|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Gringo Greg
Joined: 19 Jan 2003
Posts: 264
Location: Everywhere and nowhere
|
 Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 3:47 am Post subject: |
 |
|
My wife is from the Philippines and has a Philippines passport, but we lived in Saipan(US territory) for three years and she was a teacher there. I helped my wife put together a resume that focused heavily on the US teaching experience. I included two letters of recommendation from the schools in Saipan with her application. She specifically asked the letter writers to focus on her English skills and they happily called her English skills as like a native English speaker. (her skills really are near native English speaker)
When we applied in China through a recruiter, we were both hired at the same school at the same decent salary.
Just sayin' what you can expect. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Landon
Joined: 26 Sep 2011
Posts: 90
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 2:09 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Gringo Greg, That is encouraging. We would love to work as a couple. Can you tell me which recruiter you used for China? Every recruiter we have talked to says, "Not native born, no way". |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Landon
Joined: 26 Sep 2011
Posts: 90
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 11:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thank you to everyone for the replies.
We have been researching this new information now for a couple more weeks and have a new question along these lines that we cannot find any information on at all.
My wife and I both really like living in LA, but we all but ruled it out as a teaching destination a while ago when we learned about how low the salaries are and how difficult the visa process can be.
The more we research Asian countries as destinations the more unsure we are becoming. Everywhere seems very difficult for her to find work and the discrimination in these countries appears to be very real.
Recently we have been hearing nothing but good things about teaching in Uruguay and living there in general. This reopened the discussion of LA.
We started looking closer into the job market there and salaries which are all quite low, when my wife asked the question of why she is only looking at Intl Schools. Why cant she just get job as a regular public or private school teacher in that country. Of course she is a native Spanish speaker and has a permanant US teaching license with 2 years experience. Is it possible to teach primary school for another country? It cannot be any different than an American high school teacher moving to Austrailia or Canada to teach, right? I am sure there must be some others certifications to get, like a course in that countries history and government, but we cannot find any information on this at all.
Does anybody have any insight on this? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 11:51 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Landon wrote: |
We started looking closer into the job market there and salaries which are all quite low, when my wife asked the question of why she is only looking at Intl Schools. Why cant she just get job as a regular public or private school teacher in that country. Of course she is a native Spanish speaker and has a permanant US teaching license with 2 years experience. Is it possible to teach primary school for another country? It cannot be any different than an American high school teacher moving to Austrailia or Canada to teach, right? I am sure there must be some others certifications to get, like a course in that countries history and government, but we cannot find any information on this at all.
Does anybody have any insight on this? |
Probably becuase you'd make a pittance at regular schools in Uruguay. YOu're probably lookinat around 500 to 1000 a month with very few benefits. And public schools? Forget it.
It's TOTALLY different. Uruguay isn't a first world country like Australia or Canada. And their salaries reflect this.
Now if she's looking at Canada, Australia, etc that's one thing. BUt teaching in a public school in LA? A FEW might be ok, but the majority, nothing' doin' |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Landon
Joined: 26 Sep 2011
Posts: 90
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 1:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| Landon wrote: |
We started looking closer into the job market there and salaries which are all quite low, when my wife asked the question of why she is only looking at Intl Schools. Why cant she just get job as a regular public or private school teacher in that country. Of course she is a native Spanish speaker and has a permanant US teaching license with 2 years experience. Is it possible to teach primary school for another country? It cannot be any different than an American high school teacher moving to Austrailia or Canada to teach, right? I am sure there must be some others certifications to get, like a course in that countries history and government, but we cannot find any information on this at all.
Does anybody have any insight on this? |
Probably becuase you'd make a pittance at regular schools in Uruguay. YOu're probably lookinat around 500 to 1000 a month with very few benefits. And public schools? Forget it.
It's TOTALLY different. Uruguay isn't a first world country like Australia or Canada. And their salaries reflect this.
Now if she's looking at Canada, Australia, etc that's one thing. BUt teaching in a public school in LA? A FEW might be ok, but the majority, nothing' doin' |
Wow. Again, we must be doing something wrong in all our research, because, that amount of money looks to be twice what an EFL teacher is making in Uruguay and about 5 times as much as in Peru or Ecuador, but you say its pittance. We concluded that a public school teacher would be a big step up from just an EFL teacher. We had been thinking for the last couple weeks that my wife would be the one bringing home the real salary as a teacher and my EFL job would just be supplemental.
