Info request on teaching in Peru or Bolivia

[Stephent89]

Hey guys,

  I'm currently teaching in S. Korea and I plan on being here for another year and a half. Before I came to Korea, I did about a year's worth of research about finding a suitable job here and needless to say I found some sites that were goldmines for info and some that were just crap. I was wondering if anyone out there who is currently S. America or at one point lived there could direct me to some good sites on working as an ESL instructor there.
Thanks in advance!

[sunshinefiasco]

I've looked into this a bit as well-- I would go into the older threads and look at some of the things nature girl has posted, there are some threads on dave's, google around, for Bolivia, there are some individual schools that you can apply to, but I'm pretty sure you gotta just go there with a resume. Peru, I think, is slightly more online, but again, for latin america (esp. outside of chile/brazil/maybe argentina), it seems like you sort of have to just go there.

[naturegirl321]

Got to go there. In Peru, unless you're a licensed teacher or work at a uni outside of Lima, you're going to be working illegally, no flights, no housing as well. UDEP is Piura will pay you $700 a month. Their salary has been the same for about a decade.

Some good links are
expatperu.com
livinginperu.com
thelajoblist.blogspot.com has lists of schools.
I also wrote a bit about Peru, such as good institutes at tefl-tips.com, do a search. the website is a work in progress.

The only thing I can say about Peru is that I wish I had left sooner.

[flasyb]

I strongly recommend that you check out the sites that Naturegirl has links to.

For my own experience, I lived in Peru for 19 months and worked there for year of that. I worked at a private language institute in Cuzco. The work was at the very least on the darker side of a grey area. The institute was trying to sort out student visas for teachers when I finished my year - that's full-time teachers working 30+ hours a week. I spent the whole time on tourist visas and did 6 visa runs. Mainly to Bolivia but also one to Chile (just to mix it up a little). I was getting paid a flat rate of 1400soles a month for 6 full teaching hours per day worked on a split shift. I actually took on a 7th class for the extra pay and did a private lesson through the institute for my final 6 months (two separate 6 month contracts). So in the end, I was on about 1700soles per month which at the time was about $550 I think. For that, I was able to rent an apartment for about $100(shared with 2 American friends, furnished by myself and with stuff borrowed from the language institute), take Spanish classes and eat and drink the rest. If I'd been more frugal, I'd have been able to save $100 - $150 per month. As it was, I saved nothing except the $500 bonus I got for completing the full year - no vacation time just national holidays although they did give you 2 days vacation if you went 3 months without calling in sick.

Peru was great though. I worked with great people, I loved teaching adults and the language school treated me well. I had more Peruvian friends than I have Korean friends here because Spanish is easier to learn and teaching adults meant I could make friends that way.

I suspect that the best thing you could do would be to work at an international school as a licensed teacher, as naturegirl said (she'll have the best advice). Teaching science (or your subject) in English to Peruvian students. That kind of thing. Then you'd be legal and get paid way more.

Peru is a great place to spend a year and learn Spanish but don't expect to make any real money and watch out for the bricheras.

You'd be better off going to Chile and looking for a private gig teaching English to mining executives or something. Still not great money (double or more what I made in Peru) and the living costs are higher but I've got a friend who did that (perhaps is still doing it) and he seems to enjoy it.

My advice would be, go to Peru (actually I'd say go to Chile), take a CELTA (cheaper in Peru or Columbia than in Chile), learn Spanish, look for jobs.

As for Bolivia, that's not somewhere I'd go to for work unless it was a charity gig. Worth it as a tourist for the salt flats and if you feel the need to go mental, you could always tackle the death road. It's dirt poor and more on the dangerous side than Peru. If you like llama foetuses for sale in the street then Bolivia is your place.

At lot of this depends on you. What are your goals? What do you want to get out of this?

[naturegirl321]

Would that happen to be at MN? TOurist visas? THat's pretty much the norm for Peru. I worked on a "diplomat / volunteer" visa, tourist visa, marriage visa, and then citizenship.

If you're looking for a bit of time off, then Latin America is ok. But if you're looking for long-term careers, I personally wouldn't go to Peru. There's a saying that the only way you'll move up is if people die or retire. sad, but true.

The whole idea that you can live really well and have a fantastic lifestyle: not going to happen, especially on only 500 to 700 usd a month. We rent our very un expaty apt for $400 a month, it's a walk up and not near the city centre.

You'll be living hand to mouth, mouth to mouth. Saving nothing, pretty much the norm. Since you're obviously not a local, you'll be getting gouged on prices.

Luxuries, like cheese, cost about the same as Korea. Only difference? You're making about a quarter of what you do here.

I worked at an intl school. A real one, but it was still dodgy. Oh, and get hired abroad. As a local hire, you'll have pretty much nothing. I'd take a uni over intl schools. If you don't have a license, then check out the list of the top institutes I put together on tefl-tips.com I also have a FAQ about a variety of LA countries, Peru and Bolivia included. YOu could try contacting the guy in Bolivia. He's been there for a while.

[flasyb]

Yeah, that was at MN.

I'd just like to add a few more things. OP, if you go to Peru to work and manage to do so for a year or two, then I'd expect you to be back in Asia or on to the Middle East not long after that - I don't mean for that to be offensive at all. It's fun for a while but when the money runs out or flat-lines, you'll start getting itchy feet again.

Really, I'd say work for a bit longer here, save your money and hit it up as a tourist. Or you could save the rainforest. I had a mate who saved the rainforest for a while. He loved that. Even as a tourist, you might be able to get a few months work here or there or do 6 months at some place if you like a town. Plus, you could always do some private classes.

South America is a must. If you go to South American, Peru is a must. You won't benefit your career or bank balance much though. At least you probably won't.

[naturegirl321]

Oh, and if you go to Macchu Picchu and you aren't a Peruvian or don't have residency, expect to pay about 4 or 5 times as much of those of us who do. Lovely.

[sunshinefiasco]

Oh, and if you go to Macchu Picchu and you aren't a Peruvian or don't have residency, expect to pay about 4 or 5 times as much of those of us who do. Lovely.

Do you mean because it's mandated that way (I thought I remembered reading that), because you'll get hustled, or both? I'm hoping I regain enough of my SA-negotiating wiles not to get completely screwed on tourist adventures.

[flasyb]

Oh, and if you go to Macchu Picchu and you aren't a Peruvian or don't have residency, expect to pay about 4 or 5 times as much of those of us who do. Lovely.

Do you mean because it's mandated that way (I thought I remembered reading that), because you'll get hustled, or both? I'm hoping I regain enough of my SA-negotiating wiles not to get completely screwed on tourist adventures.

Because various companies have made it so that non-residents (tourists) can only buy certain tickets. For example, the last time I was in Peru, LAN wouldn't let anyone without residency buy economy class plane tickets between Lima and Cuzco. You had to buy the more expensive ones or take the 20+ hour bus ride through the Andes and then the desert.

The train to Machupicchu is also absurdly priced for non-residency holders when compared to residents. Not just a little more either. More expensive to the extent that it's a total joke.

If you go to Machupicchu, don't book in advance. You rarely need to book in advance, Websites that say that you must book in advance are full of lies. If you want to do the Inka trail in a large group, you might have to book in advance (for the group). Solo travellers or pairs can always find space in one group or another though. I'd say go a cheaper route and just really shop around. The biggest hustles are tour packages bought in your native country and internet bookings. Get there. Get harassed and followed by the street sellers, shop around and find the best deal for you.

Then, when the shop-around nightmare is over, head to a cheap local place and buy yourself some Cristal - or Cuzquena if you prefer something sweeter.