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jay.mendoza
Joined: 18 Sep 2010
Posts: 5
Location: Dallas, TX
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 Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 2:44 am Post subject: I'm new. Where do I begin? |
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Hello everyone!
I am seriously considering teaching English for a year (or so) somewhere in Latin America. Or rather, I would like to teach English somewhere in Latin America.  Before I begin to plan my course of action, I would like to get some idea of where I stand with regard to my qualifications.
I am a 27-year-old male and a native speaker of English. I have a BS in Computer Information Systems, but I'm not certified to teach. I do not speak Spanish, but I am intent on becoming conversant in the language before ever setting foot on a plane. My father is a native Spanish speaker, which helps somewhat. I don't have any definite plans just yet, but I do plan on pursuing a career in a language-related field, be it ESL, EFL, or even speech pathology (I just recently taught myself the alveolar trill, something that had eluded me for years  ).
I'm sure it seems odd to many of you that I am not pursuing a career in the Information Technology field. The truth is that, prior to January of this year, I was. Unfortunately, I developed a repetitive strain injury after putting in excessive hours on a freelance web development project. My injury is not terrible, but after months and months of soul-searching I have decided that a change of career is in my best interest.
I know that the necessary qualifications are highly dependent upon location, but in general, should I begin my journey by pursuing a CELTA certification? I plan on volunteering to teach ESL in the meantime, but I am somewhat overwhelmed by all of the paths to teaching English abroad. If anyone has any advice or guidance to offer, I would very much appreciate it.
Thanks! |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 3:30 am Post subject: Re: I'm new. Where do I begin? |
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| jay.mendoza wrote: |
Hello everyone!
I am seriously considering teaching English for a year (or so) somewhere in Latin America. Or rather, I would like to teach English somewhere in Latin America. Before I begin to plan my course of action, I would like to get some idea of where I stand with regard to my qualifications.
I am a 27-year-old male and a native speaker of English. I have a BS in Computer Information Systems, but I'm not certified to teach. I do not speak Spanish, but I am intent on becoming conversant in the language before ever setting foot on a plane. My father is a native Spanish speaker, which helps somewhat. I don't have any definite plans just yet, but I do plan on pursuing a career in a language-related field, be it ESL, EFL, or even speech pathology (I just recently taught myself the alveolar trill, something that had eluded me for years ).
I'm sure it seems odd to many of you that I am not pursuing a career in the Information Technology field. The truth is that, prior to January of this year, I was. Unfortunately, I developed a repetitive strain injury after putting in excessive hours on a freelance web development project. My injury is not terrible, but after months and months of soul-searching I have decided that a change of career is in my best interest.
I know that the necessary qualifications are highly dependent upon location, but in general, should I begin my journey by pursuing a CELTA certification? I plan on volunteering to teach ESL in the meantime, but I am somewhat overwhelmed by all of the paths to teaching English abroad. If anyone has any advice or guidance to offer, I would very much appreciate it.
Thanks! |
The Bachelors degree guarantees you a work visa in all of the Americas (outside of the US and Canada).
Get a TESOL certification of some kind (so you know what you are getting into.
Pick a country and away you go.
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jay.mendoza
Joined: 18 Sep 2010
Posts: 5
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 4:11 am Post subject: |
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You make it sound so simple. From what I have read so far, I've gotten the feeling that it can be somewhat difficult to obtain a work visa.
Silly question, but would my last name (Mendoza) help me at all in obtaining work? |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 4:33 am Post subject: |
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| jay.mendoza wrote: |
You make it sound so simple. From what I have read so far, I've gotten the feeling that it can be somewhat difficult to obtain a work visa.
Silly question, but would my last name (Mendoza) help me at all in obtaining work? |
It isn't rocket science.
For those who are native speakers (hold passports from USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ) with a Bachelors degree, most of the planet (outside of the EU) is open and available to you as an ESL/EFL teacher.
A TESOL certification is not required but will be in your best interest so you have some idea of what to do when you land in front of the classroom.
Getting a visa is sometimes an issue more because the school is not qualified to sponsor a foreign teacher than anything else.
Spend 30 days, do a TESOL course and then find a job. There are lots out there (you won't get rich in Latin America but it will be an adventure).
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TeresaLopez
Joined: 18 Apr 2010
Posts: 601
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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| jay.mendoza wrote: |
You make it sound so simple. From what I have read so far, I've gotten the feeling that it can be somewhat difficult to obtain a work visa.
Silly question, but would my last name (Mendoza) help me at all in obtaining work? |
If you come to Mexico it really is that simple. If you find someone who wants to hire you, they will either arrange, or help you arrange, a work visa, which is pretty much automatic. I don�t know of anyone who had the correct paperwork being turned down. I know of one school here in Mexico City that offers in-house training and then issues a certificate for you to give to immigration. I know many, many people who have gotten work papers that way. It�s an OK first job for someone with no experience, and they are always hiring. They do provide ongoing training at no expensive, as well as everything you need to teach, books, posters, CD player, even lesson plans. Otherwise, there are lots of good month long courses that cost less than a CELTA, though if you plan on teaching somewhere other than Latin America, the CELTA might be your best investment as it is universally accepted. For most jobs in LA a certificate of some kind is all that is needed. Since you have a degree, you might also be able to get a job at an internationala school that offers instruction in English. The pay is better, but you earn every penny of it. As for the last bit, no, having Mendoza as a last name won�t help, it will actually hurt, as some people will assume you are a native Spanish speaker. You have to make it very clear in you CV that you are a native English speaker, and even then it isn�t a bad idea to follow up with a phone call if you don�t hear back. |
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jay.mendoza
Joined: 18 Sep 2010
Posts: 5
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:56 am Post subject: |
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Well then, very cool. Thanks to you both.
I'm not worried about making money while I'm down there. If I have enough to live on, I'll be fine.
I suppose I'll post any further questions in the appropriate Latin America forum(s). |
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