Moving to CHILE
#91
Re: Moving to CHILE
Hi there,
I am thinking, well I am going to be most probably going to Chile in late of 2010 and wondering what if any contemporary advice is available, in regards to the earthquake. I will be planning on going over to Santiago first and aim to work as an english teacher for the business community and to a further extent work as a teacher in a more general sense. If any Brits out there have any advice I would be most grateful.
Kind regards,
Dan!
I am thinking, well I am going to be most probably going to Chile in late of 2010 and wondering what if any contemporary advice is available, in regards to the earthquake. I will be planning on going over to Santiago first and aim to work as an english teacher for the business community and to a further extent work as a teacher in a more general sense. If any Brits out there have any advice I would be most grateful.
Kind regards,
Dan!
http://www.alloexpat.com/chile_expat_forum/
#92
Just Joined
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 24
Re: Moving to CHILE
Oh hell sorry, I meant people from the Anglophone world not just Brits sorry for my Faux pas!
#93
Re: Moving to CHILE
Landing a full time teaching position at a government, public or private school will give more hours, if you have the required degree and experience, but will often pay between $500 and $700 per month. And at that you would be paid more than the local teachers.
English teachers come and go like the ocean tides. For many it just doesn't work out financially.
Getting paid can also be a circus for other reasons. You cannot "formally" work in Chile or Peru without a work visa or contract. Many teachers here are married to locals, so it is no problem for them as they can qualify by virtue of their marital status visa. In Peru, if you have someone who can obtain recibos that you can submit to be paid in their name, they then go to the bank and collect the money for you. They had better be someone you know well and trust. It isn't like you could complain to the authorities if they took your money without admitting that you were working illegally.
Last edited by dakota44; Mar 29th 2010 at 8:02 pm.
#94
Just Joined
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 24
Re: Moving to CHILE
Hi there Dakota,
Thanks for this information, it is revealing and also quite shocking to say the least. I have a good friend who traveled with me a few years ago and he is from Chile and said I should come over, we traveled over two years ago and he has been insisting since this point, he has offered some free accommodation, and he works within a government department in Santiago. Being a native English speaker would you think that this would be an advantage in Chile? In other words not a teaching position but a commercial based one? I hold a degree and a masters however they are not language qualifications but arts based ones. I have been looking over here at TEFL courses, but what gets me is that they are only three day intensive courses for a qualification?! Is that right...
Cheers Dan
Thanks for this information, it is revealing and also quite shocking to say the least. I have a good friend who traveled with me a few years ago and he is from Chile and said I should come over, we traveled over two years ago and he has been insisting since this point, he has offered some free accommodation, and he works within a government department in Santiago. Being a native English speaker would you think that this would be an advantage in Chile? In other words not a teaching position but a commercial based one? I hold a degree and a masters however they are not language qualifications but arts based ones. I have been looking over here at TEFL courses, but what gets me is that they are only three day intensive courses for a qualification?! Is that right...
Cheers Dan
#95
Re: Moving to CHILE
Hi there Dakota,
Thanks for this information, it is revealing and also quite shocking to say the least. I have a good friend who traveled with me a few years ago and he is from Chile and said I should come over, we traveled over two years ago and he has been insisting since this point, he has offered some free accommodation, and he works within a government department in Santiago. Being a native English speaker would you think that this would be an advantage in Chile? In other words not a teaching position but a commercial based one? I hold a degree and a masters however they are not language qualifications but arts based ones. I have been looking over here at TEFL courses, but what gets me is that they are only three day intensive courses for a qualification?! Is that right...
Cheers Dan
Thanks for this information, it is revealing and also quite shocking to say the least. I have a good friend who traveled with me a few years ago and he is from Chile and said I should come over, we traveled over two years ago and he has been insisting since this point, he has offered some free accommodation, and he works within a government department in Santiago. Being a native English speaker would you think that this would be an advantage in Chile? In other words not a teaching position but a commercial based one? I hold a degree and a masters however they are not language qualifications but arts based ones. I have been looking over here at TEFL courses, but what gets me is that they are only three day intensive courses for a qualification?! Is that right...
