Teach in DR...HELP PLEASE!!

Hi. I am planning to move to the DR for the next 9-12 months. I am an English teacher and plan to make that my occupation if at all possible. I'm deciding between the Puerto Plata area and have heard good things about Las Terrenas. Any thoughts? I 'm hoping to find a basic but safe and comfortable homestay situation--thinking that this would be more affordable. I would be hugely appreciative of any advice you have to offer! Oh yeah, I don't speak Spanish but am making it a goal to learn as quickly as possible once I arrive there. Any good Spanish language programs for adults? Thanks-Carol

You don't mind if we do a background check on you first? You know,just in case.

Hugs,

Ozzie

I just received my "QuickStudy SPANISH - The Fast Way to Conversational Fluency." A 3-cd SET for computer. It's EXCELLENT for starters. (Learn the grammar, etc, later - but don't even THINK of going to DR without SOME SPANISH, you'll need to at least know how to speak conversational Spanish the moment you land there!!!! Finding English-speaking persons there is next to impossible - unless you find an English speaking foreigner who will translate for you - in that case, good luck!!)
Here's various contact information to get yours:
The Learning Company, One Martha's Way, Box 100-TS, Hiawatha, IA 52233
Phone: 319-247-3333
E-Mail: help@tlcsupport.com
Web: http://support.learningco.com

Good luck.

I beg to differ with you as far as having to know Spanish before arriving in the DR. Of course it would help but depending on where in the DR one goes to live the need for Spanish will certainly vary. In Sosua and Cabarete many ex-pats get by with minimal Spanish. Good luck and enjoy the DR.

Another dreamer, if 68% of Dominicans want to leave their own country what makes you think you can survive there?

Stop wasting everyones time with these stupid posts, if you have a job waiting for you when you get there then okay, if not " WAKE UP" Your chances of surviving there are very slim.

First of all, Las Terrenas is beautiful but there is little in the way of employment. Secondly, I truly don't want to burst your bubble, but how do you expect to teach beginning English, for example, if you don't have the ability to explain some basic concepts in Spanish. I understand total immersion might work in some instances, but I think you would be more effective with a serious ability to communicate about the nuances between English and Spanish as well. Puerto Plata is the better work environment but I believe you should rethink your plans for teaching. If you want to "hang on the beach" and "veg," bring money. You will find that the economic recession is going to affect the tourist trade severely and the D.R. is going to suffer in the coming year. There just won't be the same number of jobs available for transients as there were in the past and those jobs available should be made available for Dominicans and legal residents of the D.R. first.

Hey Carol

Finding work here is tough, especially enough to make a decent living. The north coast is primarily geared to the tourism industry, but like anywhere else, there are kids, and they do need teachers.

As posted by someone else, though, to teach ESL or anything similar you kind of need some spanish under your belt first! In the Sosua/Cabarete area, we have friends that have been here for years, and still don't know any spanish. So you can survive without spanish, but to work with local people (especially to teach them) you will need to know their language.

The school year has already started, making it even harder for you. If you scroll down the board there was a gentleman in Puerto Plata a while ago (month or two?) looking for a private teacher for his two children. Perhaps he is still looking. Also, the International School of Sosua (ISS) requires substitutes during the year, but they are fully staffed at this time as far as I know.

As far as learning Spanish, there are schools in Sosua and Puerto Plata, however I have no contact information for you. If you make it to Sosua, anyone at the Brittania pub can give you a hand, there are many expats there that can help you out. And although I have never been there, Sofy's B&B in Puerto Plata seems to be very helpful on this board, and would likely have some good advice for you on where to take spanish lessons if you dropped in on them for breakfast one morning.

Good luck, hope it works out for you.
marc

You don't have to be snarky about it. Why not try and help instead of being so nasty?

youmight check out the International School See below or email Anna Sanchez at the Learning Center in Sosua
learningcenter@sosua.net