Job Discussion Forums

[helenw]

Hi

I have just recently completed a CELTA course and have a BA degree in media, i dont have any other teaching experience. I am flying to Buenos Aires at the beginning of october and i am planning to travel around for a bit and then stay somewhere to work. I would appreciate any advice on where people believe the best place to stay and work is; i understand that pay for teaching is not great yet i would like a comfortable lifestyle as in not scrimping to make ends meet.

I love salsa dancing and am keen to improve my Spanish; I am overwhelmed with the numerous places available as options and would appreciate some advice from people currently living and teaching in South America as to a good place to base myself for work and a good lifestyle; i am planning on staying for at least a year

Thanks in advance!

[naturegirl321]

I'm not in South America now, but I lived there for 6 years and just recently left this year, so I hope this info will help

First things first, teaching ENGLISH, isn't a good way to learn SPANISH, or any language for that matter. But, if you already know it, then you should be able to improve. Dating helps!

Second, in Latin America, lots of emphasis is placed on meeting people. Go knock on doors and hand out your CV. You should have a job or two in a week.

Lastly, don't expect visas, except for maybe Mexico.

[Dragonlady]

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with a happy ending

[naturegirl321]

I was there 6 years, contributed to travel books and websites and remain in contact with teachers there in Peru. I modded websites, wrote articles and, oh yeah, got citizenship, so have permanent ties to Peru. I left a couple months ago after working in schools, language schools, unis, and private classes. Just because I'm not there now doesn't mean that I don't kow what I'm talking about. My husband's there now, yet another contact I have with Latin America, so I'm not sure what you mean Dragonlady. You don't have to be phsycially in country to give advice.

Since you ARE in country, what advice do you have? Besides for me not to post?

[Dragonlady]

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[naturegirl321]

So Boca del Rio, Veracruz, is Mexico, correct? Which is Latin america.

[Dragonlady]

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unrelated to TESOL

[naturegirl321]

[naturegirl321]

Ok, fine, my mistake. It said South America. I hope the OP has gotten answers to her questions.

[idiggs]

I live in Ecuador for the past 6 months as a teacher. I had the ability to do a lot of traveling to other countries being here in South America.

In Colombia:
You should consider Bogota....very nice city....teaching opportunities are definitely available.

In Ecuador:
You should consider Guayaquil....nice city....if you love New York/Miami...then you will enjoy Guayaquil....lots of teaching opportunities

In Peru:
You should consider Piura and Lima.......they are fairly big cities where you will find several opportunities.

[naturegirl321]

[Guy Courchesne]

[naturegirl321]

[Clark Montange]

ESL Teaching, Cost of Living, & Important Considerations Mexico/Latin America

Mexico is great! If anyone is sitting on the fence about having an ESL teaching experience here, I�d encourage you to get down off that fence!

The majority of ESL teachers I have met throughout (yes, some consider this part of Latin America) are NOT living on their teaching incomes alone. Easily 90% of them have dipped into savings, have maxed out their credit cards, have drawn on family trust funds. Many are �backpackers� and mom and dad are always there to wire money when they are short, or bail them out of rough patches. I am taking about schools that pay you ONLY for your actual teaching time, so for example 4 classes per day = your days wages.


For the most part (depending on where you live, and if you live alone, or share with others), if you prefer privacy, and your �own space,� you will pay the price for housing respective to your wages, and not have money left for much of anything else.

This should NOT discourage you. The Mexican people are wonderful, I can�t say enough about them. I don�t know why they so often get a �bad rap,� and are made fun of, with demeaning pejoratives, etc., in other countries. They are intelligent, sophisticated, resourceful, and I have continued to be treated exceedingly well here.

Please do YOUR HOMEWORK regarding which school!!!

Don�t get yourself here then find that out you cannot manage, like a friend of mine who teaches for ENGLISH UNLIMITED in San Luis Potosi (SLP), Mexico (central Mexico). He is currently on medical leave, and I have visited him in SLP. He has concerns about working for English Unlimited. I have seen some of this first hand, by visiting the school, plus being interviewed there.

He was mislead about the overall cost of living in SLP, and assured that the English Unlimited teaching wages (approximately $4.50 USD equivalent per hour AFTER taxes), are more than adequate to live on, plus be able to travel. You can �see Mexico,� he was promised. Be reasonably comfortable. Do the disco scene, etc., and la te da . . . .He was mislead about almost everything, including housing arrangements and costs, and ended up spending many times more than what he was led to believe during the job screening negotiation process.

He has also had visa problems, and things are not what he was informed of during the screening and negotiation process, so be very careful to know precisely the visa process of your final destination in Latin America/Mexico, before you depart your home country, wherever that may be. He has umpteen credentials, including a TESL Certificate.

English Unlimited in SLP has approximately 95% local teachers - - from SLP or nearby Mexican cities, despite what is claimed on the Internet, and in their advertisements. Most of the local teachers have parents, spouses, a full support system, etc. who help out financially. Teachers are also expected to purchase their own supplies: Paper, pencils, rubber bands, erasers, poster board, note pads, pens, Post It Notes, paper clips, markers - - you name it. This was not mentioned in his screening, interviewing, and negotiation process prior to him coming to English Unlimited (EU), in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. These are all extra costs and a drain on already weak finances.

He was also asked to agree to not work elsewhere to be considered for full time equivalent work, yet he desperately needed more money. He was eating so poorly, well . . . this has exasperated an existing medical problem, which has landed him in HOSPITAL!

The cost of living in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and most other moderate to larger cities is basically the same as any city in the United States. I have met person after person here in Mexico who has relatives in the U.S. and they overwhelmingly validate this. In fact, they take regular trips to Texas, for example, and come back with their cars loaded to the brim with things a fraction of the cost they are in SLP. Everyone here does this.

Read CAREFULLY: It is NOT necessarily any cheaper in Mexico for the basics like food, personal hygiene items such as shampoo, shaving cream, razors, clothing, shoes, medications, etc. If you are new, and do not know where to go for this and that, you can have double the trouble. You need to really count your pesos - - so to speak.

Generally, you CANNOT make it here financially, unless you are willing to completely give up your privacy and share a relatively small living space with three or four other people (generally speaking), and be willing to just stay at home and do little else. Now there may be exceptions, there always are in life.

Native-speaker teachers come and go at EU like a revolving door (Canada, U.S., U.K., Spain, Africa, etc.), most staying only a couple of months, due to these and other broken promises. The current �Academic Coordinator� has no professional background in the field of education administration whatsoever, or no formal education related to education administration, teaching, etc. (I interviewed with him, and was not impressed at all). His background is from the MORTGAGE BANKING industry! My friend has shared horror stories that would make your hair stand on end.

As if this isn�t bad enough, EU does not even have any standardized scoring/grading system for its exams and other tests! I could not believe it when my friend told me this, and also showed me a few samples (with students names not visible). This is academics 101 folks, no matter what you teach.

So come to Mexico/Latin America, for sure!!! Just be aware that you may not be able to pay off your student loans if they are substantial. But if your parents or other relatives are willing to pick up the tab for you for this, you will probably have a terrific experience like I have, and am still having.

Give Mexico a try!!

CM