Job Discussion Forums

[EmilyV]

My longtime boyfriend and I are interested in getting CELTA certifications and teaching abroad in Latin America. We're pretty flexible on the country, but we're interested in the Patagonia region and more rural areas in general. We're not married and have no immediate plans to do so. I'm wondering if any other couples have had success finding jobs together (either at the same school or nearby ones) and living together down South. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Guy Courchesne]

It can be done, but I think it goes without saying that you'd have an easier time of it in larger cities. I'd suggesting keeping a wide field of locations as options, and to not get stuck on a single locale.

Don't be afraid to mention that you're job seeking together to potential employers....just be up front about it and you might get additional leads within the same city or region.

[naturegirl321]

Smallerish cities might be an option as well. Employers now that couples are more liekly to stay and institutions in smaller town have a harder time getting teachers.

[Justin Trullinger]

I've taught in Latin America for some years, also with a partner to whom I'm not married. (no immediate plans to do so. Also no less immediate plans. Simply not getting married.)

Post more about specific countries, and you'll get more specific info. But my guess is, many place, if not most, the fact that you're unmarried will largely be a non-issue.

If you don't say, a lot of people will assume that you are married. (That, after all, is what long term, serious couples do hear.) Also, if you're living together, which I assume you might, many people will assume you are, and insist that "it's the same thing" if they learn that you aren't.

In the majority of cases I'm familiar with, though, it'll be a non-issue job wise. If they're willing to hire you both, they are- the fact that you're a couple, married or otherwise, may not matter overmuch. And some places prefer couples, but many don't really care about your "couplehood" paperwork.

The only exception to this may be extremely religious organisations- but I'd personally take a miss on the extreme end of those anyway.

Best,
Justin

[naturegirl321]

[MELEE]

I answered your post in the Latin America forum,
but I just wanted to throw this into the mix.

We're a little less likely to hire a couple than two single people. Because we've found they are less likely to stay longer because BOTH members of the couple have to be happy with the local lifestyle which is harder to have happen. So in the end you lose two teachers because one is unhappy.

It also vastly reduces the likelihood of the teacher(s) finding a local partner, which experience has shown to be a sure fire way to retain teachers.

[naturegirl321]

[Justin Trullinger]

Funny- I've found the opposite, MELEE.

While it's true that both have to be happy to stay, I've found that couples tend to support each other way in such a way that it's more likely. If I had to choose between a couple and two singles, I'd tend towards the couple, all other things being equal. (Rare for all things to be equal, but in theory.)

I guess the "local partner leads to long stay" hasn't been my experience either. If you marry that partner, have kids, and really make a life in the country, that's obviously a long stay. (I understand that to be your case- congrats!)

But a foreign teacher in their first year in a position isn't that likely to have such good luck in a hookup. And my experience with the "have a local boyfriend/girlfriend" crowd is mixed. It may add stability, but if the relationship breaks up, and many new relationships do, it can lead to SUDDEN departure. I'd much rather have a couple who commits to a year, comes for a year, and goes, than a single who comes, gets their heart broken, and leaves in tears.

(ANother totally pointless aside- in Ecuador, there is a serious and worryingly high incidence of foreign teachers getting unexpectedy pregnant- then leaving suddenly. Somehow, it's always the "semi-singles" who seem to do this. "Coupled" teachers seem to have the birth control thing worked out.)


Best,
Justin

[naturegirl321]

also, if people marry a local, they might also want to leave that country ASAP. Lots of times foreigners don't adapt and are eager to get out.

Justin, funny that in Ecuador foreigners get pregnant. I would have thought they would be more responsible and use protection. Here in Peru it's the babies with babies, 16 and under crowd who have kids.

I hooked up in the first year, and didn't plan on even dating, funny how things work out.