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katiok13
Joined: 23 Apr 2011
Posts: 4
Location: Ireland
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 Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:58 am Post subject: South America - Best City to teach English |
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Hi!
I have just joined the forum! I'm an Irish girl, just about to graduate in Ireland as a teacher and I have decided that next year I need to have an adventure! I did Spanish in college, but haven't yet had the opportunity to live in a Spanish-speaking country. I could go to Spain but I'd like to try South America! I had decided to move to Buenos Aires to try to work as an English teacher there. I will have a TEFL cert, and a years teaching experience. I have read mixed reviews about Buenos Aires as a place to teach English - some wonderful, some horrific! The thing is, I am really not looking to make any money, I only want enough to survive. I want to live somewhere lively, with a buzz about it I guess!
Basically, I'm just wondering what people would say about Buenos Aires, and other cities in South America, (I'm also looking at Cuzco in Peru) I've heard that the work in Buenos Aires is very 'bitty' and quite badly-paid. I am willing to work very hard, I'm just curious as to whether it realistically is possible to survive with only a little savings.
I know there is no simple answer, and it depends on the individual's preferences, but what is the best city to teach English in South America? A very big question - but I would really appreciate any advice or opinions!
Thanks, Kate |
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MotherF
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1450
Location: 17�48'N 97�46'W
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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It's not South America, but have you considered Mexico?
You shouldn't have a problem finding a job in a bilingual (or bilingual whantobe) colegio--which is a private school for kids-- in any Mexican city. |
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BadBeagleBad
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
Posts: 1186
Location: 24.18105,-103.25185
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:08 pm Post subject: |
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| MotherF wrote: |
It's not South America, but have you considered Mexico?
You shouldn't have a problem finding a job in a bilingual (or bilingual whantobe) colegio--which is a private school for kids-- in any Mexican city. |
What she said. And now is the time to look, I have seen a lot of advertisements for the coming school year, and since you are a trained teacher you will make a lot more money teaching in a Bi-lingual or international school than you will teaching ESL. Though you might pick up a private class or two to supplement your income.
Where in Ireland? My mom is Irish. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 5:34 am Post subject: |
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| How important is working legally? Mexico and Ecuador are probably the best places that will get you visas. Many other countries will simply hav eyou work under the table. |
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katiok13
Joined: 23 Apr 2011
Posts: 4
Location: Ireland
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 8:17 am Post subject: |
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| Thank you both! Yes, I have started looking at advertisments for schools in Mexico. Have you any particular advice about particular cities? I would prefer to work with a visa, though it is not absolutely essential. Is it possible to set one up once you are there? |
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katiok13
Joined: 23 Apr 2011
Posts: 4
Location: Ireland
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 8:19 am Post subject: |
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Coming from Cork in Ireland!  |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 8:32 am Post subject: |
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| I'd get a visa beforehand. Look on the job boards and the Mexico forum. |
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AGoodStory
Joined: 26 Feb 2010
Posts: 738
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 1:01 pm Post subject: |
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| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| How important is working legally? Mexico and Ecuador are probably the best places that will get you visas. Many other countries will simply hav eyou work under the table. |
?????
Ecuador is NOT known as a country where it is easy to get a visa. Just the opposite. (Assuming you want to stay longer than 6 months, that is.) |
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Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| I'd get a visa beforehand. Look on the job boards and the Mexico forum. |
In Mexico, you get the visa while in Mexico, regardless of whether a job is secured beforehand or not. |
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MotherF
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1450
Location: 17�48'N 97�46'W
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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What Guy said about the visa--you'll get it in country, not before hand.
Mexico is a large and varied country, so it's really hard to recommend cities without know the kinds of things you like.
To make a generalization, I'd say that foriegners generally like places in the middle and southern part of the country, more than the north. (Kind of draw a line across the country at San Luis Potosi and consider any place below that line.)
However, Mexico has a good long distance bus system, so you can see a variety of places no matter where you get your job. I'd say for a first timer, its best to choose location based on getting a good job (go where ever the better job is). Then travel around on breaks and long weekends. And if you decide to stay for a second year move to a city you like more. |
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BadBeagleBad
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
Posts: 1186
Location: 24.18105,-103.25185
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 4:04 pm Post subject: |
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| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| I'd get a visa beforehand. Look on the job boards and the Mexico forum. |
You can�t get a work visa from outside Mexico, but you can arrive on a tourist card, which is good for 6 months, and process your work visa once you have a job, since your visa is tied to your job. In Mexico City, at least, it is a pretty painless process, and takes less than a month. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 3:49 am Post subject: |
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| AGoodStory wrote: |
| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| How important is working legally? Mexico and Ecuador are probably the best places that will get you visas. Many other countries will simply hav eyou work under the table. |
?????
Ecuador is NOT known as a country where it is easy to get a visa. Just the opposite. (Assuming you want to stay longer than 6 months, that is.) |
12-IX visa! |
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AGoodStory
Joined: 26 Feb 2010
Posts: 738
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| Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| AGoodStory wrote: |
| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| How important is working legally? Mexico and Ecuador are probably the best places that will get you visas. Many other countries will simply hav eyou work under the table. |
?????
Ecuador is NOT known as a country where it is easy to get a visa. Just the opposite. (Assuming you want to stay longer than 6 months, that is.) |
12-IX visa! |
I'm not sure what point you are making, NG. Yes, the 12-IX is the recommended visa for Ecuador since it is (relatively) straightforward to apply for, and it allows work. But it is a 6-month visa, and not renewable. It is when the 12-IX expires that the visa situation becomes complicated. Many people leave Ecuador after 6 months rather than deal with the visa difficulties. I wasn't implying that it is impossible--obviously some teachers stay on by getting a work visa through a school, by working for peanuts on a cultural visa, or by securing a RUC and using facturas to bill for their hours. There are a number of threads on this board about the difficulties, ambiguities, inconsistencies, and frustrations of working legally in Ecuador after the 12-IX expires. Here's one:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=82300
When you tell people that "Ecuador and Mexico are probably the best places that will get you visas," you are misleading them. Mexico, yes. Ecuador, no. |
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just_a_mirage
Joined: 11 Nov 2008
Posts: 169
Location: ecuador
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| Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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| And you can`t get the RUC to get facturas without a visa. Facturas expire every year, and if you dont have a current visa allowing you to work, or if you havent filed your taxes every six months, you will not be allowed to get new facturas printed. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 3:13 am Post subject: |
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My point is that it still allows you to work legally. Whereas in other countries, getting a work visa is near impossible and most people simply border hop in those cases.
I never said
1. It was easy
2. That it lasted a year
3. That is was renewable.
All I said that it allows you to work legally |
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