Starting in May of 2009, I'd like to try teaching in South America. Originally i was thinking in Buenos Aires but now I'm not so sure.
Any tips on which cities or countries are best to teach in? Best pay, experience? Has anyone been set up with accommodation? I'll have my TESOL advanced certificate by then.
Thanks a bunch!
Reply to this Hi Lee
I was in Cusco Peru, in September. Cusco being the navel of the Inca world is amazing, eg Machu Piccu, Puno, Olayantay Tambo, just an amazing country. I did some voluntary work with kids in an orphanage and I want to go back to Sth Usa to teach next year. Sorry I know you asked first but I am so confused on which tefl course to do?? The 4 week 1's are very expensive, it' s something I would like to do to aid me with my travels maybe not as a permanent thing so I don't know if I should do a weekend intensive or if those courses are rip off, any help appreciated.
Cheers
Reply to this I'm currently teaching English in Caracas, Venezuela, and it turned out to be not quite as profitable as I thought it would be as this is an extremely expensive city to live in. The prices are more or less the same as in Western Europe but the pay is about a third of what you would earn at home. But it should probably be mentioned that if you managed to land a job with the British Council here (which would be entirely possible with a TESOL cert.), I think you could live pretty well here. Or even working as a freelance teacher for companies would be much more profitable than working for a 'normal' language school. There are loads of English techers out there - just make sure you talk to some of them before you make up your mind of where to go!
Good luck!
Reply to this I moved to Buenos Aires about 2 months ago from NYC and I would say Buenos Aires is probably one of the more profitable spots in South America where you can easily find a teaching job without certification. It's a great city with a lot to offer as far as the arts go...it's also a third of the price to live here. You will probably earn about 30 pesos/hour to teach...but if possible, I would recommend you try finding students privately rather than through an institute, as they typically pay about 25 pesos/hour. You can start with an institute then try to get mre students by word of mouth. Good luck!
Reply to this Wow thanks guys! This is really helpful.
Claire: as for the Tefl/Tesol course. I just went with the week long tesol course. its pretty intense but looks like it covers a decent amount of material. I'm not sure where you are in the world but here's the site i went through (i'm in Toronto, Canada) http://www.globaltesol.com I have no idea how beneficial it will be once I'm in South America.
Reply to this Cheers Lee
I'm in Wales, Uk, I'll check that out. Maybe I'll bump into you in the South, also I don't know if you speak Spanish but it's worth learing a bit.
Adios y Gracias
Reply to this I wouldn't suggest argentina. buenos aires is full of programs that offer english and they waaaay underpay their students. you can make it work - but it isn't easy. in asia you can make serious cash teaching english. OR pick a s. american country with a stronger currency so your money will take your further. Brazil for example.
Reply to this Costa rica baby! i made a bit o money teaching english out there 3 years ago, i went travelling to the counrty and met a girl (who taught me spanish) and i then taught her, her family and family friends and before i knew it everyone in the district was knocking at the door wanting classes... it was brill, i set up a little scholl, and even went to the local schools on a wednesday to teach the kids (the kids are the best way to learn spanish as they constantly correct you untill u get it right)
i also found work in a call centre for sportsbetting out there paying $14 an hour... lived like a millionaire! brill
I wouldn't recommend going to speciffically teach english tho, go for the fun of it and as you have the language under your belt youll find work somewhere purely for that fact.... if you wanted you can apply online to certain schools wholl set you up anywhere in the world, but ask yourself are you going to work or for a different reason?
either way enjoy it
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