult to find, but also not impossible. it depends where but they may be paying something like 7,000 per hour or 12,000 per hour depending on the institution. a beer in a bar costs 1,000 (1/2 liter). well, ask away if you have any doubts.

good luck,
koshechka

[valdemar]

Dear Koshechka

You understood me right - I am interested in Santiago!
And what encouraging news in terms of the salary which as a Dane has worried me quite a lot eventhough I realise that the chilean style of life is cheaper than the Danish one. I don't need a luxury life, just get by without too many worries.

Please, do not hesitate to tell me a bit more about how you found work; institutes, schools or private students? how much work per week ( and the issue of transport...can you actually manage 37 hours if you have to move around the city to students), how about stability (i.e. how to assure an income if students cancel et al.), what's your background (degrees, ESL/CELTA or???) Ideally, I would love to work at the international office of one of the universities, which I believe is really where I could be doing the best job...but I don't know if it is possible at all and if these exist at chilean unis as it is the case in other countries?

Thank you ever so much for your insider tips!

[koshechka]

hi valdemar,
well, students do cancel left and right, this is the negative side of privates. the universities don't really have so many opportunities abroad and in any case they would rather hire someone chilean for that position, or so i think. as far as hours per week, it's hard to say, i work about 20-25 but before you assume that i am lazy i have to say that the transportation makes it much more difficult to use your time effectively. that and the privates all want the same time, morning (which i don't take) before work, lunch time (1-3) and after work (7-9) approximately. 1/2 an hour to an hour transportation one way and you will be out most of the time although the actual work time is not that much. the university gives blocks of classes, from 9:30 to 12:30 for example, but it could be that one semester you only have one class and another 3 and it just varies and isn't up to you. so, lot's of luck in it really.
ciao,

koshechka

p.s. you should look into the problem of pollution before you decide to move here, it's really depressing