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wildnfree
Joined: 14 Jun 2005
Posts: 134
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 Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 7:44 am Post subject: Where is the money - Spain Vs. Colombia |
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Saludos a todos,
I have a question in regards to earning a 'decent' amount of cash teaching in a Spaniush-speaking country. The people on the Spanish forum say that due to a), the large amount of foreigners and competition, b) high living expenses that Spain is not a place to go to earn money, rather just to pick up Spanish and enjoy the lifestyle.
I have heard that Colombia offers the chance to make a 'decent' amount of money teaching, but was wondering exactly how 'decent' that is. If I am going someone to enjoy life and learn Spanish I would hope that I can earn abit of $ as well.
Any suggestions?
Obviously the two countries are extemely different in almost every way, but if anyone has been to both and wanted to share their observations...I'd appreciate it  |
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lozwich
Joined: 25 May 2003
Posts: 1536
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| Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 4:01 pm Post subject: |
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Hm. How long is a piece of string?
I've lived in both places (among others) and in both places its possible to find really badly paid jobs, and also really well paid ones. What do you consider 'decent'?
What qualifications do you have? How much experience? This will affect your ability to get a decent paying job in both places.
Maybe you could give a little bit more information about you and your expectations. There are just too many variables to give a comprehensive answer.
Have a good day.
Lozwich. |
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wildnfree
Joined: 14 Jun 2005
Posts: 134
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| Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
Yes, the questions it kinda broad..
I have four years of teaching in Asia, all ages but mainly high schools. Course Development, setting exams, ect - done it all.
I have a bachelors' in Political Science and Diploma in Business.
I am looking for a place that I can save a bit of money (not a huge spender as it is) and live there for a few years. I hope to have a bit of stability in terms of status - a working visa over a tourist visa. I am a native English speaker and have an European Union pp.
It is important to me to pick up Spanish; this is my main motivation for going. I want to experience a more relaxed culture than what it is here
I hope this makes it a bit clearer |
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lozwich
Joined: 25 May 2003
Posts: 1536
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| Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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| wildnfree wrote: |
| I hope this makes it a bit clearer |
Yep! Much more betterer!
I think you could probably get a job in an international or bilingual school in Colombia since you've been working in high schools in Asia. However, you won't get into the better ones as you don't have a degree in education. There are always schools willing to make an exeption though. There is always a fair amount of university and school work in Bogota, because there are too many school years to count, so some school or other is usually starting its academic year. But the main times are March and July.
Day to day life has the potential to be much cheaper in Colombia than in Spain, so even though you're technically earning less money, you're also spending less. The only thing is that you're far from home (I'm guessing you're British or Irish) and the second you want to spend any money to get back to Europe things become very expensive indeed. So, depending on your situation, you might find it a better option to go to Spain. There is a company in Seville hiring now offering 1400 Euros a month, which is brilliant money!
Getting a working visa could be a bit tricky in Colombia, lots of employers won't hire you without one, but won't sponsor you for one either, and you can't get one without a sponsor.
I would also say there's no chance you'll earn the money I'm guessing you're earning in Asia in either Spain or Colombia.
Hope this helps. |
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ls650
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 3484
Location: British Columbia
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| Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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In pretty much all of Latin America, you can earn enough to live comfortably by local standards, but most jobs won't pay you much past that point. You will find it very difficult to save the kind of money in LA that you can in most of Asia.
Example: while teaching for a year in Jakarta, without any effort or penny-pinching I saved about $5500 US. I would be very hard-pressed to save up that kind of money in one year here in Mexico. |
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Justin Trullinger
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 3110
Location: Seoul, South Korea and Myanmar for a bit
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| Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 11:30 pm Post subject: |
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Spent a little time in both Spain and Colombia- Schools in Spain may be more selective for the higher paying jobs, and you're not excessively qualified, though you are well experienced.
Your chances of landing a higher paid salary might be better in Latin America, where the supply of teachers is lower. But, that's only better paid by local standards. You'd be earning less, and when you left, the flight would pretty much leave you flat.
Basically, I don't know anywhere Spanish speaking where you could expect to earn "decent" money as an EFL teacher without much by way of qualifications. You could do okay if you got lucky with a low grade international school, which would be more likely in Latin America...
