Job Discussion Forums

[ElAvilaMahoney]

Newbie forum is the place for me I see.

I'm 23 years old, native English speaker, fluent in Spanish since I was 11 years old. I don't have any sort of University degree, only a TEFL from an online course I took.

I'm trying to gauge how easy it will be for me to find a job in Latin America. I'm planning on moving there in January.

I got my TEFL online from I-to-I.com. I'm not sure this was the best decision I've made, but it's the course I got certified in. I hope to teach young learners English.

My question is: How easy do you think it would be for me to find a job in LA? How much would you expect me to earn a month?

From what I've read, holding a Univ degree in Latin America isn't essential or 100% needed, is this true?

Any information is helpful and appreciated! Thanks and Cheers, Brendan.

[Phil_K]

From Mexico:

I think that if you want to teach young learners you will probably need to work in a school or uni, and with minimal certification and no experience that could be difficult. On the other hand, if you don't mind changing your aims and teach anybody, then as a native speaker with some kind of certificate, getting a job in a private institution shouldn't be difficult. In this kind of job, the hourly rate varies between $80-$150+ (pesos) , and depending on how many hours you are given, you should be able to make between $7000-$10000 p.m. (in Mexico City). Enough to live on reasonably well.

[Guy Courchesne]

I agree with Phil on this...and extending it out most of Latin America, I think you'll have a hard time getting into a teaching environment with kids. Best bet with what you have is a language school, where you will get some exposure to older kids and adults.

[Phil_K]

Forgot to mention that many of the major language schools do in-house classes which could be a mixture of kids and adults, but usually pay less than company classes, around $70-$90 MX.

Just thinking, with fluent Spanish you might just squeeze into a school in the public sector - I read somewhere that over 50% of primary school teachers in Mexico don't have a degree - but its not something I'd want to do for job satisfaction reasons, and the pay is abysmal.

[Guy Courchesne]

[ElAvilaMahoney]

Ok so let me get this straight:

In order to work is 'most' LA countries I would need a work permit? In order for the countries' government to issue me a work permit I need to have a Univ degree??

What about working under the table?

This is depressing news, from what I've read in various TEFL books is that all you really need is a TEFL certificate??

I don't understand how it could be this difficult, when some companies are just asking for 'native English speakers'??

From what I see there are something like 3-4 options to teach English in LA:

1. Public school
2. Private School
3. Language School
4. Private Lessons

Is this correct? And if so...my best bet would be to teach English in a language school?


Bare in mind I'm thinking about teaching in SA..if that helps at all.

[Guy Courchesne]

Let me clarify. Most governments require a degree to issue a work permit. Many jobs will also need the degree to demonstrate your qualifications. The top jobs will require that degree to be relevant to teaching...a Master's or Bachelor's in Education for example. Some types of teaching jobs will hire you on no degree but will want to see experience. Other types of schools will hire you with no degree and no experience.

Working under the table is commonplace around Latin America. It is of course illegal, so know that you are potentially subject to such things like deportation and fines. Basically, be careful if you go that route.

[Phil_K]

Ah, well now you are saying SA, not LA in general.

If the immigration authorities are the same as Mexico, then it is possible to get a visa without a degree. We debated this a lot on the Mexico forum and the only conclusions were that the authorities were variable on this one. For the record, when I got my first teaching job, I wasn't asked for any qualifications. I think a mixture of being a native speaker and being "qualified" by the school hiring me (a letter from them telling immigration you are qualified to do the job) was sufficient. Whether this works in SA, I don't know.

[ElAvilaMahoney]

Thanks for all your responses, I appreciate them enormously.

It seems I it's not as easy as I made it out to be. Hopefully I can find a school that will value my I-to-I certificate and native speaker skills.

I'm not going to LA to make the big money, mostly to gain experience teaching English in an environment that is cheap to live in, that I already speak the native language, and has more cultural beauty then McDonalds, Subway and Hollywood movies.

I guess I wanted some sort of affirmation that this will be an easy thing to do, that's kinda why I signed up on the forums. I didn't quite get the answers I wanted to hear, but that is rare anyways.

If there is anyone else that has some advice or was in a similar position when they decided to go "into the wild" let me know.

[wildchild]

[Guy Courchesne]

Same way America is reserved for the US?

[wildchild]

Pretty much, yes.

[dixie]

I know nothing about i-to-i.com (I assume it comes from the british volunteer group thing....) nor do I know much abut language schools. I do know (somewhat) about private bilingual schools. Reality is that if you can find a school that is desperate for a native speaker (meaning, bad school - in regards to the kids, management and environment for you as the teacher - or simply small and in a country most people don�t look at) then you will be able to work at a school.

I worked in Honduras with an undergrad but no teaching certification and no experience. I worked in Mexico with no teaching certification, but with experience.

It is possible, but I had my work before I left for the country. Just plan, think and try it all out. And be prepared for work situations that don�t leave you coming home with a smile.

I know it sounds horrible, but, you should still have good working days. It is the personal days that will really hold it together.

[Dragonlady]

deleted

not directly related to TESOL

[jonniboy]

Don't like to be the bearer of bad news but I once seriously considered doing i-to-i and the feedback I got from those in the know was that it is next to totally useless as it contains no observed teaching practice.