Job Discussion Forums

[kmickel]

Hi there! I am graduating from college this May, and looking to move to Latin America in early September. I think I might have a teaching gig in Trujillo for the first 4 months of living there, but I plan on staying the whole year, and am looking for other ideas out there in the ESL world about where to work in Ecuador (ideally) or Peru for the remainder of my time in SA. Trujillo is not where I want to be, per se, BUT I would be paid, so I am still considering it as an option.

I am not interested in paying any type of program cost to teach as a volunteer--that is ridiculous to me (referring to the $1,000 or more costs of some programs). I would ideally like to work getting some type of pay, even if minimal, but would be open to volunteering IF there is the option to live with a homestay to minimize living expenses.

I do not have a TEFL certificate, but I have experience tutoring, and teaching. I am currently a volunteer ESL instructor for a local library. Plus, I want to be a teacher for my career, so I have a lot of dedication and passion for teaching, which I think could make up for my lack of certification.

If anyone has lived in Peru or Ecuador and could help me find language institutes, schools, or organizations in need of Native English teachers, that would hire someone off of experience and a good attitude, I would love to talk to you! I am interested in cities such as Cuenca, Loja, Riobamba, Ambato or the like in Ecuador, and in Peru, cities such as Cusco, Urubamba, or any other cities. I am open to anything, really, but I am not interested in living in major cities (part of the reason I am skeptical about Trujillo).

I have found a few things, like ILC in Chachapoyas, Peru, or the Canadian House Center in Loja. But reviews of CHC have stopped me from pursuing that as an option. It is hard to find these paid opportunities just through a googlesearch, so I am hoping someone out there in the ESL community can give me some good advice.

Thank you so much in advance for the help!

[HLJHLJ]

Cuenca's not what I would class as small, so I guess it depends on what you are looking for. In Ecuador there is very little work outside of Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca (and there's not an awful lot in Cuenca). To find a job anywhere, but especially in a smaller place, you will need to turn up and go round knocking on doors with your CV/resume. If they need someone, your lack of certification won't be a massive issue, unless there is someone else competing for the same job.

Any positions around the coast are typically little more than volunteer work for bed and board, as there are plenty of backpackers/surfers/etc who are willing to do a little teaching to extend their stay. In the Sierra you might find somewhere for (barely) subsistence wages, but it'll be a question of happening to be there when they need someone. They aren't going to recruit in advance or from overseas. It's also unlikely that a smaller place will be able to get you a visa.

I do know someone who was looking for a volunteer to work in the jungle. IIRC bed and board were provided but nothing else, but then there's nothing to spend money on there anyway. I suspect the conditions would be pretty brutal but it could be an amazing experience for the right person.

[kmickel]

Thank you for your reply!

I know Cuenca isn't small, but I hear it so beautiful and charming that I think it would be worth living there to be in that atmosphere, even if it were a little on the big side.

I know that it will be hard to be hired from overseas, and I am worried about that, but if you think showing up at the right time will help get hired--at least in South America--then maybe I will just try to secure one thing from overseas and wing it when I am there for the rest of my stay. I might just need to volunteer in exchange for room and board--that seems to be a common path that people take who want to see a lot of South America cheaply.

IF anyone has any success stories of volunteer organizations they would recommend which also take care of room and board, let me know!