Cheers Dan
Native English speakers are preferred and often required for teaching English. So yes, a distinct advantage. As for TEFL, some places want it and some don't care. The three day intensive courses are, in my mind, a waste. Better to take an intensive online course although even they are not the be all end all. Anywhere you teach will have a curriculum and expect you to follow it. Some places are nothing more than factories with boring curriculum's and huge classes. I prefer the situation where I teach. The classes are heavily conversation oriented, which is the best way. There is a Mentored Learning Center (MLC) where they study for two hours each week on a computer program and take a module quiz. This is followed a few days later by a two hour class dealing with the information in that weeks MLC. Classes are no larger than ten and that is rare. I have yet to have a class of more than 5. That permits much more interaction with the students and individual attention. Among the places to avoid teaching are Wall Street Institute (lousy pay and a boring program with high teacher turnover) and, in my mind, Britanico because of huge classes (I've heard of classes of near 30) and the factory approach to teaching. I know some teachers who left there because it was boring and there was no real relationship with the students and no possibility of giving individual attention. Not sure about the pay, although I do not think it is so good.
As for working for a company in Chile, not going to happen without a work visa and you need to research that. Also you will need to border hop every 90 days if you are on a visitors visa. Chile is not always as forgiving as Peru as regards overstays.
If your friend works in a government department he should be able to access some guidance for you, depending on what department he works in.
Last edited by dakota44; Mar 29th 2010 at 9:22 pm.
#96
Just Joined
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 24
Re: Moving to CHILE
Dakota, you advice is invaluable, and I deeply appreciate this, so thanks very much. I will endeavor to find the specifics about things this and that and find some santiago specific forums and such.
#97
Re: Moving to CHILE
The link that I gave you is very good for info from expats in Chile. It covers all issues that may be of concern. Good luck.
#98
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 28
Re: Moving to CHILE
I'm a fellow Brit and a long time resident in Chile...
Take a look at the Bloggers in Chile list I maintain- tonnes of info on the many blogs. http://www.bloggersinchile.blogspot.com There are a couple of mine on there (Corrugated City and Colchaguino) Also, try joining http://www.expatsinchile.com
And finally, feel free to email me with questions. My email address can be found on my business website, http://www.chileinvestments.com (You can also find me on the expatsinchile site- Matt Ridgway).
Take a look at the Bloggers in Chile list I maintain- tonnes of info on the many blogs. http://www.bloggersinchile.blogspot.com There are a couple of mine on there (Corrugated City and Colchaguino) Also, try joining http://www.expatsinchile.com
And finally, feel free to email me with questions. My email address can be found on my business website, http://www.chileinvestments.com (You can also find me on the expatsinchile site- Matt Ridgway).
Last edited by matttheboy; Mar 29th 2010 at 10:11 pm.
#99
Re: Moving to CHILE
I'm a fellow Brit and a long time resident in Chile...
Take a look at the Bloggers in Chile list I maintain- tonnes of info on the many blogs. http://www.bloggersinchile.blogspot.com There are a couple of mine on there (Corrugated City and Colchaguino) Also, try joining http://www.expatsinchile.com
And finally, feel free to email me with questions. My email address can be found on my business website, http://www.chileinvestments.com (You can also find me on the expatsinchile site- Matt Ridgway).
Take a look at the Bloggers in Chile list I maintain- tonnes of info on the many blogs. http://www.bloggersinchile.blogspot.com There are a couple of mine on there (Corrugated City and Colchaguino) Also, try joining http://www.expatsinchile.com
And finally, feel free to email me with questions. My email address can be found on my business website, http://www.chileinvestments.com (You can also find me on the expatsinchile site- Matt Ridgway).