The International school game seems to be very hard to get into in LA. As I mentioned in the other thread, the country of Uruguay has 1 American school as far as I can find. These few schools must have thousands of applicants, so why would they ever select my foreign born wife to represent America in the one and only job opening for the year?
I guess I never thought the job hunt would be as difficult as it is proving to be for her. I dont think I will have a problem teaching English anywhere we choose to go but we still dont know what she is going to do. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MotherF
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1450
Location: 17�48'N 97�46'W
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 2:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Have you looked into Mexico?
Public schools are not really an option, as you're wife would have to be a member of the teachers union and I don't think that's a path you want to go down. 
But at international schools or bilingual private colegios she could make 15,000 to 25,000 pesos. (13 Mexican pesos to the dollar) and I seemed to have missed your qualifications, but you could possibly make a similar amount.
Come visit us in the Mexico forums, but beware of a couple of resident trolls who are incapable of saying anything positive. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Landon
Joined: 26 Sep 2011
Posts: 90
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 3:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| MotherF wrote: |
Have you looked into Mexico?
Public schools are not really an option, as you're wife would have to be a member of the teachers union and I don't think that's a path you want to go down.
But at international schools or bilingual private colegios she could make 15,000 to 25,000 pesos. (13 Mexican pesos to the dollar) and I seemed to have missed your qualifications, but you could possibly make a similar amount.
Come visit us in the Mexico forums, but beware of a couple of resident trolls who are incapable of saying anything positive. |
Thank you for the response.
I have lived in Texas my whole life and there are not many countries that scare me more than Mexico. I have lots of horror stories from Mexican American coworkers and friends, some as recent as last week in Central Mexico. And the situation for a gringo has got to be tremendously worse. Im sure that is enough said here. I would be happy to elaborate. Just send a pm. I know Mexico is big place and there is no way I can speak about the whole country, but, needless to say, I dont think I will be moving with my wife to Mexico any time soon. But thank you for the info. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MotherF
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1450
Location: 17�48'N 97�46'W
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 4:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| It's a heck of a lot safer than Houston! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
HLJHLJ
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 1218
Location: Ecuador
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Landon wrote: |
Wow. Again, we must be doing something wrong in all our research, because, that amount of money looks to be twice what an EFL teacher is making in Uruguay and about 5 times as much as in Peru or Ecuador, but you say its pittance. |
I was in Montevideo about a month ago. The cost of living there was pretty much comparable with the UK. I would imagine things may be cheaper outside of the capital, but I don't know for sure. Either way, I would have to earn 10x what I make in Ecuador before I could afford the life I have here, there. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 9:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Landon wrote: |
| MotherF wrote: |
Have you looked into Mexico?
Public schools are not really an option, as you're wife would have to be a member of the teachers union and I don't think that's a path you want to go down.
But at international schools or bilingual private colegios she could make 15,000 to 25,000 pesos. (13 Mexican pesos to the dollar) and I seemed to have missed your qualifications, but you could possibly make a similar amount.
Come visit us in the Mexico forums, but beware of a couple of resident trolls who are incapable of saying anything positive. |
Thank you for the response.
I have lived in Texas my whole life and there are not many countries that scare me more than Mexico. I have lots of horror stories from Mexican American coworkers and friends, some as recent as last week in Central Mexico. And the situation for a gringo has got to be tremendously worse. Im sure that is enough said here. I would be happy to elaborate. Just send a pm. I know Mexico is big place and there is no way I can speak about the whole country, but, needless to say, I dont think I will be moving with my wife to Mexico any time soon. But thank you for the info. |
Horror stories, eh? Well, I live in the center of Mexico City, have lived here for over 4 years, and my life is a lot more peaceful, and safe than it would be back in many big cities in the States, not to mention the usually fabulous weather. I don't understand why you are connecting having lived in Texas your whole life and your fear of living in Mexico. Too bad that your American informants have filled your head with these horror stories. Well, good luck to you and your wife wherever you end up! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Landon
Joined: 26 Sep 2011
Posts: 90
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 10:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| Landon wrote: |
| MotherF wrote: |
Have you looked into Mexico?
