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geekgirl · Joined: 30 May 2009 Posts: 3

I am a 49-year old female that is considering a career change. I am currently working as a computer help-desk analyst at a computer services company.

I have a boyfriend who is Hispanic who was born in Panama and has lived in Colombia and Honduras. He is 47 and may have to leave the US and go back sometime in the next year or two. I will probably go back with him when he goes. I know a little bit of Spanish which I learned both a little at a time and by going to Spanish language school in Guatemala.

I am teaching him to speak English and recently decided to volunteer with Literacy Advance her in Houston to gain some teaching (tutoring) skills. I previously have tutored students in math when I was in college for several semesters.

We are considering going to Bogota so I can get my CELTA certification and then teach in Colombia if I get a job there or maybe Panama, Venezuela or Argentina. We might consider Honduras since he owns a house in Honduras but I have heard that the pay there might not be as good. Let me know if anyone has any suggestions such as the best time to go.

Chancellor · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 4:03 pm Post subject: Re: Newbie needs input

spanglish · Joined: 21 May 2009 Posts: 742 Location: working on that

You can take the CELTA at the British Council in Bogota. Quality was excellent when I took it. It costs $2000 US. Or you can take it at Southern Cross in Ecuador for $1300. I know a couple of guys who took it there with the same head tutor and quality seemed comparable to mine.

Central America doesn't seem to have much in the way of paid jobs, unless you can teach at an international school (for that, you'll need to be a certified teacher in the US).

You can make enough to live on in Bogota, but if you teach for an institute you'll have to travel all over the city to companies where you'll give your classes. I'm friends with a guy who is a manager at Wall Street institute. Pay there isn't the greatest, but the work conditions sound nice - i.e. only teaching at the school.

Do some research into all the good private high schools in whatever area you end up moving to. Try to get on with one of them. Work conditions and pay seem to be better than the institutes.

spanglish · Joined: 21 May 2009 Posts: 742 Location: working on that

You can take the CELTA at the British Council in Bogota. Quality was excellent when I took it. It costs $2000 US. Or you can take it at Southern Cross in Ecuador for $1300. I know a couple of guys who took it there with the same head tutor and quality seemed comparable to mine.

Central America doesn't seem to have much in the way of paid jobs, unless you can teach at an international school (for that, you'll need to be a certified teacher in the US).

You can make enough to live on in Bogota, but if you teach for an institute you'll have to travel all over the city to companies where you'll give your classes. I'm friends with a guy who is a manager at Wall Street institute. Pay there isn't the greatest, but the work conditions sound nice - i.e. only teaching at the school.

Do some research into all the good private high schools in whatever area you end up moving to. Try to get on with one of them. Work conditions and pay seem to be better than the institutes.