Job Discussion Forums

lil5foot · Joined: 21 Feb 2015 Posts: 9

No, I don't have any source of passive income. I hold a BA and have been working in a post-secondary atmosphere for the past 7 years advising international (college-aged) students. I think this experience is probably really valuable in knowing how to effectively communicate with people who's first language is not English, and many of my students have told me that they appreciate how clearly I speak and explain things.

As for knowing the age range - I feel like I would be more comfortable with children or young adults (college-aged), since I'm confident in dealing with these age groups. I'm not too sure about adults or teenagers...but I would be willing to try! I feel like I would be fairly good one-on-one, since that is how I usually advise students, but I guess I won't really know until I try.

Once I am certified and more confident in my teaching abilities, I would be willing to do online teaching to supplement my income...

MixtecaMike · Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 643 Location: Guatebad

Have some money stashed away somewhere to help you if you decide later you want to leave. I went with a return ticket, stayed on, cancelled my ticket, and after a series of adventures (not really adventures, but...) found it impossible to leave, or to move on to greener (salary-wise) pastures without abandoning my family. I managed later, but it involved borrowing money, leaving family behind, fetching family after a year, etc. Being trapped makes you work out some sort of a solution to problems rather then running away, but I would not like to be in some of the tight situations I have gotten thorough in the past ever again.
On a related note, don't burn all your bridges where you are leaving, I have met older (65+) teachers with no family to speak of (or with) back where they're from, their working life drawing to a close for health reasons, and basically just looking forward to not starving to death before they die.
Believe it or not I am not being discouraging, just suggesting you be prepared for further down the road, if things don't work out in Central America (or Mexico).

wanderingxelmundo · Joined: 25 Mar 2015 Posts: 86

lil5foot · Joined: 21 Feb 2015 Posts: 9

I think I've settled on Guatemala! Of course, this is a long term goal, so things could change.

My plan is to take intensive Spanish language training prior to beginning my TEFL certification. I've chosen a great school n San Pedro La Laguna for this and I hope to fully immerse myself in Spanish and Guatemalan culture for 1-2 months. Once I've finished with the Spanish school, I will move to Antigua to take my TEFL cert with Maximo Nivel. It just seems like the best fit for me in what I want to do.

For now, I continue saving! But I love having this goal to work towards - makes life a lot more interesting and worthwhile.

esl_prof · Posted: Sun May 17, 2015 6:08 pm Post subject:

That sounds like a good plan to get started. If, by chance, things don't work out in Guatemala, your newly acquired Spanish language skills and TEFL cert will certainly smooth your relocation to greener pastures elsewhere in Latin America.

Please keep us posted on how things work out. Sharing your stories makes things easier for those who follow in your footsteps later.