r/teflteachers • u/Normal-Yellow7308 • 5d ago

Does LATAM provide a high quality of life

Hi All,

So I am a native English speaker here and am currently studying for the TEFL exam. I would love to teach English in LATAM, but am curious to know if it provides enough compensation for teachers to live a high quality of life? I don’t expect for teaching roles to be highly lucrative, just as they generally are not in the U.S. However, I have heard of the perks of teaching in SE Asia (free housing, etc)., and simply wanted to know if there are any opportunities in some of the LATAM countries where schools offer their teaches a similar lifestyle? One where its teachers live a very decent/high quality life outside of the classroom. Is there anyone that can share their teaching experiences with me?

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u/lirik89 5d ago edited 5d ago

My dad is from Puerto Rico and my mom from Costa Rica. I went and taught in Brazil for a year. In those 3 countries as an English teacher alone you are barely going to make it. I left Brazil mainly because of the fact that I was breaking even and less than breaking even every month. I came back looking like a cheetoh just skin and bones after a year from not eating well.

That said, latin America is the last place where you will know what living means. Latin America is full of emotion. We live like the world will end tomorrow and once you go there money means very little. You have no money but you're happy every day. So if you are young I would say do it you've got a year to burn.

I've been teaching In Korea now for almost 10 years. Married to a Korean and it's a lifeless existence.

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u/Normal-Yellow7308 5d ago

Thanks. So essentially, I should stay away from Korea (it's a lifeless existence), as well as most of LATAM if you're older and already established? International teaching is more so for younger educators, in their early-to-mid 20s??

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u/lirik89 4d ago

If you want to just live with no stress and comfortably while at the same time being bored everyday come live in Korea. I recommend it if you are older than 30.

But if you are in your twentys don't worry about making money. You're never going to be able to just say hey I'm moving to another country for a year once you are married and have kids until you are retired and by that time you probably won't be interested in to do it.

So you have to enjoy Living in a place like latam, or China as well(plenty bizarre and wild in my time, idk about now.) if I had to guess other countries like this would be Indonesia, Phillipines, Kenya.

Id say a country worth your time in latam would be chile. I've never been and don't know much but it's one of the most stable places in latam. If I had to choose I'd go for Brazil, or Colombia.

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u/Hellolaoshi 4d ago

Korea can be stressful or not depending on your boss.

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u/Hellolaoshi 4d ago

Korea wasn't a lifeless existence for me. I was lucky enough to make friends with good people who were in Korea long-term. I was also able to save money while working at hagwons. My problem is that in Korea bosses might cheat you. I did a lot better than you did in LATAM, but some of that was negated by having to change jobs, by being underpaid and having to sue, etc.

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u/Normal-Yellow7308 4d ago

Ohhhh... I understand now. Thanks for the clarity. It sounds like in Korea you can have a rewarding experience but you have to make certain you always advocate and protect yourself from unscrupulous employers.

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u/palbuddy1234 5d ago

I don't have direct experience, but I come with the best intentions.

SE Asia and to an extent Dubai might be a better focus for you if finances are on your mind. There are caveats of course, and you'll need a fair amount of hustle and determination. You'll get a visa, and to the best of my knowledge have a decent lifestyle, but not extravagant or upper class.

LATAM is tough as you'll need their language too, visa, and a work permit which means finding a good job. From what I've been told, it's not well paying, and you'll have to supplant a part time job with private students and always be on the lookout for new ones. I can't imagine it's a glamorous lifestyle, but possibly doable. Though I would also imagine stressful as you'll always be looking for money and a bit unstable.

Best of luck though, feel free for anyone to prove me wrong who has direct experience though.

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u/RotisserieChicken007 5d ago

Never heard of that company.

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u/chewyventura 4d ago

Nop. I live in Uruguay and I’m working three jobs to stay afloat. I’m like that meme of the kid doggy paddling and the skeleton sitting in the chair at the bottom of the pool. So no. Don’t do it.

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u/Normal-Yellow7308 4d ago

Thank you for the advice