Job Discussion Forums

[reddevil79]

So, I�m coming up to the end of my Masters and starting to think about employment opportunities for late fall 2011/early 2012. I already have a couple of firm job leads, but as this next move will be an important one, I want to cover all bases and am interested in suggestions and ideas other forum members may have for someone with my profile.

Experience and qualifications:

- 32 year-old British male, fluent in French and Spanish
- MA in Applied Linguistics & ELT
- PGCE
- TEFL Certificate
- Degree
- Over five years teaching experience in Mexico and Europe, which included three years as a tenured university professor
- Experience of managing teams/projects, was assistant director, curriculum design & course coordinator, teacher training

What I�m looking for:

- Ideally a university setting with the benefits that this brings, but not necessarily a high salary, job profile is more important to me
- Very strong preference for Latin America, but would consider other locations (not East Asia)
- Would consider teacher training positions
- NOT interested in private language schools or international high schools.


I have contacted a few forum members who have provided some ideas, but I am open to suggestions, no matter how random. Might be an interesting thread too for others with similar profile.

[sisyphus]

I'm in a similar position. Problem is Uni positions in Europe are poorly paid. South America I don't know. ME as you said you don't like, but they are better paid. I was trying to find Job agencies or sources of positions for DOS/Director/ etc positions but can't find any. Uk is an option but Unis in the UK require Phds. What is South/Central America like for MA graduates? Is it mostly Uni work?

[reddevil79]

I would consider the ME, but not really looking at the Far East (Japan, South Korea, etc.). It is possible for MA holders to find work in universities around Latin America, but very few advertise externally, certainly when compared to other regions. You really have to be there on the ground knocking on doors, handing out your CV and making contacts. I think this dissuades many, as flying half way round without the promise of a job is not for everyone. Were you looking at anywhere in particular?

[sisyphus]

I am in Central Europe, but am considering a move and fancy South/Central America. Anywhere that there arent Man Utd fans (only joking!). My brother is a big Man U fan!. Im not sure I would consider anywhere except Saudi and South Korea as lifestyle is important and I have a family. Problem with ME is that apparently they often say 2 years post MA experience which is nonsense if you have been teaching for 15 years!

[MotherF]

Thanks to Chicarito there are a lot of Man U fans in Mexico!

Reddevil, have you looked at Turkey? Not that I don't think you should come back to Mexico.

And just out of curiousity--why are you not interested in the far east? I enjoyed Japan much more than I thought I would and I felt like South Korea had almost a Latin American vibe going in parts.

[HLJHLJ]

Have you seen this post?

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=91285

[naturegirl321]

[reddevil79]

HLJHLJ, I did see that post when it went up, very interesting. Are you still paid by the hour if you decide to stay on permanently? I had lengthy discussions with a university in Loja a few years back and was very tempted, seemed a nice position, but don�t see them much on job boards these days.

Mother F, you won�t be surprised to know that Mexico (and somewhere in particular) is my preferred destination; I guess I wanted to dip my toes in the water a little. I have looked at a few positions in Turkey, but it doesn�t really appeal to me, not sure why. Same goes for the Far East, I have a cousin who has taught in Tokyo for over ten years and has told me a lot about the scene there. Malaysia, on the other hand, I would be very interested in as I loved it there, but limited opportunities so it seems with English an official language.

Yep, I�ve closed the doors on international schools I think, even though there are a number of good opportunities out there. I left naturegirl321 because I wanted to do a Masters, plain and simple. I knew tuition fees were going to increase, I had no ties to speak of, and it was a good time for me to do it. Thanks for the SIT recommendation, I�ll check it out

[HLJHLJ]

Most of the University work here is hourly, and will rarely lead to a visa, but I don't know for sure what the situation would be in Guayaquil. It would be worth contacting just_a_mirage to ask, she is very well known/respected here and I am sure she'd be able to fill you in on all those details.

If you were looking to make a permanent move it's pretty easy to get your own investment visa, you have to 'invest' $25,000 but this can be invested in property. In other words, if you buy your own apartment / house you can get an investment visa, which also allows you to work.

It's pretty easy to get Uni work here if you have higher degrees, but you usually have to be here and go and speak to the departments in person. It's nice work, and relatively well paid (relative to the cost of living here that is). The catch is being able to get enough hours so they add up to a year round wage.

[reddevil79]

Are there many foreigners working in Ecuador with a Masters then? I guess I was spoiled in my last position: it was full-time, year round wage and they supported your visa application. To be honest, I'd be looking for something similar, though not easy to come by in Latin America I know. Ecuador does seem interesting though...

[HLJHLJ]

There don't seem to be many people with higher degrees at all. However, the laws have changed here now, and most if not all tenured lecturers will have to get masters and eventually PhDs. If you sort your own visa out you will be able to find work, possibly even something permanent and full time. But the work visa laws are becoming increasingly difficult (to get a work visa teaching English now your first degree has to be in English, regardless of the subjects of any higher degrees).

It's also become very expensive for employers to apply for work visas. Then there are the costs (in both financial and administration terms) of the visas themselves. The better universities can take their pick from locals who are native level speakers and have studied for higher degrees in English speaking countries, or foreigners who have married Ecuadorians, or otherwise got their own visa. There just isn't the need or the demand for them to have to bother dealing with visa hassles.

If you had a PhD you would be in a much stronger position, as they need a lot more PhDs to supervise all these new masters, and later the PhDs, which current lecturers will have to have. But for most places a masters alone is unlikely to be enough for them to start jumping through the required hoops to get you a visa.

[naturegirl321]

[Isla Guapa]

[HLJHLJ]

[HLJHLJ]