Job Discussion Forums

[corporatehuman]

A big thankyou to all who post on this board, Dave, this whole website; I've been reading for a month and haven't stopped.

I have a few questions.

1. I haven't seen this addressed anywhere, but is it fine to go to a Spanish-speaking country to teach English ESL, without knowing Spanish???

I want to learn another language, specifically Spanish, but so far have absolutely no education in it. But I also don't have a lot of money to finance anything, so I need to work wherever I am. Which leads to my second question...

2. Does anyone know if any programs that combine learning Spanish with Teaching English?


AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IF YOU CAN ANSWER ANYTHING ANSWER THIS:

If you were to choose between Guatemala, Mexico, Columbia, Chile, and Argentina, WHICH ONE would you choose!?!? And why?

I'm finding is very difficult to decide where to go; right now I only know that I want to go, somewhere Spanish-speaking, and avoid Europe.


Thanks in advance for your response,


Chris

[ls650]

1) Sure. I didn't know more than ten words of Spanish before I came here 20 months ago. Now, mind you, after that much time my level of Spanish is only pre-intermediate now, but I'm plugging away at it and hope to be a reasonably competent speaker some day.

2) That's really a matter of personal preference. You can have both good and bad work situations in any of those countries, so I don't think there's any way to pick one over the others. I am in Mexico simply because that's where I first found a job I would be happy with. YMMV.

[Not St Louis]

Teaching English and learning a second language at the same time is not the easiest. After teaching many hours, it is hard to get out and learn the language like you want to.

In my first 4 months in Mexico, I didn't teach, I just traveled and I learned enough Spanish to make me a fairly decent reader and speaker of Spanish. I know my speaking/listening is failing now but I can still read it well.

Of all the countries you listed, I would choose Mexico because of my the good times I have had there, but I don't know Chile or Argentina but I have heard good things about both.

[Cdaniels]

No es tan f�cil como usted cree.

There are programs that combine a TEFL certificate with Spanish courses.

If you just want to go somewhere Spanish speaking, you could always go to East LA.

[MELEE]

Or Miamai...

It is possible to learn Spanish, but do keep in mind that if you are working in English, you cut down your Spanish learning time if you had the money, it would be best to do an immersion course first.

There are some jobs that will offer you Spanish classes, look for jobs at language schools that teach Spanish to foriegners.

As for the countries, I couldn't tell you. I haven't been to Colombia (remember that in Spanish the guy's name is Colon, so the country is spelt with two Os) and I've only visited Argentina and Guatemala briefly. If money is an issue for you, you can probably rule out Guatemala. Chile is great, but I was there more than a decade ago now. Obviously, I like Mexico, or I wouldn't be here.

[corporatehuman]

Thanks for all your responses.

WHERE in Mexico do you all reside? Big city? Small city? Village? Town?

The Spanish immersion idea sounds like a good one, save up enough money and just pay for it, then begin to teach. Probably would make the transition easier.

How long have you all been in Mexico? Another recent topic depressingly titled Isolation was just started, I was curious if anyone else has felt that? I imagine that has more to do with the individual, but the fact is that as a foreigner, anywhere in the world, you are automatically regulated to a specific sphere. Which you can, slowly, break out of...

I actually went to college in a city called Reading, Pennsylvania; drug capita of DC, Philadelphia, Allentown, Baltimore etc. but anyway, THERE they also have huge Spanish-only speaking districts.

Its just odd because its in the middle of Pennsylvania and if anyone knows Pennsylvania that just, doesn't make too much sense...I mean the Amish are nearby.

I have difficulty with linear thought sometimes but my original question I just want to restate; because I am leaning towards a smaller city, town, rather than Mexico City. I'm looking for as much 'immersion' (that term disturbs me for some reason) as possible.

Would that naturally be in the smaller cities / towns, or the big ones? Ah well, if anyone can answer me please do.

Thanks,

Chris

[lozwich]

[MELEE]

I live in a small city. The population is somewhere between 40,000 and 150,000 ! (gotta love the Mexican census!) and is either the second, third, or fourth largest city in the state. Having seen the others, I'm guess we're really the third largest city. I've been here for 8 years -2 days!.

While there are lots of people in town who don't speak a word of English, there are also lots of people who have lived in the US. Immigration is a big part of this region. Of those who've lived in the US, some speak great English, some no English, some think they speak English. But whether or not they speak any English, I think this does make them more helpful to foreigners. They know what its like to be in a different country. Some people think this would make them hostile to Americans. In my experience, only very occasionally after drinking a lot of booze, is this the case.

[corporatehuman]

I keep having more questions.

Yeah I just noticed how I spelled Colombia, I realized in my original post if anything was wrong it'd be pointed out; just a habit from some unfortunate exposure to that big looming catacylsmic university in New York.

Anyway, I like the volunteer idea. In fact, I realize this is an ESL site, but I was hoping to somehow do something else in Mexico. Anyone know of other opportunities?

I'm not looking for money just to subsist, and have some time to write. Maybe farming would make it hard to write, maybe not. If anyone knows of any volunteer organizations, that specialize with learning Spanish and work...lemme know.

- Chris

[MELEE]

There are loads of opportunties, but unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a catch all place to find out about them. I think this board is as good as anywhere to start.

I didn't mean that Colombia thing to come off as rude, the Colon thing is a tip I learned at Uni. There are lots of places all over North America called Columbia, so its an easy mistake for English speakers to make.

There is an organization called Amerispan that has "internships" that usually include Spanish lessons and a variety of different types of work. There webpage is www.amerispan.com.

I have some really good friends who have a sustainable development organziation that works with agriculture and they have volunteers and interns. their website is http://www.proyectosanisidro.com.mx/

[delacosta]

Wow M! The San Isidro people are good friends of yours? I've wanted to make it up there for some time now, but never have time-you know how it is with the schedule and how far it is.
I've heard some incredible things about the family and the work they�re doing, mostly from the cobbing community. Do you know much about the alternative school they run? He says, wondering if they teach
English and would be willing to trade teaching for a building apprentiship, perhaps during the sabatical?
MAybe I'll make it up to talk to them and check it out for Semana Santa.

And hey, congratulations on the Regional Uni thingy, all reports are that it went really well-Derek was most impressed. Everyone says that UTM did an amazingly good job of hosting it.

[lozwich]

Corporatehuman,

Try taking a look at Idealist, or One World. These two have either internships or actual paid volunteer jobs . There is also Teach Abroad, but a lot of those volunteer jobs are ones where you have to pay.

Suerte (look that up in your Spanish-English dictionary ),
Lozwich.