'Affordable Rentals and Teaching Jobs' Montevideo

Sophia (2) from USA - 10/30/09 14:45

Hi. Can someone provide information for Montevideo such as rental infromation and teaching jobs. I would like to teach English there but am finding it difficult to locate information on affordable housing for lease. Thanks. I can't post my email address in the link so please reply here.

Thank you! Oh, I currently live in the US.

Comment #1 Solegrl from Montevideo - 10/31/09 17:14

"Teaching Jobs"

Hi Sophia!

Regarding teaching jobs you can contact Berlitz Institute here in Montevideo, and there are plenty other places you can contact as well, there's a lot of work for Teachers of English as a Foreign language, especially native speakers....the only bad things is that as the end of the year draws closer, work starts slowing down, usually summer is a slow season, I teach Business English, I'm freelancing.

As far as housing goes, I'm sure there are some expats that can help you with that info, I'm from Montevideo, born and raised here.......I know most expats live in the Pocitos/Punta Carretas/Parque Rodo area....have you tried emailing Real Estate Agencies (Inmobiliarias)?

Comment #2 Lee from Pocitos - 11/01/09 05:49

"Finding rentals in Montevideo"

Did you read the Guide to Living in Uruguay on this site? You can read it online or download the PDF. Click on the link at the top of the page that says "free ebook".

There is a great section by Elaine about how to go about finding apartments in Montevideo.

Comment #3 Elaine (1) from Ireland - 11/02/09 06:45

"Housing for lease"

just in case you couldn't find it, here is the link to the article on finding somewhere to rent:

• Renting in Montevideo

Comment #4 Elaine (1) from Ireland - 11/02/09 06:59

"Teaching English In Uruguay"

Hi Sophia,

I thought about teaching English when I first arrived here and I contacted Berlitz - their rate of pay is TERRIBLE! It would be impossible to survive on it here. People think South America in general is "cheap", let me tell you that the cost of living in Uruguay is NOT "cheap"!

Yes you can teach English in Uruguay, there are MANY schools and obviously they would prefer native speakers so in that way you have an advantage. Do you have teaching experience or would this be your first job?

There is one place I know of called The Guildford Institute. They pay very good wages AND they give you a free place to live (which is obviously the biggest cost of living). I've have known a few people that have worked there and they enjoyed it.

• The Guildford Institute, Montevideo

Comment #5 Lee from Pocitos - 11/02/09 08:27

""Affordable Rentals""

Affordable is a difficult word to use for getting useful answers. What I consider affordable may be considerable different from what you consider affordable.

Comment #6 Juana from Northeast US, for now - 11/03/09 22:50

"Experienced ESL (EFL) teacher"

My family is relocating to Montevideo for a year or more at the end of November 2009. While I am primarily concerned with finding the right school for our 12 year old daughter, I am also hoping to find a part-time position teaching English. I have many years of experience teaching ESL in a community college setting in Connecticut. Thanks for the tip about the Guilford School. Does anyone have other recommendations?

Thanks a million.

Comment #7 Elaine (1) from Ireland - 11/04/09 07:09

"Teaching English in Uruguay"

Hi Juana,

My response to Sophia was based on the impression that she was a young teacher coming here with basic TEFL training and would be renting alone so Guildford would be a good option for her.

As you a relocating with family their studio apartment would be of no use or advantage to you. Also, with your teaching experience you have many opportunities (are you a native speaker? do you also speak Spanish? your name invites curiosity!)

There is The Anglo Institute, The Dickens Institute, The London Institute....really there are countless English language schools, the high quality ones are usually looking for more mature and more experienced teachers and so pay better.

• The Anglo Institute, Montevideo

Comment #8 Elaine (1) from Ireland - 11/04/09 07:11

"Where to teach English?"

Here is another link, this is for The London Institute. This is run by a lovely British woman who married a Uruguayan and has been living here for a long time. The school seems to be a nice place with good facilities.

• The London Institute of English

Comment #9 Juana from Northeast US, for now - 11/07/09 11:10

"Thanks for all the leads!"

Elaine, you're a source of wonderful information. Thanks! I am a native-born United States citizen. I lived in Mexico for my Junior year (in the late 70's) and have taught ESL in Boston, NYC and Connecticut. More than 50% of my students have been Spanish-speakers over the years, so I've kept up with practicing my Spanish before and after English class! While I'm a bit rusty with the more advanced verb tenses, I get along just fine in Spanish. My husband is fluent in Portuguese since he spent a year in Brasil, and his Spanish is quite good, as well. But we're looking forward to immersing ourselves in the language and the culture and plan to travel to Argentina, Chile and Brasil.

I will look into your recommendations for language Institutes and again, I'm most appreciative of your wisdom.

Comment #10 Elaine (1) from Ireland - 11/09/09 06:23

"Information for new expats"

Hola Juana,

I don't know whether I'd quite call myself "wise", but I know I found it very difficult to get my hands on the information I needed and wanted before I moved here so just trying to pay it forward :)

If you have any questions please feel free to post them, I'm not the only one here with plenty of tips, advice and info to share (but it works better for everyone if you make a NEW post for your questions rather than tagging them on to the end of others, you'll get better responses that way).

Thats great that both you and your husband speak Spanish, do your daughter speak any yet?

In case you haven't seen it yet, we have been writing a free ebook for expats in Uruguay. You may find some helpful info there (link below).

• Great info for expats in Uruguay

Comment #11 Maragata Martha from San Jose de Mayo, Uruguay - 11/09/09 12:00

"Some other possibilities for teaching"

Juana, you might also consider the Uruguayan American School - www.uas.edu.uy/contacts, or St. Brendan's School- www.stbrendan.edu.uy. Both are multi-grade-level, from primary through high school.

The American School system is world-wide and may have a US contractor that does the hiring, but someone at the school could certainly tell you how their hiring is done. There is also a British School, which obviously has closer ties to the British colony of Uruguay.

I'm not sure of the pay scale for any of these institutions, but as has been noted elsewhere, salaries in Uruguay in general are quite modest compared to almost anywhere else!

Good luck to you!!

Comment #12 Elaine (1) from Ireland - 11/09/09 12:24

"American and British Schools"

I've heard both of these schools and have friends who attended them. They are very well respected and have somewhat of a "snobby" reputation...I believe the fees match this!

One thing I would be wary of is that they speak a lot of English, in fact I think the American school is taught completely through English. As such if your daughter wishes to learn Spanish (especially if over the course of only one year) this may not be the way. Although that is simply an observation of mine being someone also trying to learn Spanish. Putting her in a Spanish speaking environment may make it too difficult for her to integrate if she doesn't have the basics of the language already.

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