Job Discussion Forums

[Germanicus]

What are either of these companies like to work for as a newbie teacher.I see mixed things. Are they worth working there for the experience? Thanks

[Dragonlady]

[Guy Courchesne]

The pay rates for Interlingua are posted here in a couple of other threads...Berlitz is about the same, so you have an idea as to how much (or how little) you can earn there if wages are a big concern to you. I think Berlitz is a bit better on business English classes than Interlingua. Not sure how much competition there is for that work within Berlitz though.

[wildchild]

[Professor]

Don't do it. You will be lucky to get paid on time...maybe. My experiences were not getting paid the total of what I was owed so I had to get a lawyer. Not for Berlitz or Interlingua but I have had someone tell me they didn't get paid on time at the two schools you mentioned.
And what could you possibly use those two schools as a stepping stone for?? Work for yourself or a coligio. More secure when you compare.

[Enchilada Potosina]

Here in SLP:

Berlitz - Bad reputation, teachers leaving in droves, management issues, benefits not being given, visa issues etc.

Interlingua - Cynically removed all benefits from teachers, including seniority which has left some teachers no option but to sue the company.

Pay rates at both: Not more than $80 pesos an hour, minus taxes of course.

Probably not worth it for the experience but if you work for a language school here you're invevitably going to be working for a slave wage.

[mejms]

All true about the low standards, poor pay, etc, but I think the people here who have been teaching for awhile are taking it for granted that an inexperienced foreigner (inexperienced in teaching and in living in another country) could get things going as an independent right away. It takes time, confidence, experience, and networking, I worked for quite a few lousy language schools before getting my feet firmly planted. If you're serious about being here for awhile, consider it paying your dues.

[wildchild]

[Prof.Gringo]

[MotherF]

[Enchilada Potosina]

You don't have to work in a grotty language school here, it's not obligatory as a first job. You can just as easily get a uni job. Why suffer? Yes, it's easier but more often than not it'll be a bad experience unless you're just coming here to drink in the sun.

[carrizales]

[wildchild]

[carrizales]

i'm already here. i'm working at berlitz right now, but i wanted to go somewhere else. the thing is, i dont have an actual teachers certificate. i just have my bachelors in history and a TEFL certificate, i got by doing some 4 week course. I taught at berlitz-costa rica for one year, but I dont have an experience teaching at a university level. Should i just call any university? Right now I've just been looking through the newpaper. I had an interview at this middle school but got turned down because I dont have any experience with kids.

[notamiss]

I may be the only one who didn't know this, but in case it helps someone else, I mention that universities mostly have a foreign language teaching Unit, or Center, or whatever name it might go by, where students from all disciplines take classes and get tested to meet their foreign language (usually English) requirement for their degree. This is what you're aiming to contact, and it's generally separate and independent of the department where language majors do their studies.