Best,
Justin |
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lozwich
Joined: 25 May 2003
Posts: 1536
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| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Justin Trullinger wrote: |
| Basically, I don't know anywhere Spanish speaking where you could expect to earn "decent" money as an EFL teacher without much by way of qualifications. You could do okay if you got lucky with a low grade international school, which would be more likely in Latin America... |
Which reminds me, I met someone once who was working in a fairly good university in Bogota. He only had a CELTA or something of that level. He was earning ok money, and twice the national average (which isn't very much) but he only got paid for his time in the classroom. So he was spending about 15 - 20 hours a week developing materials and exams for the school to keep, and marking and all the other stuff, completely unpaid. So on face value, he looked like he was getting a decent wage, but the extra hours reduced him to in effect only earning the national average.
Another factor is that for Spain, you could probably get a job organised before you got there, but in Colombia, you'd have to come here first, and face the possibility of not getting quite what you're after. And its a really long, expensive flight from where you are.  |
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wildnfree
Joined: 14 Jun 2005
Posts: 134
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| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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OK, after reading this info and doing extra research, I have somewhat modified my requirements ...
Seeing the most amount of money I am going to earn is here in Asia, I have decided I want to be in Latin American country (or Spain) that can allow me to work and learn Spanish at the same time...that may mean part time studying and part time working. Money to survive, pay for my Spanish classes and allow me enough time to go to class will be enough. I don't know why, but something tells me this may be easier to do in a place like Colombia then Spain (perhaps cause the cost of living in Europe is much more expensive)
Any ideas? |
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wildnfree
Joined: 14 Jun 2005
Posts: 134
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| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 7:48 pm Post subject: |
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| I forgot to add - teach while staying in a homestay. |
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MELEE
Joined: 22 Jan 2003
Posts: 2583
Location: The Mexican Hinterland
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| Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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| I love Latin America, I've been a big Latinophile for years, but If I had an EU passport and wanted to learn Spanish, I think I'd be leaning towards Spain... There used to be some schools in Ecuador that did exchanges (my experience there is more than 10 years ago), you recieved an hour of Spanish classes for every hour of English classes you taught. That allowed you a cultural exchange visa instead of a work visa, but you'd need other money for rent and such. |
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wildnfree
Joined: 14 Jun 2005
Posts: 134
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:35 am Post subject: |
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Hi
Yes I agree, but even though I have an EU passport (Im Australian by birth, by family are from Southern Europe) it seems to go to Spain, set myself up and learn Spanish would take much more time and $$ then going to LA, finding an OK paying school and living with a homestay to improve my Spanish rapidly.
I lived in Hong Kong to learn Chinese and teach, which I did, but without living in a homestay (or a local partner) it seemed the language level kind of stagnated and never improved.
If anyone can share any info/tales or recommendations about Homestays, especially in Colombia or Spain, Id appreciate it |
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lozwich
Joined: 25 May 2003
Posts: 1536
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:23 pm Post subject: |
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Why Colombia?
There's a whole range of different experiences you could have in Latin America, what is it about Colombia that attracts you? |
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wildnfree
Joined: 14 Jun 2005
Posts: 134
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:04 pm Post subject: |
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Why Colombia?
a) Colombian Spanish
b) Ease of finding work
c) Comparatively higher wages
d) Homestay/racial diversity ect
In regards to A), I can speak intermediate Spanish but with a heavy peninsular accent, as my teacher was from Valencia. I recall meeting a Colombian for the first time and not understanding a word he said! |
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lozwich
Joined: 25 May 2003
Posts: 1536
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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| wildnfree wrote: |
Why Colombia?
a) Colombian Spanish
b) Ease of finding work
c) Comparatively higher wages
d) Homestay/racial diversity ect
In regards to A), I can speak intermediate Spanish but with a heavy peninsular accent, as my teacher was from Valencia. I recall meeting a Colombian for the first time and not understanding a word he said! |
a) But why Colombian Spanish? No matter what anyone says, its not "the best". I myself have trouble understanding Argentinians.
b) Compared to? I don't think its any more easy or difficult to find work in Colombia than anywhere else in Latin America. Just like the rest of the place, its best to just turn up. You're highly unlikely to get a job sorted before you come.
c) Again, compared to where? Again, there are plenty of people in Colombia who would disagree that they're earning more than people in other parts of Latin America. And it all depends on who your employer is.
d) Not sure what you mean here. Homestays and racial diversity are available in many countries in Latin America.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not telling you not to come, I just think that there are lots of opportunities in other parts of Latin America and that you might miss out on them if you only restrict yourself to Colombia, when your requirements could be met in a number of countries.
Cheers,
Lozwich.
Last edited by lozwich on Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:50 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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wildnfree
Joined: 14 Jun 2005
Posts: 134
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:46 pm Post subject: |
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We could get into a discussion about which is the "best" place to go to, but in the end, what is the point?
If someone makes a decision to go somewhere, then fine. They shouldn't need to justify it. |
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