The International Schools Review Forum

Hello All,

I am currently working in the ME and I would love to work in South or Central America. I interviewed with a school which was 1st on my list but I did not get that position because I unfortunately was not bilingual. I am taking this year to get my spanish speaking skills up and may do an intensive lesson for 6 weeks next summer in Costa Rica. The school suggested we keep in touch just incase something opens up. I am hopeful about something in the future. Here is the thing though.... since I am in the ME I cannot go to any job fairs unless it is in Dubai I can just fly over on the weekend. I do not get time off for fairs, but I think I just may have to get myself to that AASSA fair this year for next.

Any advice would be welcomed on how I could better my chances or just what could one do... Oh I am a School Psychologist with 4 years experience by the 2014-2015 school year with 1 dependent child in tow.

I think you need to take an aggresive approach and contact as many schools as possible. A position like this most likely would be filled by a local hire in a Latin American school. I would also think these types of jobs are in less existence in LA then other regions, just based on that LA structures can be quite different from the norm. I did a stint in both CA and SA and I never came across an expat in your position (but I'm sure they exist).

I know a few years back I was the only gringo A.D. south of Mexico in CA so I tend to believe specialist positions are rare for foreigners.

Good luck!

I am at a very large school in Brazil. Our school only has one psychologist & she is planning on staying for a while. But, I know our school does a lot of hiring at the AASSA fair, as do many of the schools in the region. Good luck!

[quote="liketotravel"]I think you need to take an aggresive approach and contact as many schools as possible. A position like this most likely would be filled by a local hire in a Latin American school. I would also think these types of jobs are in less existence in LA then other regions, just based on that LA structures can be quite different from the norm. I did a stint in both CA and SA and I never came across an expat in your position (but I'm sure they exist).

I know a few years back I was the only gringo A.D. south of Mexico in CA so I tend to believe specialist positions are rare for foreigners.

Good luck![/quote]

Thank you. I have applied blind to schools only to get no reply. I sent out CV's before recruiting season and during and a couple after... Nada! This one school responded and well they needed a bilingual person, which I totally understand. I wish I could have said to the director. I have all the basic spanish I will take lessons twice a week afterschool until I am proficient... Ah well... What to do...

[quote="indogal"]I am at a very large school in Brazil. Our school only has one psychologist & she is planning on staying for a while. But, I know our school does a lot of hiring at the AASSA fair, as do many of the schools in the region. Good luck![/quote]

Thank you for your response. I can understand why she stays.. We usually bop around, so I imaging it's a good school. I will make my best effort pay or no pay to get to AASSA this year its just hell a 6 hour flight followed by a 9 hour flight! yikes! That is what deterred me the last time, wonder if I threw my own chance away... Well I won't this year! Thank you for the kind words.

PsychBean - Delta flies out of Dubai to Atlanta-Hartsfield regularly. It is a looong 17 hour flight, but direct.

Just saying...

[quote="shadowjack"]PsychBean - Delta flies out of Dubai to Atlanta-Hartsfield regularly. It is a looong 17 hour flight, but direct.

Just saying...[/quote]

Thank you Shadowjack, but I think I will take the 15 hour (6 +9) hour flight over a straight 17. Yikes. I will make it there though and hope I come away with something. Thank you for your advice it is appreciated :) :shock: :shock:

Hi. I was hoping to go to Latin America to an IB school with my wife. At the Search Associates job fair in Cambridge, it seemed that they would only consider native spanish speakers for certain positions, which sounded crazy to me. Why would Panama or Venezuela be hunting for native Spanish speakers in Boston as opposed to back in Latin America? Anyway, my wife is a native Spanish speaker, but I am not. We could not find the right school with the right combination. We are both going to Asia as Spanish teachers.

[quote="grumpy"]Hi. I was hoping to go to Latin America to an IB school with my wife. At the Search Associates job fair in Cambridge, it seemed that they would only consider native spanish speakers for certain positions, which sounded crazy to me. Why would Panama or Venezuela be hunting for native Spanish speakers in Boston as opposed to back in Latin America? Anyway, my wife is a native Spanish speaker, but I am not. We could not find the right school with the right combination. We are both going to Asia as Spanish teachers.[/quote]

Hmmm that saddens me. But I was told when interviewing with this one school that..well they made sure to mention that they were interviewing local candidates... Like I said I have basic spanish or maybe more than basic, but they wanted full on bilingual for the little ones. I totally understand, but how can I be bilingual over here. I would like to up my spanish game but I know that I will be exponentially better once there. But I need the spanish before I go. I am now wondering if my chances are hopeless.... Welp I won't give in I will persevere...

It seems that you have a restrictive niche. It might be tough to get a specific specialist position like that. Do you have any other areas of certification? Could you teach secondary psychology or maybe your time and effort would be better spent getting IB training in Theory of Knowledge or something.
Don't be discouraged! Something will develop for you. We are sad to not be going to South America, but very happy to be Asia bound.

Hmmm no never taught and being a specialist I don't need all of the IB, PYP ABC's certs. I can just test and counsel anywhere no matter what the school designation. I am a Psychologist and can work as a counselor if I had to just to get to where I wanted..... But, yes I am limited as not all schools have a SP or there is only one or 2 on deck and most don't leave.

I am happy you are excited about Asia, I am sure it will be an awesome experience for you and your wife. All the best to you both.

I think it's worth the effort to get in CA or SA. I'm in Asia now, but a day doesn't go by when I don't dream of going back to Colombia. It's great to make money, but for me the lifestyle difference and the ability to immerse myself in the local culture is worth being broke.

Yes I'd love to go, but I need to make some coins also. :-).

My first gig in Honduras paid 20K flat and I was a king :).

Did you live like a king or did you just feel like a king because of your location??? In any event I don't have any offers big or small in CA or SA so nothing to really ponder on... Just hoping and wishing at this point. Thank you all for your input though :-)