Public schools are not really an option, as you're wife would have to be a member of the teachers union and I don't think that's a path you want to go down.
But at international schools or bilingual private colegios she could make 15,000 to 25,000 pesos. (13 Mexican pesos to the dollar) and I seemed to have missed your qualifications, but you could possibly make a similar amount.
Come visit us in the Mexico forums, but beware of a couple of resident trolls who are incapable of saying anything positive. |
Thank you for the response.
I have lived in Texas my whole life and there are not many countries that scare me more than Mexico. I have lots of horror stories from Mexican American coworkers and friends, some as recent as last week in Central Mexico. And the situation for a gringo has got to be tremendously worse. Im sure that is enough said here. I would be happy to elaborate. Just send a pm. I know Mexico is big place and there is no way I can speak about the whole country, but, needless to say, I dont think I will be moving with my wife to Mexico any time soon. But thank you for the info. |
Horror stories, eh? Well, I live in the center of Mexico City, have lived here for over 4 years, and my life is a lot more peaceful, and safe than it would be back in many big cities in the States, not to mention the usually fabulous weather. I don't understand why you are connecting having lived in Texas your whole life and your fear of living in Mexico. Too bad that your American informants have filled your head with these horror stories. Well, good luck to you and your wife wherever you end up! |
Just to say that I am not far from Mexico, have been there many times and have lots of Mexican friends and coworkers, and speak more spanish everyday than English.
I didnt mean to offend anyone. I know you will defend the country you are living in.
Again, I am sure that I am wrong about a lot of Mexico because it is huge. I just know what I hear on the news and from people that have family there. And I hardly think it is just my American informants that filled my head with these stories. It is all over the news every day. The police and media left most of the border states long ago. Juarez and Laredo are officially war zones run by drug cartels. I think the last number I heard was 40,000 murdered by gang violence. And isnt it Mexico city that has the highest kidknapping rate in the world? There are even reality TV shows about the cartels, gang wars and violence south of Texas. A new one about the violence in Laredo started last week. I am pretty sure it is called Border Town Laredo. I think it is about how the Americans have finally assembled an operation to start to fight against the cartel takeovers of these Mexican states because Mexico doesnt know what to do and has basically given up.
My good friends father flew into Monterrey last weekend (because no one will drive across the boarder anymore) to visit some of his family. The agreement was that he would call home every time he left and when he returned to the house because the violence is so real. Saturday afternoon my friend was upset because he hadnt heard from his dad in a few hours. A coworker has family in Guanajato. He will only fly in and out and will not drive a car there. Says that they carjack everyone, Mexican or Gringo. He says that there are 20 corrupt policemen for every honest cop Mexico City and it is widely known that the police are involved in the cartels and ransoms. I know a couple guys that were pulled over by cops this year, put in handcuffs and taken to a Mexican jail, when all they wanted was bride to let them go.
But, I do not live in Mexico and have not been kidnapped myself. You are there now so you know better than I do. I do know that the Mexicans that I know would never say they feel safer in Monterrey or Mexico City than they do in say Houston or Saint Louis. In fact they would think it was a joke if I asked them that. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 11:02 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Landon wrote: |
Wow. Again, we must be doing something wrong in all our research, because, that amount of money looks to be twice what an EFL teacher is making in Uruguay and about 5 times as much as in Peru or Ecuador, but you say its pittance. We concluded that a public school teacher would be a big step up from just an EFL teacher. We had been thinking for the last couple weeks that my wife would be the one bringing home the real salary as a teacher and my EFL job would just be supplemental.
As I mentioned in the other thread, the country of Uruguay has 1 American school as far as I can find. These few schools must have thousands of applicants, so why would they ever select my foreign born wife to represent America in the one and only job opening for the year? |
Having taught in Peru for 6 years, I started at 700 usd and got up to 1500 and that's AFTER dedcutions. I tell people to expect about 5 to 10 usd an hour in Peru.
Once again, you CAN teach otherwhere besides AMERICAN schools, you, ok, not you, your wife, can work in intl schools. Period. Don't have to be American.
Don't think that they have 1000s of applicants either.
