Job Discussion Forums

[jules8679]

Hi,
I'm really interested in doing a TEFL course in Latin America, and I needed help
selecting which course would be best for me. I was hoping you could help me with
this problem. For a little bit of background about me, I'm a senior in college
and I'll be graduating in May with a BSc in Biology. I'm a 4 year Athlete - I'm
a rower, I am not a city person at all, I would much rather be outside hiking or
running or kayaking then shopping or going to a museum for the most part. I
tutored English and math to fellow athletes for a while. I'm originally from
Canada and I currently live in the US. I do not speak Spanish, but I'm going to
start learning soon in preparation for my course. It is really important to me
that a course help me with job placement, because when I finish the course its
going to be extremely important that I get a job as quickly as possible, as I
will be extremely low on funds and I will have to start paying back my loans. So
knowing this about me, what courses would you recommend and which courses offer
the most job placement support?
thank you so much.

[Guy Courchesne]

Any particular country in Latin America that interests you? There's a CELTA course in Mexico at Playa del Carmen on the beach, and another in Chiapa de Corzo in Chiapas, Mexico.

There's a TEFL International course in Costa Rica...I think it's in a smaller town outside San Jose.

There are a couple of courses in Argentina, but I'm not sure if they're in Buenos Aires or not. Google it up and they'll come up quickly.

Ecuador has a SIT TESOL course, but I think it's in Quito. Check with Justin Trullinger, posting here on this forum.

[jules8679]

I've been looking at costa rica, but that's because i've heard the most good things about costa rica. I really just started looking into finding a course over the last month or so. As of right now, I'm kind of an open book, and I will look at anything people want to recommend.

[Guy Courchesne]

Most of the courses based in Latin America will have good local connections for job placement, whether they have a formal placement guarantee or not, so I don't think you'll need to worry about that part of it.

I've never been, but I hear a lot of good things about Costa Rica too.

[Justin Trullinger]

I've heard that the SIT TESOL course in Ecuador is excellent. (Tee Hee- I'm an entirely unbiased trainer on that course.)

Something you said sets of a small red flag for me, though. You're going to be low on funds, and your student loans about to kick in? Latin America is an amazing place- there's nowhere I'd rather be. But while you're extremely likely to find work fairly quickly in most parts, there's a reason we call a lot of it "the developing world." Salaries haven't, um, developed to0 far yet. Not many places will pay an entry level teacher enough to handle first world college debt. What will your payments be? I've heard of $100, $200, $300 or even $400 per month for people coming out of college around now. In Ecuador, there are a lot of GOOD teaching positions that pay $600. And you'll need it to live. There are a few places that offer more, but even so, a first world debt and a third world job aren't the best match you can imagin. You can usually qualify for a hardship deferment, or some kind of forbearance, due to a Latin American salary. IF this appeals to you, I'd talk to your loan company and see what you can do. But if you're committed to starting payment on your loans asap, I personally wouldn't recommend TESOL in Latin America.

In any case- if you start working the monday after a TESOL course, which you might, you still won't get paid for a bit, probably another month. This is the month during which you'll probably get an apartment, pay a deposit on it, pay the first month's rent, and buy the things you need to live in it. You can live cheap here- but start up is the most expensive time. You know yourself, and I don't know you; you'll have to decide. But I'd ask yourself; how cheaply can you live until you start to break even. Do you need/like to go out a lot? Can you skip some creature comforts (hot showers, things to sit on, refridgeration) until you get the money together to buy them? Some apartments include these things, but the lower end often does not. If you're strapped for cash, setting up in a new place can be hard. I've done this- and slept on the floor in my studio apartment until I could find a cheap second hand bed. Only you know how you'll feel about that.

I don't mean to be discouraging. There are plenty of people on this board who have set up in a new country without two nickels to rub together. It can be done- but being short on cash, new to the game, and having loans hanging over you put several strikes against you in terms of the quality of experience you're likely to have.

Best regards,
Justin

[jules8679]

I can live on next to nothing. I've kind of made a talent of it (when I was in Dublin I lived off 130 a week with 95 going to rent and still did everything I wanted to do). The loans aren't too bad, and my parents will help me out with the first few months if I can't afford them, so again, this is not much of a problem. So, out of curiousity, why did you choose ecuador over the other countries in that region? Also, I know that there are other SIT courses around costa rica and Latin America, which areas tend to have the most positive student feedback about the course and area they are located in?

[naturegirl321]

There are a couple in Peru, mainly Cusco, try looking at www.teflcertificationabroad.com

[MELEE]

The SIT course is also offered in Mexico. Oaxaca is one of the locations. Oaxaca is an excellent place for Hiking and other outdoor activities. (though you shouldn't count on doing any of those DURING the course, only before or after, you will be very busy during the course.)
I have also been to Costa Rica, and Ecuador before my 10 years here in Mexico. People assume I like Mexico better because I've lived here so long--no that was just luck of the draw. I refuse to like any place more than any other place. All over Latin America you'll find a lot of the things you like to do. Though probably Mexico, Costa Rica and Ecuador would be the easiest to combine outdoor hobbies with TEFL teaching. I'll never foget to guys I met in bar in Ecuador. I asked them what they did, you know for a living. One said, "We kayak." I said "Kayak?" The other said, "Yeah, you know how surfers, surf?" then they said in unison "We kayak." Okay, not quite sure how they paid for their kayaking, but they were travelling the world, kayaking.
As a person not connected with the course, I've seen the syllabus, the SIT course is a very good course, you won't go wrong with them. There are other cheaper courses, but as with most things, you get what you paid for.

[Justin Trullinger]

This is a hard one- in response to your question:

[glover]

Have just completed the SIT TESOL course in Oaxaca. Thought it was excellent. pm me if you want details.

[Justin Trullinger]

Congrats! (It ain't easy!)

Best,


Justin

[lostinvenezuela]

Hi

While I hate recommending Venezuela to anybody, in this case i do.
Why get a certificate from some private company, when you can get a 1 year or 2 year degree for almost nothing.

Universidad Central de Venezuela offers a masters in Applied Linguistics. The program is taught in English. If you do the whole 2 years you get a masters, if you just do the first one, you get what they call a "sepeciallization".

Think about it.
sam

[Sabine11]

Argentina has a few of them..

I've haven't done my TEFL training down here in Buenos Aires, but I've heard a lot about them..

There's Bridge Linguatec.. International House has a CELTA certificate program.. Try also Teflocal, www.teflocal.com

I'm sure there are a lot more..

Suerte, Sabine.

[Justin Trullinger]

[Guy Courchesne]