Job Discussion Forums

vaughnyb · Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 39

I hold a BA in marketing and have worked in the IT field and have a little experience in teaching computers. Ive recently had an accident which placed me on permanent disability, leaving me with a pension of $1400 per month. Since then I have started volunteer teaching ESL at a local school, so far it has been three months teaching and I love it.

My thoughts are since I have a guaranteed income and next june of 2007 I will have a year of teaching English under my belt, why not start teaching in puru. My dilema is that since I will already have experience to just get TEFL certified online, by the company i to i, its cheaper and less time and besides I already have the classroom experience. What do you think?

Will I be respcted as much by employers for getting my cert. online even though I have experience? Is it doable and ill this shut me out of the "good" paying jobs.

I also must work under the table during the duration of my stay because of the terms of my disability settlemet, is this doable?

In case I must go and get my cert. the old fashioned way, 4 weeks, there is a good program in truillo by ukbritannica, do you know anything about this?

Is the 1400 dollars per month enough to live on?

Thanks for responding to this log mail but I really do need your help to start of my journey.

Have a nice day.

Vaughn Bell

RyanS · Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 356

I live on 1000 a month in canada, 1400 in peru, has got to be a lot.

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

It's a lot. Average is 500. Try to do a real, on site course, it'll be better than an online one.

Try teachabroad.com for some courses.

MELEE · Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:24 pm Post subject:

In Mexico I support a family of 4 with a live in housekeeper on around 1000 a month! (and we're the rich relatives.) You are in a unique position, depending on how limiting your disablity is, I've seen some unique teaching positions you could go for and really have great experiences. For example one at a school in the Galapagos that was essentially volunteer, they had a stipen to cover room and board, but nothing beyond that, but hey, it's the Galapagos!
Like naturegirl, I suggest you go for an one site 4 week course. I've heard that there are some good ones in Ecuador.( Wink

JT ) You might be surpised by how much you learn, and I can't speak for Peru, but here in Mexico, yes, even with experience, the online cert would lose out over someone with another type of cert, and there is usually no shortage of applicants.

vaughnyb · Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 39

Melee, some backround on me is that I am a 40 year old "african-american male" with no children, so indeed I am thankful to be in this �nique position"My heart is set on South America and Im going to start with Peru, then Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica and then DR. Then to on to conquer euroa. I enjoy helping others achieve their dream and achieving mine at the same time.

Only trick with the disability is they dont do direct deposit so I will have to pay outrageous fees to cash an American Insurance Co. check or have a family member deposit it for me and use an ATM to draw on it.

Thanks for the advice on the certification.

Anybody know of a good bank where I can bank online and get charged little to kno ATM fees for withdrawl?

keepwalking · Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 194 Location: Peru, at last

Any ATM card with Maestro or Cirrus will allow you to withdraw money here. Charges range from 3-7 soles ($1-2) That is at the Peruvian end - you will need to check out banks from your end to see what they charge. You can end up paying fees to your own bank and to a Peruvian bank.

You should find it pretty easy to find work 'under the table' Bear in mind though that you only get 90 days on your tourist visa. After that you need to cross a border and re-enter Peru to get another 90 days. Worth considering when you are locating yourself, try to find somewhere reasonably close to a border so the trip is easier. I'd start your search in Trujillo, Piura or Chachapoyas if you fancy the north of Peru (6-8 hours to Ecuador) or Cusco, Tacna or Arequipa (for Bolivian border) Lima is fairly central and so quite a distance from borders but has flights so you could always treat yourself and get a flight to somewhere in Chile, Bolivia or Ecuador.

It would be worth getting the TEFL cert, especially if you are considering moving on to other SA countries. Chile and Argentina have higher expectations in terms of qualifications and you might struggle without it there. Also, it would put you in a stronger position to get a fulltime post in one institute. Quite a lot of positions in Peru are only a few hours a day and you can end up working in several places which gets tiring. That said, with a regular income from the US you won't have to work to support yourself so will be in the position to pick and choose.

I don't know the TEFL cert in Trujillo myself but I did take Spanish lessons there and wasn't overly impressed with the standard of teaching I saw. But the staff were very friendly and energetic! If you want any info on Trujillo itself, pm me. I've been here a year now and so have a pretty good take on the place.

Good luck

nineisone · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 187

Just to piggyback on Keepwalking's post, I will be taking the four week cert course in Trujillo starting Oct. 2 and will post my experiences here for anyone curious. So keep your eyes peeled.

Lotsa good information from Keepwalking and Naturegirl. Thanks ladies!

I would add that 1400$ seems like a fortune to me. It is all relative to the type of lifestyle you lead but I could imagine it not impossible to survive on as little as 300-400$ a month outside of Lima. Granted this would mean a room or a shared apartment, the basic menu at basic eating establishments and cheap entertainment(Can't wait for those 2 for 1 Movie nights).

You might want to consider Cusco as it is newbie friendly with lots of people speaking english, plenty of onsite cert courses: Maximo Nivel has been recommended, and probably the most entertainment options outside Lima.

RyanS · Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 356

Is 1000 soles a month enough to live on in Lima? Lots of Peruvians tell me yes.

What should i aim for as a limited experienced(only tutoring), no university, 20 year old?

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

Many Peruvians live on 500 a month, soles, that is. But keep in mind that they live with family and don't pay rent or food.
Yes, you can live on it, just don't expect to live like a gringo.

vaughnyb · Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 39

Thanks for the info

Vaughn

vin1127 · Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Posts: 28 Location: EEUU

Vaughn,

I highly recommend looking into an online bank called netbank (www.netbank.com). I have a checking account with them, and just transfer my funds to my netbank checking account. No ATM fees.
Those ATM fees can add up at the end of the month.

Vin

Vanica · Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 368 Location: North Carolina

keepwalking · Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 194 Location: Peru, at last

I had a similar situation when my card was stolen here. I got my bank to send the replacement to my sister who then wrapped it up in paper and put it in a bigger envelope to disguise it and posted it to me in the regular post. Risky I know but it has worked twice. I have internet banking so once I know the card is on its way I check my account regularly so I can cancel the card if it gets used. The PIN number and card are always sent separately so this is pretty secure even if the package doesn't make it here.

Vanica · Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 368 Location: North Carolina

So that would mean you would have to keep a US address on the account. I changed to my current address, so they won't send the card to someone else.

keepwalking · Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 194 Location: Peru, at last

Yeah - I have a British account and they were quite happy to use my sister as a postal address. They know I am in Peru and that this address is not my place of residence but they were happy to do that.

Could you nominate a proxy to collect the card for you and then they send it on? My bank gave that to me as an option as well when I was discussing my move abroad with them.