Job Discussion Forums

alfred_utton · Joined: 23 Dec 2004 Posts: 26 Location: Costa Rica

I am teaching at Berlitz in San Jos�, Costa Rica, and am trying to learn Spanish. However, all of my time is taken up by lesson planning and everyone I know speaks English so, although I've been here for 8 months, my Spanish isn't that much better than it was when I got here. I'd like to move to Colombia because I think there are fewer English speakers there and that I'd be forced to use Spanish. However -- this is where Asia comes in -- I have credit card debt and student loans I'd like to take care of so I'm thinking of moving to Asia to make some money before returning to Latin America. (Korea seems to be the place to go for the short term cash boost.)

My question: will I be able to continue to study Spanish in Asia? or better yet, where can I find a Latino community to move into while I'm making money, so that I can continue to practice speaking Spanish?

Nomad Dan · Joined: 17 Feb 2003 Posts: 145 Location: Myanmar

Spanish-speakers are everywhere I guess.
I know that I had lots of South American and Mexican friends in South Korea....That is probably your best bet. You can find every language in Seoul.
Suerte...
Dan El Nomadico

moot point · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Posts: 441

Look for jobs in western Shizuoka. It has the highest percentage of Spanish speakers (S. American nationals) living in Japan. Hamamatsu is a great start.

frigginhippie · Joined: 13 Mar 2004 Posts: 188 Location: over here

I've met some spanish and portuguese speakers in Seoul. Actually, I spoke more spanish in 8 days of summer camp there than the previous 7 months living 2hrs from Mexico.

How is the Berlitz in San Jose? I met them a while back, but didn't like the idea of traveling to each site. How do you find that commute to be?

-fh

alfred_utton · Joined: 23 Dec 2004 Posts: 26 Location: Costa Rica

thanks for the advice. its good to know that I'll be able to keep up with my Spanish if I wind up moving to Asia.

I really enjoy teaching with Berlitz and I'm probably going to try to tranfer within the system, if I move to Asia, instead of looking for another job. I think that Berlitz has a strong program, which I find easy to teach. As far as travel classes go, most of my classes are here at Berlitz Bellavista. I do have some travel classes but they're usually pretty close to here and I like getting them because I get paid extra for travel expenses--even if I only have to walk a few blocks.