Public schools, in Peru at least, are cruddy, trust me. It'd be a step DOWN from an EFL teacher.
I still say 1500 is a pittance. I have friends whose HOUSING alone cost more than 1500. The people I used to tutor, were paying 3K usd a month for housing. Housing!
And why woulnd't they choose your foreign born wife?
If you want to live abroad, you're going to have to stop watching CNN and BBC, the horror stories you hear are about other countries, rarely about the US. I certainly felt a heck of a safer in Mexico DF than Lima.
You're going to have to do more research. Period. Realise that MOST intl schools don't require you to have X nationality (with the exception of some like Brunei and the EU, right off the top of my head). And you're goign to have to stop sterotyping as well!
Last edited by naturegirl321 on Wed Oct 19, 2011 3:33 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
AGoodStory
Joined: 26 Feb 2010
Posts: 738
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 12:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| Landon wrote: |
We started looking closer into the job market there and salaries which are all quite low, when my wife asked the question of why she is only looking at Intl Schools. Why cant she just get job as a regular public or private school teacher in that country. Of course she is a native Spanish speaker and has a permanant US teaching license with 2 years experience. Is it possible to teach primary school for another country? It cannot be any different than an American high school teacher moving to Austrailia or Canada to teach, right? I am sure there must be some others certifications to get, like a course in that countries history and government, but we cannot find any information on this at all.
Does anybody have any insight on this? |
Probably becuase you'd make a pittance at regular schools in Uruguay. YOu're probably lookinat around 500 to 1000 a month with very few benefits. And public schools? Forget it.
It's TOTALLY different. Uruguay isn't a first world country like Australia or Canada. And their salaries reflect this.
Now if she's looking at Canada, Australia, etc that's one thing. BUt teaching in a public school in LA? A FEW might be ok, but the majority, nothing' doin' |
It's always good to read and understand the question before answering.
OP, if you are interested in Uruguay, you might want to get information from people who have actually lived or worked there. I haven't (and neither has naturegirl,) but I have spent some time in the country. There are a number of private bilingual K-12 schools, as well as private Spanish K-12's. You don't have to wonder what the salaries are or who they want to hire--contact a few and find out.
Here is a forum where you can get information from people living in Uruguay right now, with a number of topics on education:
http://board.totaluruguay.com/Education?pg=2
I think you will find some schools listed there to start with, and if you post, you will probably get much more useful advice. You might also want to revitalize one of the Uruguay threads on the General Latin America Forum here. There are several posters with Uruguay experience. I think misterbrownpants is no longer working there, but does still respond to posts. (Or at least did so recently.)
By the way, Uruguay is not Peru. Uruguay is at the top of all measures of quality of life in Latin America; Peru is usually near the bottom. Uruguay is actually first for most standard of living measures--health care, income, etc--and comes in second for "least corruption." People often overgeneralize about Latin America, as if having lived in one country, they know all about another. Occasionally this works, but more often it is misleading.
One thing to be aware of is the cost of living. As HLJHLJ pointed out, Uruguay is not an inexpensive country. I was surprised by prices when I was there. I suppose the upside of this is that they have a growing economy at a time when most of the Americas does not. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Landon
Joined: 26 Sep 2011
Posts: 90
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 3:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| Landon wrote: |
Wow. Again, we must be doing something wrong in all our research, because, that amount of money looks to be twice what an EFL teacher is making in Uruguay and about 5 times as much as in Peru or Ecuador, but you say its pittance. We concluded that a public school teacher would be a big step up from just an EFL teacher. We had been thinking for the last couple weeks that my wife would be the one bringing home the real salary as a teacher and my EFL job would just be supplemental.
As I mentioned in the other thread, the country of Uruguay has 1 American school as far as I can find. These few schools must have thousands of applicants, so why would they ever select my foreign born wife to represent America in the one and only job opening for the year? |
Having taught in Peru for 6 years, I started at 700 usd and got up to 1500 and that's AFTER dedcutions. I tell people to expect about 5 to 10 usd an hour in Peru.
Once again, you CAN teach otherwhere besides AMERICAN schools, you, ok, not you, your wife, can work in intl schools. Period. Don't have to be American.
Don't think that they have 1000s of applicants either.
