Job Discussion Forums

[justin032]

Hi,

I've read through nearly everything on this forum and the general idea is it is really, really difficult to make it as a teacher here. Point taken.

I would like to question the actual numbers from different sources I've heard, and would like to verify some numbers and see what I'm leaving out...

So it seems the going rate from language schools and privates is somewhere between 15-25 pesos p/hour.

It also seems that there is "no problem" getting the quantity of hours you desire, so let's assume I want to teach 30 hours per week.

Using an optimistic rate of 20 per hour, x 30 hours per week = 600 pesos per week, or roughly 2400 pesos per month or $760 US per month.

Looking at Craigslist, I see numerous room share situations in belgrano, San telmo and other areas for from $250 to $300 per month. Obviously this won't be like your own penthouse, but they don't seem terrible either...

So by my calculations, this means I would be spending around 1/3 of my total montly income on rent, which is actually less than what I am doing now in NYC. Couple that with the very low cost of living otherwise, it leads me to believe it might be possible to at least break even in BsAs? Especially if I was to bring around $2000 US in savings. Now I realize I have left out some things here like travel costs from class to class and maybe tax issues (?) but I did only use a 30 hour week, so if worst comes to worst I could work 35 hours. It still doesn't seem all that bad to me. What am I leaving out? The point is, I'm not trying to live large, pay off debts or save anything, just live in BsAs for a year and not starve. It seems pretty doable...

[tinydizzy]

Justin,

Yeah... you can make it work here. I've only been here for 3 months, but it's not that hard to find hours in institutes. Personally, I won't work for less than 20 pesos an hour, and generally that seems to be the going rate. I'm only working 15-20 hours a week b/c i'm also trying to set aside time for spanish lessons, and to run. If I wanted to, and put in more effort, i could most likely find more hours. One of the limiting factors however is the timing of the classes and the travel involved. Most of the time i'm teaching in different locations throughout the day, rather than just in one insitute. Often I am traveling for 45-60 mins. on the bus or subte each way to get to a class (and they are quite often jam packed!) and that time is not compensated, nor is any prep time, photocopying time etc... So that eats up a couple of hours a day.

Secondly, it's relatively easy to find hours after 5 p.m. and also lunch time (12-2) and some in the morning before people work (8-10), but that leaves you with dead spots in the middle of the day that can be hard to fill. Personally, once i get through with my spanish courses, I'd prefer to work 20-25 hours max. The hours can run from 8 am to 10 pm on a given day, so that's more than enough for me. I think 30 hours would drive me crazy, but perhaps you have a higher tolerance than I. Maybe they exist, but i don't know anyone teaching 35 hours a week while traveling around from place to place.

forget tax issues for the most part, as almost everyone down here doesn't care if you are illegal, and are willing to pay under the table. Travel on the bus/subte is ridiculously inexpensive (70/80 centavos respectively) so you won't lose much money there - cabs can be more costly - 26 pesos to get from the center to my place in belgrano.

in terms of finding a place - you can find lots of shares for 300 dollars (900 pesos) - anything less than that you can find, down to 200 dollars or so, but they are scarcer if you want to live in a nice neighborhood (palermo, belgrano, san telmo). If you're willing to move to "other" neighborhoods, you can find some things for cheaper. These are of course just for shares not for studios or one bedrooms. Those are generally much more expensive for gringos without a "garantia" and the ability to sign a 2-yr lease. (don't forget that when you get a place you'll need a month's deposit normally as well as 1st month's)

I came from nyc as well (park slope), and everything is much cheaper down here, but you do need to think in pesos rather than dollars. Personally, i find that the cost of life in relation to my salary is higher here than it was in NY. I could save money in ny, not here. But then again i had a decently paying and steady teaching gig in nyc, and am not much more than a glorified english tutor here. I have yet to break even here.

that said, i don't think that anyone comes down here to make money (and if they do they're deluded!). We come for the lifestyle or to learn spanish, or to follow the pumas, etc.... Just make sure you budget enough money for alfajores and for bife de lomo, mmm....

hope that helps, i'm by no means an expert,

d

[justin032]

Thanks Dizzy, that was really helpful. It's good to hear from someone doing it who doesn't sound completely discouraged. I'm not looking to settle down in BsAs forever, but would like to try and make it for a year or so. Like you say, the lifestyle and experience are the main attractions, not socking away money.

[justin032]

Tiny Dizzy,

How long do you envision being able to stay in BsAs? Also have you tried doing any private lessons yet?