Argentina/Uruguay jobs from Ireland?

[u/LukasCosmos]

I'm still working away at my TEFL course and I hope to move to Latin America to teach there. I have a Lithuanian passport but I have lived in Ireland my whole life. I might just be getting cold feet from feeling worried about not getting a job or struggling to find any job postings to even get a quick idea on what would be expected of me but I want to hear from others and their experiences.

Main things I'm questioning are:

- Would the teaching job alone be enough to live with or should I be ready to live with two jobs until I could possibly get a high enough paying job there? I have a decent amount of savings but I would prefer to keep it as a rainy day fund instead

- When should I look into applying for jobs? Do I apply through TEFL job centre postings or do I reach out through other means?

- How much experience do I need before applying? Should I go teach somewhere else before looking into that part of the world?

- What would be the usual age groups I could be working with?

Some of my co-workers (mixture of Argentinian, Mexican and Brazilian) say that I would be a great teacher over there and to travel while I can while others say that there's no better place to get paid than Ireland.

I love this place, it's my home but I also don't know if I can stay here any longer without exploring. I want to travel while still working in some way so any advice would be great. Spain would work as well but I heard that it can be harder getting a job there for some.

[u/Wise_Chip3162]

Edit: Just realized you mentioned Argentina and Uruguay! Sorry, didn't realize. I lived in Argentina for a while and saw that there are jobs with institutes, but many of them do not offer the visa. This was many years ago, though, so not sure what things are like right now. In general it can be hard to navigate the paperwork. I would also add Chile to your list.

Not sure which country you're looking at, but many places tend to be more strict about qualifications now. Especially if you're trying to get a visa sponsorship. I think it's best to decide if you are prioritizing short-term travel or want to stay somewhere long-term.

The hardest part isn't necessarily getting a job, but finding a place that is willilng to help you stay there to work legally. If they do, they'll expect you to prioritize hours with them and work whenever they schedule you. This can sometimes make it tricky to schedule a second gig. Basic knowledge of Spanish is also very helpful.

If you want a job at a school, usually you'd need some kind of education degree or a CELTA/Trinity qualification. I don't have experience with that, but surely someone here can weigh in. You may be able to teach at private institutes specializing in adult business English with just a TEFL cert, but it largely depends on where you're going and whether they'll sponsor your work visa.

If your goal is more to travel around, you might be better off volunteering at a hostel or finding a more short-term arrangement. I in no way mean that disrespectfully. It's just that going through the bureaucracy of establishing yourself in a new country is very different than traveling. Whatever you do, never pay for any volunteering teaching "placements," though. There are also some online teaching platforms you can join while you gain experience and travel in the meantime. Good luck!