#100
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,890
Re: Moving to CHILE
Hello dakota44, I'm new around here - been reading and enjoying your posts on Peru & Chile. I'm feeling nostalgic right now, lived in both countries in the late eighties, is Euroidiomas in Miraflores still going strong? You mentioned the Britanico, I used to go there not to work but to read old English newspapers back in the pre-internet days. Cost of living wise, how much does a 'menu' in Miraflores cost, or a coffee in 'Cafe Haiti'? Or a vist to 'Latin Brothers' or similar for cebiche?
Thanks.
Thanks.
#101
Re: Moving to CHILE
Hello dakota44, I'm new around here - been reading and enjoying your posts on Peru & Chile. I'm feeling nostalgic right now, lived in both countries in the late eighties, is Euroidiomas in Miraflores still going strong? You mentioned the Britanico, I used to go there not to work but to read old English newspapers back in the pre-internet days. Cost of living wise, how much does a 'menu' in Miraflores cost, or a coffee in 'Cafe Haiti'? Or a vist to 'Latin Brothers' or similar for cebiche?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Love the city and wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
#102
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,890
Re: Moving to CHILE
Euroidiomas is still here. Also Inlingua. The cost of living is still great here. Haven't been to some of the places you mentioned, but you can get great cebiche for probably 6 to 8 dollars depending on where. I like Segundo Muele for sea food. Great place and nothing more than about 35 to 45 soles, maybe $12 to $15, although those are the more expensive meals. Coffee in Cafe Cafe goes from 6.5 soles ($2.30) to 8.5 soles. The exchange rate has gone down since I first came here. It was 3.5 soles per U.S. dollar and now goes between 2.82 and 2.86.
Love the city and wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
Love the city and wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
- do all those casas de cambio still exist? When I was there in the days of 'toque de queda' Alan Garcia froze people's (Dollar) assets in the banks and tried to enforce an official exchange rate so many Limenos started keeping their dosh in $US under the bed. As for transportation system how much are the fares? (Micros, colectivos, VW Beetle taxis & those Icarus long yellow buses). What's the minimum salary? It was 50-60 Dollars US when I lived there.
What is it you love about the city?
#103
Re: Moving to CHILE
I'm finding it hard to imagine the real cost of living since my Inti days
- do all those casas de cambio still exist? When I was there in the days of 'toque de queda' Alan Garcia froze people's (Dollar) assets in the banks and tried to enforce an official exchange rate so many Limenos started keeping their dosh in $US under the bed. As for transportation system how much are the fares? (Micros, colectivos, VW Beetle taxis & those Icarus long yellow buses). What's the minimum salary? It was 50-60 Dollars US when I lived there.
What is it you love about the city?
- do all those casas de cambio still exist? When I was there in the days of 'toque de queda' Alan Garcia froze people's (Dollar) assets in the banks and tried to enforce an official exchange rate so many Limenos started keeping their dosh in $US under the bed. As for transportation system how much are the fares? (Micros, colectivos, VW Beetle taxis & those Icarus long yellow buses). What's the minimum salary? It was 50-60 Dollars US when I lived there.
What is it you love about the city?
#104
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,890
Re: Moving to CHILE
Most of the little colectivos are 50 centimos to one sole, depending on distance. Not sure the bigger buses are more. Haven't seen any long yellow buses. Taxis, average around Miraflores 4 to 5 soles. Minimum wage now, i think, is about $150 or a little more. Lots of people working for between $200 and $500 a month. There are official cambionistas standing on many corners, near the banks etc. Easy exchange and fare.
I want to visit both countries again in the near future, if only the notion of long holidays existed in Tokyo....
#105
Re: Moving to CHILE
Right. How long is it since you were in Santiago de Chile? How did the cost of living compare? Overall I found Peru more fascinating (good and bad) but living in Chile was far more comfortable/cushy even under the Pinochet regime. At the time (post Falklands) it was hard to get even a tourist visa for Argentina so I stayed in Santiago longer than expected until I was allowed to travel via Mendoza. Even then I told everyone I met there that I was American.
I want to visit both countries again in the near future, if only the notion of long holidays existed in Tokyo....
I want to visit both countries again in the near future, if only the notion of long holidays existed in Tokyo....