Public schools, in Peru at least, are cruddy, trust me. It'd be a step DOWN from an EFL teacher.
I still say 1500 is a pittance. I have friends whose HOUSING alone cost more than 1500. The people I used to tutor, were paying 3K usd a month for housing. Housing!
And why woulnd't they choose your foreign born wife?
If you want to live abroad, you're going to have to stop watching CNN and BBC, the horror stories you hear are about other countries, rarely about the US. I certainly felt a heck of a safer in Mexico DF than Lima.
You're going to have to do more research. Period. Realise that intl schools don't require you to have X nationality (with the exception of some like Brunei and the EU). And you're goign to have to stop sterotyping as well! |
Thanks Naturegirl. And yes I am doing my research. Constantly. That is why I am here. Researching this has been an obcession for the last few months. Learn something new every day.
And, I dont think we can just "realize" the requirements of intl schools. That is why I asked for help here because I could not find any info on the subject.
Am I stereotyping something? I apologize if I am. This is just the knowlege I have gained so far from my own travels and research. I have been wrong about several things so far, as I am brand new to teaching abroad. That is why I am asking questions to find out from those of you who have done it. I would be much less further along in this process if it wasnt for the help here.
Last edited by Landon on Tue Oct 18, 2011 3:56 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Landon
Joined: 26 Sep 2011
Posts: 90
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 3:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| AGoodStory wrote: |
| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| Landon wrote: |
We started looking closer into the job market there and salaries which are all quite low, when my wife asked the question of why she is only looking at Intl Schools. Why cant she just get job as a regular public or private school teacher in that country. Of course she is a native Spanish speaker and has a permanant US teaching license with 2 years experience. Is it possible to teach primary school for another country? It cannot be any different than an American high school teacher moving to Austrailia or Canada to teach, right? I am sure there must be some others certifications to get, like a course in that countries history and government, but we cannot find any information on this at all.
Does anybody have any insight on this? |
Probably becuase you'd make a pittance at regular schools in Uruguay. YOu're probably lookinat around 500 to 1000 a month with very few benefits. And public schools? Forget it.
It's TOTALLY different. Uruguay isn't a first world country like Australia or Canada. And their salaries reflect this.
Now if she's looking at Canada, Australia, etc that's one thing. BUt teaching in a public school in LA? A FEW might be ok, but the majority, nothing' doin' |
It's always good to read and understand the question before answering.
OP, if you are interested in Uruguay, you might want to get information from people who have actually lived or worked there. I haven't (and neither has naturegirl,) but I have spent some time in the country. There are a number of private bilingual K-12 schools, as well as private Spanish K-12's. You don't have to wonder what the salaries are or who they want to hire--contact a few and find out.
Here is a forum where you can get information from people living in Uruguay right now, with a number of topics on education:
http://board.totaluruguay.com/Education?pg=2
I think you will find some schools listed there to start with, and if you post, you will probably get much more useful advice. You might also want to revitalize one of the Uruguay threads on the General Latin America Forum here. There are several posters with Uruguay experience. I think misterbrownpants is no longer working there, but does still respond to posts. (Or at least did so recently.)
By the way, Uruguay is not Peru. Uruguay is at the top of all measures of quality of life in Latin America; Peru is usually near the bottom. Uruguay is actually first for most standard of living measures--health care, income, etc--and comes in second for "least corruption." People often overgeneralize about Latin America, as if having lived in one country, they know all about another. Occasionally this works, but more often it is misleading.
One thing to be aware of is the cost of living. As HLJHLJ pointed out, Uruguay is not an inexpensive country. I was surprised by prices when I was there. I suppose the upside of this is that they have a growing economy at a time when most of the Americas does not. |
I know this to be true. I have not lived in Uruguay either, but I have lived in Peru and done some traveling in South America, and know that Peru is one of the poorer developing countries in South America where countries like Argentina and Uruguay are at the top of charts in many areas. And it continues to change and improve. In fact, a couple of these countries are helping bailout Europe, including Brazil which has always been considered a developing country until recently. To me, THIS, overgeneralization about LA is a stereotype I hear often. But, as far as job outlook, availability, and salaries, I just dont really know, so, im trying to ask the ones who do.
Thanks for the help and I will check out the other threads. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
