Job Discussion Forums

[lagringalindissima]

In mid sized cities--nothing too big, small or touristy-- there are language schools on every corner. I would guess that about 70% will hire you on the spot!

In Ecuador and Peru they'll probably offer you 700/month, but keep in mind the average salary for an ESL teacher is 1000/month..so if you have no experience or a masters you can negotiate up to 900; with some experience expect to make 1200. Jobs posted online (of which, admittedly there are very few) do only offer an average salary of about 450/month. That is because they are so desperate for teachers; they can't hire teachers locally because they don't pay market salaries. (Don't be fooled by the fact that schools that post online are typically larger chain schools or K-12 private schools; online job offers are still half of the standard market salaries for teachers.) Schools that you approach directly will pay you the fair market value for teachers. Although job hunting this way always carries some risk, the odds of any school lying about your salary, the hours they want you or anything else about the job (if they can get you a visa or health insurance) are quite low. You can be typically sure a job you take is trustworthy--but if you have any doubts, just go to the next job... you should have 3-4 offers within a few weeks! Universities pay well, often hire random native speakers who ask for work right away, and don't require a masters or experience.

Do keep in mind that in Ecuador you'll get hired for about 11 dollars an hour for 25 contact hours rather than for an average salary of 100/month..this is because "salaried contracts" are illegal for ESL teachers.

Do you worry that if you are paid hourly and classes don't happen you won't get paid? Don't.. you'll be paid for 100 contact hours a month regardless. Do get yourself a personal visa before coming in to Ecuador..that way you can start working legally right away; schools often pay you back for that cost--especially if you work for them for at least 6 months. Don't expect to pay anything for out of pocket costs for class materials..and if jobs don't mention a travel reimbursement, just ask..they'll do that; it will be a small amount for them anyway.

It isn't dangerous to just move to a country where you don't speak the language alone--especially in Latin America, because the whole region is very safe (OH: and for the younger partiers, using drugs is safe and legal, too)-- nor is it at all hard to job hunt, find apartments or do things you'll need to do for daily life like get to grocery stores or set up bank accounts. (The bank I went to needed me to provide reference letters, but so what? If one bank says that, find another bank. But that's not even a real issue, since you'll be working within a week and the school will give you the references that you need.)

Have you read or heard anything confusing about work visas? Just chill..the culture is laid back here! All language schools can get one; there isn't any hassle for anyone involved. Just don't get uppity about the process; trust anyone who will keep your passport for processing.

Some jobs that hire directly from abroad will have red flags. For example a job that I was offered (but didn't take) in Chile wanted me to complete 2 weeks of totally unpaid training--i.e. not even room and board was covered--and said that if I failed the teaching demonstration after training they wouldn't be able to offer me a contract. Another said if you quit early or were fired for any reason you had to pay them 500 for breaking the contract.. when I asked "Of course we all hope this would never happen (!!) but what if my father dies?" and they said "we would consider what we would do if that happened". But if you are hired in country these issues won't affect you.

Are you in your early 30s and looking for a "lifer" gig--like what you see in Korea, the Middle East or Japan--but you want to live in a laid back culture? Look no further than Latin America! Due to the great salaries and professional work culture here you see many young people who move here for for life. If you get stuck in a bad job it is your fault. They do exist-- but only because naive people take them not knowing that most jobs here are well paid and treat teachers 100% professionally.

If you want to believe this, fine. Get on a plane and have fun.

If you actually do want to go to Latin America right now--and I have never said I don't recommend coming here!!-- then look into volunteer programs or paid Spanish classes. You might well even get a perfectly decent part time paid job to help you pay for your trip if you do that.

[Xie Lin]

[Xie Lin]

[Xie Lin]

Gringa, on Friday, 10/10/14, you said:

[HLJHLJ]

[Xie Lin]

[lagringalindissima]

Argentina:
Learner's Institute Las, Heras
airfare, visa, room and board
promised 400/month but only paid half of that

Mexico:
The Tec de Monterrey system DID at one time well--but they required a masters in a content area (i.e. you couldn't just have an MA in ESL..you needed an MBA, a masters in English or sociology, etc.). (The salary varied based on which tec and your experience.) But look at Tec de Monterrey in the Mexico forum now.

United English:
About 550 a month, but they don't pay you anyway. They told me they paid the visa, but when I mentioned I needed it soon they just pooh poohed me.

Costa Rica:
Idioma Internacional: 6 dollars an hour
500 plus room and board for one specific that was contracted through a hotel; the hotel put up and fed teachers. It lasted less than a year.

English2go: I am not sure of the salary, but they told me if I wanted a full time job to look into Asia.

Chile:
Bridgetec.. the name might not be quite right
10 an hour, but you attend unpaid training for 2 weeks--plus Chile has a high cost of living for Latin America.

Peru:
salaries in local currency of 10 soles/an hour.. at about 3.15 when I was there. It's more in dollars now, but only because the value of the dollar dropped:
Extreme English
a small mom and pop school whose name I forget
This, to be fair, was a decent wage for the city (Arequipa)..but only if you got 40 hours/week.

Maximo Nivel Cusco (also requires unpaid training with room and board only partially covered).


Loja, Ecuador:
4.50/hour:
Colegio Iberroamericano, which is the most expensive K-12 private school in the city.
Canadian House
Fined Tuned English
Washington English (They did offer me more as a native speaker..but guess what? They lied.)
Speak Easy..they might have offered me 5.50. I don't remember because they "hired me" right before a holiday, said they'd call me back but did not.

Private schools sometimes hire teachers as needed for about 120 a month per class.

Cuenca:
CEDEI: a high end starting salary of of 325 a month..if you get kid classes it's less.

Now..where are the jobs paying 1100 a month? It doesn't count if you need to supplement a school's base salary with privates, because privates aren't reliable. It's fine if you work for 2 schools, but if you teach for over 40 hours a week I'm not interested. A university job is fine too..but given that most people reading this don't have masters in non ESL fields it can't require an MA in anything but ESL or maybe English.

Where are the jobs paying 900/month that don't require a master's or experience?

[naturegirl321]

Sorry but you are way off for salaries in Peru. Even in podunk towns you would get five bucks an hour. At least.

[Ellenita]

Hi, if anyone needs up to date information and help on getting an Ecuadorian 12-IX visa in the UK, I've explained everything you need to know on my little website/blog that I'm setting up: www.theminiexplorer.com/preparing-move-abroad/visas

I've just got my visa all sorted and am now in Ecuador for the next 6 months. The website is in progress, and I'm adding things along the way, so please bear with me, but hopefully you'll find the stuff about visas useful!

[esl_prof]

[HLJHLJ]

[HLJHLJ]