Job Discussion Forums

woodersn · Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 26 Location: Quepos, Costa Rica

So I�ve completed my TEFL cert now and am hoping to move on to... somewhere else.

My question for you all is what countries do you think would be best to MAKE money in?

I don�t expect to rake it in hand over fist, but I would like to be able to do more than just get by, even if by a little bit. The only country I can safely eliminate is Brazil, and that only because I need to stay somewhere hispanohablante.

I am seriously considering Peru, but I still have an open mind. Very Happy

Firecat · Joined: 22 Jul 2005 Posts: 14

I hope that you did not get into the ESL game in order to make money! If you did -- you are going to be very disappointed. You can earn enough to live, but not much more.

Peru is a great place. I spent one year there (2002) living in Lima. In order to make my pay go a bit farther I lived in a small and not-so-nice apartment in a not-so-safe area, which I would NOT recommend doing! The small amount of money that I saved was not worth it.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

If you are qualified, and able to look at university positions, then there are places all over Latin America where you can earn a decent living, though as stated above, no where wil you make a fortune.

If you looking at language schools as a new TEFLer, then you'll find the better paying opportunities in the larger cities and larger countries, like Mexico, Chile, and perhaps Argentina. Colombia might also be a good choice.

woodersn · Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 26 Location: Quepos, Costa Rica

Interesting. Thanks for the reply. Seriously considering Cuzco, Peru; Santiago, Chile; or possibly Mexico somewhere. I'm hoping to leave in about 10 days - will make my decision soon I guess!

Know anything about these places?

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Not sure about Cuzco. This isn't prime time to find a job in Santiago, but chances are still pretty good.

This is a good time for many places in Mexico....other than unis.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 12:27 am Post subject:

Cuzco's a beautiful town- you'll like it. But I don't know much about working there. There are a fair few language schools- but they looked a little fly by night to me. In any case, I wasn't there for long.

If you're leaving in 10 days- make a decision and look into visa laws RIGHT NOW. Regulations are constantly changing, but in no place that I know of is it getting any easier to get a visa.

Regards,
Justin

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Firecat · Joined: 22 Jul 2005 Posts: 14

I have been to Santiago to visit, but never worked there. A good friend of mine is a Santiago native and said the cost of living is pretty high. Also, although there are a lot of teaching opportunities, Santiago is a popular destination with the ESL crowd and the competition is higher.

wanderingwonderwoman · Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 19 Location: chile

here again plugging chile. i think its probably one of the best places to make cash money in latin america. met a guy in santiago (with two jobs...in a guesthouse and at a lang. school) and he said that he was saving more money here than he did in boston managing a bar.

i wouldnt like to live in santiago, though. its way way way nicer over here in vi�a /valparaiso. and my standard of living is super high. private lessons run between 14 and 18 dollars an hour, and my boyfriend and i both have full time jobs (lunch included). we are not an isolated success story.

its not the best time to come, but we didnt come at the "best" time either. it all depends on timing, what the schools need at that time, and how you strike t hem.

best of luck