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c_destru
Joined: 27 Apr 2015
Posts: 14
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 Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2015 3:19 pm Post subject: Newbie LA questions |
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Hey guys! Newbie here. I've been reading the boards for a few weeks, which answered a ton of my questions I had, but I have some questions for people who don't want to make it a career, but rather a ... side career?
a little about me - US citizen, BA in Criminology. Currently working as a cognitive behavioral case manager in a prison environment, and will be leaving at my 2 year mark (next April/May). I currently also teach classes ranging from life skills, morality therapy, and anger management to high-risk offenders. I was thrown the curriculum for each class and got told 'teach and don't show weakness'.
I did a gap year traveling before getting my last job ^ and loved Vietnam and Thailand. When I was spending a few months in Hanoi, I would head to Hoan Kiem Lake and was astonished at the people coming up to me in attempt to practice their English, since the people I worked with had no desire to learn anything back home. It really made me think about teaching English and the ties I could make between this and social justice in America.
A main goal of mine is to become fluent in Spanish, as there are a high percentage of latin american men involved in the criminal justice system - especially in the city I will be taking up residence in 3-4 years.
I will start classes for my master's in forensic mental health counseling in 3-4 years (I don't feel ready for this yet), and want to teach ESL on the side, either voluntarily at women's shelters, which I have already spoken to someone about, or 4-5 hours a week for a program aimed at helping immigrants. Before this, I want to gain some more life experience and travel around, but especially some cultural awareness that I can bring back with me when I come back in a few years.
1. I've read on here that the CELTA is worth the financial investment if you're making this a long term plan. Would it be beneficial for me to go for CELTA instead of TEFL if I have the extra dough to do so? I also read that CELTA is much more difficult, which does not bother me.
2. I will be attending 6 weeks of intensive Spanish classes and DELE prep in Guatemala, and was thinking staying in latin america for the CELTA/TEFL. I read on the boards that IH Mexico City was recommended highly, if question 1 is yes to the CELTA. Is there any other programs anyone recommends checking out?
3. I have an internet job which pays okay, so I am not TOO worried about a low salary in Latin America, but I also want to be able to save that income and live off of a teaching salary. I read on the boards that this is usually difficult, but feasible (I am already pretty frugal). Is the internet reliable in LA countries? If it's mixed, which ones are usually better than others?
I still have a lot of research to do and plenty of time to figure everything out, and I appreciate the help (or criticism) people throw my way. I understand this board is geared more towards long term teaching abroad, but I really feel strongly that the experience will help me greatly in the long run.
Thanks for reading my babbling! |
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esl_prof
Joined: 30 Nov 2013
Posts: 2006
Location: peyi kote solèy frèt
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| Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2015 5:52 pm Post subject: Re: Newbie LA questions |
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| c_destru wrote: |
| 1. I've read on here that the CELTA is worth the financial investment if you're making this a long term plan. Would it be beneficial for me to go for CELTA instead of TEFL if I have the extra dough to do so? I also read that CELTA is much more difficult, which does not bother me. |
A generic TEFL cert, so long as it includes a minimum of 120 hours of face-to-face instruction plus six hours of supervised teaching practice, would be considered "CELTA equivalent." Trinity, CELTA, and SIT TESOL are the three well-known "brand names" (like McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's) but most others will do the trick (like Carl's Junior or Jack-in-the-Box) if they meet the above-mentioned minimum requirements.
| c_destru wrote: |
| 2. I will be attending 6 weeks of intensive Spanish classes and DELE prep in Guatemala, and was thinking staying in latin america for the CELTA/TEFL. I read on the boards that IH Mexico City was recommended highly, if question 1 is yes to the CELTA. Is there any other programs anyone recommends checking out? |
Others on these forums have spoken well of the IH CELTA in Mexico City. Given your strong interest in social justice, I would recommend the SIT TESOL in Costa Rica (though Quito, Ecuador and Oaxaca, Mexico are also good options.)
Unlike other TESOL certs, SIT's program is rooted in critical pedagogy as espoused by Paulo Freire, et al. (e.g., Pedagogy of the Oppressed). In particular, SIT's training center in Costa Rica caters to largely to English teachers from around Latin America who do the program as in-service training (as opposed to folks like yourself who are doing it as pre-service training), so it's a really great place to network with educators from around the region while getting your initial training.
http://graduate.sit.edu/sit-graduate-institute/sn/degree-and-certificate-programs/language-teacher-training/sit-graduate-institute-tesol-certificate/
| c_destru wrote: |
| 3. I have an internet job which pays okay, so I am not TOO worried about a low salary in Latin America, but I also want to be able to save that income and live off of a teaching salary. I read on the boards that this is usually difficult, but feasible (I am already pretty frugal). Is the internet reliable in LA countries? If it's mixed, which ones are usually better than others? |
Here's a link to an current discussion on teaching opportunities in Mexico.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?p=1204168#1204168
If you're interested in the Dominican Republic, send me a PM and I can forward you my notes on opportunities there.
