Job Discussion Forums

[dan_lawrence]

I read recently that Asuncion is cheap cheap cheap. Anyone been there lately?

[nineisone]

Never been there. Just don't let the mosquitos bite you. Or the descendants of Nazi war criminals. South American capital of dengue fever.

Seriously, Transitions Abroad has a great new article about ESL teaching in Paraguay. Check it Out!

[vivaBarca]

I just wrote an article for Transitions Abroad on Paraguay, but it doesn't seem to be online yet. You can find it in the recent print edition. It's more about the city and less about teaching, but you might still find it of interest as primary sources on this topic are so few and far between.

I really dug Asuncion...it's a strange place, maybe the oddest I've ever been to, but it has a fascinating vibe. And coming from Buenos Aires, it's a huge culture shock - in a good way. (Yes, there exists great variance in culture even between South American countries).

Here's a bit more info. for you, if I may so shamelessly plug myself:

http://www.gelfmagazine.com/archives/sabbath_in_asuncin.php
http://blogs.bootsnall.com/vivaBarca/?p=58

I would remove my name from this if I could - they pretty much edited my voice into extinction - but it has some helpful info:
http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/06-06/any-guay-you-want-it-asuncion-paraguay.html

Good luck.

[TravellingAround]

I read a very interesting book about Paraguay called 'At the Tomb of the Inflatable Pig' by John Gimlette. Part travel book/part memoirs/part history etc.

[Phil_b]

Transitions abroad article is at

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0701/teaching_english_in_paraguay.shtml

There's a pretty comprehensive list of English Schools there but they missed out the one I worked for You might want to check out the Centro-Anglo Paraguayo www.anglo.edu.py - it's a pretty big one to miss out.

I haven't taught there since 2003 - but everything in the article sounds about right. Though if you want to work legally you had to have your birth certicate and a 'certificado de buena conducta' legalised and apostilled (is that right) in your home country before you got there. (Though like everything in PY, there's probably a way round it...)

Best book I've read about the place is called "Paradise Mislaid" by Anne Whitehead. The Gimlette book is quite good as well.

[theformer]

Greetings

I�ve just returned from a short stint in Asuncion teaching. I was initially compelled to go there because of the TransitionsAbroad article and the very low cost of living.

My observations:

Wages are now more in the neighborhood of 3-4 dollars an hour.

Learned that the Transitions abroad article was actually written from a teaching experiece in 2004, hence, I presume the lower wage sited.

Corresponded and eventually met with a Mr. Daniel Ruffinelli who is sited in the article as being willing to help teachers get settled in Paraguay. He was in fact very helpful but was not able to give any real help in regards to finding an apartment.

The guest-house sited in the article is very very nice. The owner works for the UN, and they are very welcoming to visitors. It is however 15 dollars a night (with breakfast).

Apartments can still be found for 100 per month (lookin the ABC newspaper), but they are unfurnished. In Paraguay, unfurnsihed means no AC unit, frig, stove, curtains, light bulbs nada.

It is very HOT in Paraguay this time of year continuing well through January.

Paraguay is very very cheap and I beleive it is probably one of the most economical places to live on an EFL teachers salary. If you don�t drink, you will find it dfficult to spend more than 5-7 dollars a day.

Personally, although Asuncion apparently has some 1 million residents, I found it to be too much of a small town and as a result I have moved on.

If anyone has any questions please feel free to ask.

Former

[john_n_carolina]

yes, it '96 with the Peace Corps....

what questions do you have?

im sure the country has changed....but as far as teaching, i might suggest farther up north near Concepcion...

im sure there are some highschools that would take you, but not for much more than $400 / mo.

you can PM me

[reddevil79]

This thread got me thinking about an article I read in a current affairs magazine a few weeks back. Would probably scare a few off, but adventure guaranteed it seems!

http://www.newstatesman.com/200708160035