Job Discussion Forums

[spanglish]

I may have a few options opening up to me in the next few weeks, so would be curious to get opinions of any and all.

1. I'm currently at a private language school in Colombia. It's probably the best in its class in the country, but...it's still an institute, involving lots of travel to company classes, frustrating bureaucracy and poor pay all the way up the ladder. I'm looking at interviewing for an internal promotion to senior teacher and/or a position involving marketing and building our business with the corporate clients.

I think both positions could give me valuable experience to pick up a better job in the future - senior teacher experience may help me get on with a good employer like the British Council and the other position would help diversify my resume.

Downsides include those long hours, frustrating admin, and low low pay.

2. I'm also looking at teaching at a high school. This would involve much higher pay and longer vacations. Downside is that it wouldn't add more to my resume other than an extra year of teaching and has the potential to be just as stressful as the first job (less hours though).

3. The last option is to carry on as is: part time contract with my institute, which give me lots of flexibility to continue building my lucrative network of private students. Advantages are independence, respect, decent money and interesting, diverse students. The downside is that it's been pretty hard on my health running my own show and I'm not sure how well 'private/independent teacher' looks on my resume.

I'm open to teaching for another 3-5 years or so, but would like to see my career head toward a more international business or NGO management type of direction.

[Sadebugo]

[spanglish]

Thanks, that's what I've been thinking. The BC has gotten incredibly competitive to get into. A year ago they had 40 applicants for 1 position, 14 of whom had DELTAs. I am looking into the BC in other countries, but my whole reason for living abroad is to learn Spanish and then (hopefully) Portuguese. Teaching has been an added bonus/way to feed myself.

[kaw]

Ok, just a couple of things - it is easier to get the better jobs in the BC if you're already with them. Secondly, if you like teaching YLs then the High School option would help with BC centres which have a lot of YLs.
Do you have a DELTA? If not then suggest that if you want a BC job you start thinking about getting one - even if you have Senior teacher experience you won't get a ST job with the BC without one.

[Mrs McClusky]

[spanglish]

Yep, a DELTA should be happening in a year. Good point about the high school; the BC adds usually ask for YL experience.

Thank you, I hope the force is with me.

[fladude]

That's a tough decision, but I think I would opt for the high school.... better pay and better vacation is almost always a step in the right direction.

[naturegirl321]

If' you�'re not in teaching for the long run, I'd pick the gig that got me the most money and more applicable experience to help me with my future career.