Job Discussion Forums

[gonzalezv]

I'm writing to warn fellow teachers about the accommodation standards in Santiago. Firstly, if you are thinking of going through an agency called Home Chile.com think hard. They do not regularly, if at all, inspect the premises of the landlord's appt/house who advertises with the agency. Therefore you are relying on old photos and written advice of the conditions of the premises including the rental amount, which does not always include the utilities when clearly stated in the contact that you sign with them.
I am writing this because I was obviously caught out so to speak and need to advise of two landlords in particular (Bessy-asking for extra money for utilities outside contract and Felipe Fredes - still waiting on my bond). If you have to pay a bond make sure you use it as your last month's rent!

Other than the accommodation scare, if you want to learn Spanish and want to visit the Andes then Santiago is the place for you.
Good luck.

[ottawajoe]

I�ll have to disagree on the learning Spanish part of your quote. Chilenos speak a terrible �backwater� style of Spanish. If you want to learn Chileno slang, this is the place. If you want to learn Spanish in South America, go to Peru and all points North in Latin America..

[gonzalezv]

I agree with you...my intent is to merely warn others about accommodation in Chile. Learning Spanish in Latin America is really about a 'cheaper version' of the language, otherwise go to Spain and teach if you can afford it.

[Dia]

Hmmm, not that I don't understand where you guys are coming from on Chilean Spanish being a very distinct version quite different from the standard, but maybe it would be better to think of it as what it is: simply a different dialect, not better nor worse, and interesting in its own ways.

I see no reason why anybody intending to learn Spanish should avoid Chile unless they are too lazy to take note of the differences in the dialect and learn some equivalent words from others if the need arises.

[sharkeyv]

[ghostdog]

I heartily second everything the previous poster says regarding Chilean Spanish. I've actually had two DOSs of small institutes in Santiago tell me that Chileans think Peruvians speak too slowly and too clearly. Still trying to figure out how somehow can speak too clearly (and honestly, Peruvians don't speak that slowly, it just seems that way compared to Chile). And if you're teaching English, Chileans' inability to master their own language will have negative implications for you, as it's difficult to help students transfer skills they don't have; for example, if they don't link words properly in their mother tongue, it's going to be a struggle to get them to link words in the target language.

If your primary objective is to learn Spanish, you might wish to think about Peru or Colombia. Or, for that matter, Mexico or Central America, where I found the language to be much easier to understand. You could probably get several hours of language training and a rudimentary room and meals at a homestay in Guatemala for less than it would cost you to rent a shared room in someone's apartment in Santiago. Xela (Quetzeltenango) has a virtual cottage industry in teaching Spanish to gringos.

[sistaray]

[missjones]

Before going to Chile, I asked a professor whether I should just go ahead and acquire the Chilean variety of Spanish or if, while learning, if I should try to compensate by practicing what I know of standard Spanish. He said either way, the Chileans would speak better Spanish than me.

I learned Spanish in Chile and I have no problem communicating with Spanish speakers from other countries. Of course I picked up Chileanismos and sometimes drop an 's,' but picking up these sorts of things is part of the experience of learning a language in a foreign country.

[Trebolicious]

[sharkeyv]

Sistaray, this is for you:

I had a god-awful day on the metro. We were stuck in a tunnel for what seemed like an eternity and then I found out my class was cancelled. I headed back to my school to catch up on some admin. and logged onto good ol' Dave's ESL Cafe. I can't tell you how your little pedantic rant cheered me up.

I gathered some of my fellow colleagues around my laptop and we had a good ol' giggle. It was insisted upon that it be printed out and stuck on the teachers' notice board. Some people think they know who you are!!!

From your name we are assuming you're female. And because of this, Aaron our newly arrived Kiwi, but wannabe Bondi-beach-bum-surfer-dude type has offered to take you out for a drink and help you relax!!!!

Personally, I especially loved the way you dismissed my lazy-mouth phenomenon only to replace it by your own.

Hehe........it's quite obvious you are oblivious to what is being debated.

By the way, Aaron insists on giving you his phone number..............can I pass it on to you??

[Dia]

Sharkeyv- I seriously think your'e overestimating how cool it is to log on to an ESL forum and try to think of something witty or negative to add to every post.

[johnson430]

[sistaray]

[sharkeyv]

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

It would be a very good idea to avoid posting insults, stay on topic and address the message and not the messenger if this thread is to continue and no sanctions are to be issued.