I can't speak for elsewhere in Latin America, but you can get fairly reliable internet service in the DR. The more critical question (which you should ask of other countries as well) is how reliable is the electrical service? Having a good internet connection does you no good if there's no electricity to power your computer or modem. Though, there are creative ways to work around that.
| c_destru wrote: |
| Thanks for reading my babbling! |
Thanks for inquiring! Please keep us posted on where you ultimately end up and how things work out for you. Sharing your journey will help others who follow in your footsteps. |
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c_destru
Joined: 27 Apr 2015
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2015 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the reply!! I looked into SIT TESOL and i'm really liking the Quito program so far - the Costa Rica website did not load any information about their program, so I emailed them for more information.
I am very interested in DR, but it seems I can't PM yet. Can you tell me more about your experience in DR in terms of teaching and living? |
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Xie Lin
Joined: 21 Oct 2011
Posts: 731
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| Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2015 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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Others on these forums have spoken well of the IH CELTA in Mexico City. Given your strong interest in social justice, I would recommend the SIT TESOL in Costa Rica (though Quito, Ecuador and Oaxaca, Mexico are also good options.)
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Quito and Oaxaca, yes. Definitely recommended. Both have provided consistently high quality programs over the years. The Costa Rica SIT course, however, has had mixed reviews--organization and administration of the course appear to have not always been up to par. Things do change, though, and these problems may or may not be a thing of the past. Just take care to assess all information and responses carefully, and definitely ask for contact info of recent trainees for current opinions of the course. I see they have redone their website, which is a good sign.
On second glance--the new website suggests that some of the old problems with organization, prioritization, and presentation of information may still be ongoing. (I would consider this a red flag, but not a definitive deal-breaker.) So ask questions, and carefully evaluate the responses.
Good luck!
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HLJHLJ
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 1218
Location: Ecuador
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| Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2015 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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With regard to internet, it's rarely a country by country comparison in LA, and more a city by city one. I'm based in Quito and I have the best internet connection that I've ever had (100Mbps fiber optic). But just because it's available, it doesn't mean you'll have it. There are different services available from one block/building to the next, and if you are renting, you'll likely be stuck with whatever is already installed.
Outside of Quito, Guayaquil and Ibarra also have good options for internet. Elsewhere it ranges from patchy to terrible. Cuenca in particular has a huge variation, some people have great connections, others have barely functioning connections. Speed is generally pretty low along the coastline, and electricity outages can be a problem in some areas as well.
If you are in a position to do some volunteering as well, have a look at the CELTA course on the Galapagos Islands. I posted some information about it that is just a couple of threads below this one. You can do the course without volunteering, but the volunteer package is a great deal and the help is desperately needed. |
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c_destru
Joined: 27 Apr 2015
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2015 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you both for the reply! I have been looking into Quito and Ecuador in general, and I really like what i've read so far. The Galapagos one also looks pretty amazing, and I love volunteering (been volunteering in some capacity for the last 8 years). I will have to ask the Galapagos program about their electricity and internet capabilities.
Here's another question for those who have worked in Ecuador (or specifically in Quito) - I know it'll be varied and dependent on contract, but do you have much free time on the weekends to take up any volunteer work? I guess this would take the place of private tutoring for me, and I may have answered my own question just now...haha. |
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esl_prof
Joined: 30 Nov 2013
Posts: 2006
Location: peyi kote solèy frèt
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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| c_destru wrote: |
Thanks for the reply!! I looked into SIT TESOL and i'm really liking the Quito program so far - the Costa Rica website did not load any information about their program, so I emailed them for more information.
I am very interested in DR, but it seems I can't PM yet. Can you tell me more about your experience in DR in terms of teaching and living? |
I just sent you a PM with my notes on the DR. Please let me know if, for some reason, you can't access it.
Another thought that comes to mind, since you've got a year before you plan to head off, is the Fulbright Teaching Assistant program. You can Google it.
Xie Lin is right about checking out programs carefully before signing up. In the case of SIT's Costa Rica, I believe they did have a rough patch several years back, but I think they're probably past that. In any case, do check them and, for that matter, anyone else out thoroughly before committing. Another option is SIT's program in Guatemala since it sounds like you'll be doing language school there anyway. Unlike Costa Rica, Oaxaca, and Quito, I don't have any connections there so have no idea what the quality is like. Maybe others on these forums will know.
