I am considering extending my stay in central america after the summer and trying to teach english. I'd love to volunteer and not worry about having a paid position, but unfortunately i have some financial obligations here in the states, so would need some sort of income.
What I am wondering now: is it necessary to have a TEFL certification on order to get a reputable/paying position teaching english? Do you think I'd have to go through some kind program to get a decent job? Has anyone done it without TEFL or other qualifications?
Also, it doesn't have to be an english teaching job, it's just that I don't know if I could get any other job that would pay me (I know there are a ton of volunteering positions, but I haven't found that many paid positions.
Yes you can, getting a job will probably not be difficult, but you need to be aware that without a tefl or professional degree, the pay will be at subsistence level for you.
With that in mind, HAVE FUN!!!!
Posts: 2431 | Location: Philadelphia | Registered: 19 November 2004
What TT said. I looked at what you're considering after finishing my undergrad degree, years ago. If you have student loans to pay back, Central America is unfortunately not a very realistic option, unless you're sent down there as an employee of a US company. Especially without a certification and some experience, you won't make more than enough to break even. This means as low as $300/month in Honduras or Nicaragua, plus room and board if you're lucky. Wages are marginally higher in places like Costa Rica or Panama, but so is the cost of living.
I've bartended in a few places in Central America, but it's usually for $1-2 an hour, plus another dollar or two in tips per hour, and a meal. Other than that, quite a few gringos work in dive areas, as dive masters. You need some advanced certifications for that though.
At the risk of stating the obvious, there's an enormous outflow of people from Central America, searching for work elsewhere. It's not really a good place to accumulate money. If you really want to stick around (and it's about student loans), you can defer them for six months, and pretend they don't exist (speaking from experience).
If you really want to stick around (and it's about student loans), you can defer them for six months, and pretend they don't exist (speaking from experience).
Haha, thanks Felix. I think the denial route is often the best option.
About 3 months ago there was an employment ad by a "University" here for a qualified English teacher with a Masters Degree. They wanted a 10 month obligation and they were offering less than $400.00 per month, with no room and board or other benefits.
A good many people, who love the area, try to stay here 6 months out of the year, and go home to make money for the other 6 months. You should be able to make as much money in 3 months at home as you could in a year down here (probably a lot more).
----------------------------------------- I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it.-Mark Twain
Posts: 120 | Location: Guatemala | Registered: 29 November 2007
The eslcafe site is a good resource for networking with teachers, employers, and TEFL course providers in the region. There are several people in Central America that post in the General Latin America forum who will help out to be sure.
Life is a verb, not a noun - 
