Job Discussion Forums

spandex123 · Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 3

i'm looking for information re tefl work in venezuela, for language schools rather than elem/high. anyone know of any reputable institutes? especially ones which which would organize your visa, as they all seem to want you to get it yourself (nightmare!)

any ideas regarding cost of living, and what would be considered a decent salary?
any general tips or insights are welcome.

thanks!

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Try here.
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=4556

VENEZUELA
Various. VENUSA, Rosa Corley
[email protected]
(6 month minimum. They get you a student visa.)

Caracas. Coach English.
http://www.coachenglish.com.
[email protected]
(They get you a student visa)

LATIN AMERICA
Job Placement Service for Latin America. Teachers Latin America, Guy Courchesne (Guy Courchesne)
http://www.innovative-english.com/
[email protected]
(There's a fee involved)

A directory of Free & low-cost volunteer programs in South America (stevemc)
www.volunteersouthamerica.net

AMERICA
www.empleate.com
www.lanic.utexas.edu/enlace
www.kidscamps.com (North America)

TEFL SITES
http://www.worldwide.edu (Mira)
www.iie.org
www.cambridgeesol.org/teaching/delta.htm (go to teaching award centres, they usually are language schools as well.)
http://www.ihworld.com/directory_of_schools/directoryindex.asp
www.tefl.com
www.tefl.net
www.teachabroad.com
www.eslcafe.com
www.edufind.com
www.tesjobs.co.uk
www.istc.umn.edu
http://www.ucles.org.uk/workingforucles/international
http://chronicle.com/
www.eslteachersboard.com
www.europa-pages.com

As for salary, probably average would be around 600 usd

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

Try taking the dot off the end.

Blue Jacket · Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 20

I'm also interested in Venezuela.

I would greatly appreciate any info about border runs, can a person stay there for years under such circumstances? Is there a 6-month per year limit?

Has anyone done this or heard of this?

I'm also interested in Mexico but think that I will have problems there without a work visa. If someone has experience with doing border runs there I would like to get your opinion. Thank you.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 8:25 pm Post subject:

If you're thinking about stop and go, teach, then travel, short stays, don't worry about it. But if you're thinking about staying a longish time, and want to have a decent job and reasonably stable life, get the visa. Whatever it takes. A good employer should be able to help you in most countries.

With no visa, you have no rights as an employee.

Don't figure that your employers will be too good natured and honorable to take advantage of that. Long term illegality is an invitation for people to take advantage of you. And they will.

Justin

Blue Jacket · Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 20

Thanks. I think that since I don't have a degree (only CELTA) I will have a problem to get a work visa in most countries there. (?) I would really like to get papers as soon as I can, once I am sure which country that I want to stay in. Venezuela is at the top of my list at this time but I don't know enough about it yet. Any suggestions?

dvasas · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 138 Location: Taipei, Taiwan

I went to Venezuela a couple weeks after I graduated from University and ended up staying 3 weeks, I was about 2 hours from Barcelona in a small town, I did not feel safe there and got cold stares and was told by my school when I got there not to go out at dark, I imagine Caracus would have been a better choice, my apartment was $20US/month but everything overflowed there, and it was a haven for cockroaches compared to the town though the building did look ok...... I think it would have been a better experience if the school owner didn't lie about everything she told me about the place, for me it ended up being a bad choice,

I will say the coffee there is to die for, and I would love to go back some day for another cup!!

Taurus · Joined: 22 May 2004 Posts: 54 Location: Canada

I absolutely loved my year in Venezuela. It is a beautiful country, filled with warm people. Yes, it can be dangerous and we were robbed several times but if you use common sense and listen to the advice of the Venezuelans, you should be fine. The biggest problem right now is the economy. One of my best friends who is Venezuelan but now lives in Spain, just returned to Venezuela after a 2 year absence and was shocked at how expensive things have become. When I lived there 5 years ago, I was getting about $1000 Canadian a month, plus rent, plus free lunches at the school, plus doing extra tutoring and it was JUST enough to enjoy life.

kingkristopher · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 62

First off, Venezuela is a beautiful country and a fantastic place to live and visit. But be forewarned, the political climate there is volatile and not altogether welcoming to foreigners. You can expect to be harassed by the Police and National Guard (actually this was routine even before the political climate deteriorated) so having your papers in order is a MUST.

At a minimum you should get a student visa, though this will not hold up to close scrutiny; the authorities are well aware of the student visa scam and may call your bluff. Additionally, as someone else posted, despite whatever contract you may have, you'll have no rights as an employee- not an enviable position to be in.

I do not know of any language schools that will arrange your work papers. Work visas are EXTREMELY hard to come by throughout Latin America. However, reputable language schools in Caracas include:

Berlitz
CVA (Centro Venezolano Americano)
The British Council
Inlingua
Coach English

There may be a few others if you do some legwork once you touch down (check the phone book).

Unfortunately, Venezuela is not like Ecuador or Costa Rica where teaching jobs seem to grow on trees. The government actively discourages learning English as it is seen as a hallmark of the "oligarchs" and a form of American Imperialism.

To get by you'll need at least $600 USD a month, though 7-8 would be more realistic. When I was there 4 years ago I made $750 USD and it afforded me a very good standard of living (not great, but very good)

Good luck with your search.

RyanS · Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 356

Actually quite the contray, there is a lot of English Language schools I noticed a bunch just touring the downtown in Caracas though learning English it is seen to many as a privilege to the rich. The Government does not discourage people from learning English, it plays little role in this.

kingkristopher · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 62

I'm not saying there aren't any schools, just that you won't bebombarded with teaching opportunities in CCS. Those that you do find are not usually very stable or economically feasible, outsidew of the usual suspects that weer bandied about earlier.

danielita · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 281 Location: SLP

Just browsing a website and came across this, for anyone interested...

http://vancouver.craigslist.org/edu/142843771.html

They pay in "Loca currency" but isn't all currency loca?? Wink

D

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 11:59 pm Post subject:

kingkristopher · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 62

I've lived in both Caracas and Quito and believe me, the expat community is far smaller in CCS, despite the fact that it is 5-6 times bigger.