Quito and Costa Rica, by the way, are two of the most economical SIT programs. Tuition for Quito, I believe, is $1600 and they can arrange homestays (room and board) for $16/day. The cost of Costa Rica is $2100 and includes tuition plus room and board. A very good deal in both instances. |
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c_destru
Joined: 27 Apr 2015
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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| esl_prof wrote: |
Quito and Costa Rica, by the way, are two of the most economical SIT programs. Tuition for Quito, I believe, is $1600 and they can arrange homestays (room and board) for $16/day. The cost of Costa Rica is $2100 and includes tuition plus room and board. A very good deal in both instances. |
I just got an email back from the costa rica program, stating "Costs:
The course tuition is $2,150, the application fee is $50 and the food, transportation, materials and housing together costs $600 and includes private or shared rooms, shared baths, 3 meals a day (basic, Costa Rican style) during the week and 2 meals a day on weekends, access to kitchen in the course building, and laundry service and one round-trip to the airport (if you travel at the times we offer). Total costs are $2800. "
maybe the costs have gone up this year? |
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Xie Lin
Joined: 21 Oct 2011
Posts: 731
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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Their advertised fees have historically lagged behind their actual fees. The course was still listed for $1,200 years after the fee had been raised to $1,950. Apparently no one had notified SIT in Vermont of the change, nor had the other internet listings been updated.
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HLJHLJ
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 1218
Location: Ecuador
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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| c_destru wrote: |
| I will have to ask the Galapagos program about their electricity and internet capabilities. |
Don't expect to be able to work online while you are studying. Whether you go for the SIT or the CELTA, or something else equivalent, the courses are intense and you will have very little free time.
| c_destru wrote: |
Here's another question for those who have worked in Ecuador (or specifically in Quito) - I know it'll be varied and dependent on contract, but do you have much free time on the weekends to take up any volunteer work? I guess this would take the place of private tutoring for me, and I may have answered my own question just now...haha. |
If you are working in a language school you will usually work Saturdays. A typical schedule involves working Saturday, split shifts, and getting 2 non-consecutive days off. |
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c_destru
Joined: 27 Apr 2015
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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| HLJHLJ wrote: |
| c_destru wrote: |
| I will have to ask the Galapagos program about their electricity and internet capabilities. |
Don't expect to be able to work online while you are studying. Whether you go for the SIT or the CELTA, or something else equivalent, the courses are intense and you will have very little free time.
| c_destru wrote: |
Here's another question for those who have worked in Ecuador (or specifically in Quito) - I know it'll be varied and dependent on contract, but do you have much free time on the weekends to take up any volunteer work? I guess this would take the place of private tutoring for me, and I may have answered my own question just now...haha. |
If you are working in a language school you will usually work Saturdays. A typical schedule involves working Saturday, split shifts, and getting 2 non-consecutive days off. |
Thank you for your reply! I do 2-3 hours a day - while eating breakfast, eating lunch, and eating dinner. it's mindless stuff that I can multitask and be studying while I work.
I figured Saturdays were working days - I worded my previous post poorly, and should have just said non-working day(s) |
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esl_prof
Joined: 30 Nov 2013
Posts: 2006
Location: peyi kote solèy frèt
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| Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 2:08 am Post subject: |
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| Xie Lin wrote: |
Their advertised fees have historically lagged behind their actual fees. The course was still listed for $1,200 years after the fee had been raised to $1,950. Apparently no one had notified SIT in Vermont of the change, nor had the other internet listings been updated.
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That's right. There is a bit of lag. Though, most SIT Training Centers have the most current information on their own websites. Costa Rica is currently listed on SIT's website as being $2100, so the price has only gone up $100. I just checked my notes and, it turns out, I was wrong about room and board being included, so that was my error not a price increase. That's what I get for dashing off e-mails to quickly while gearing up for final exams. Sorry about that. |
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c_destru
Joined: 27 Apr 2015
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 12:43 am Post subject: |
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| esl_prof wrote: |
| Xie Lin wrote: |
Their advertised fees have historically lagged behind their actual fees. The course was still listed for $1,200 years after the fee had been raised to $1,950. Apparently no one had notified SIT in Vermont of the change, nor had the other internet listings been updated.
. |
That's right. There is a bit of lag. Though, most SIT Training Centers have the most current information on their own websites. Costa Rica is currently listed on SIT's website as being $2100, so the price has only gone up $100. I just checked my notes and, it turns out, I was wrong about room and board being included, so that was my error not a price increase. That's what I get for dashing off e-mails to quickly while gearing up for final exams. Sorry about that. |
just applied to the peace corps for costa rica and ecuador (you can pick now). if this doesnt work out, i'll probably end up in these countries anyway. (SIT's main campus in VT is only a couple hours from me also) |
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esl_prof
Joined: 30 Nov 2013
Posts: 2006
Location: peyi kote solèy frèt
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| Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 2:13 am Post subject: |
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Congratulations! Please keep us posted on how things turn out. Very exciting!!!  |
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