18 year old British girl on Gap Year - looking for local and expat friends!

[Laura Deering]

HI ALL!

I am 18 years old and have moved out to BA for 4 months to start my Gap Year! I am currently doing a month long course to train to become an English teacher, called CELTA. But I would love to get to know some more people from outside my course. I am up for any ideas so please get in touch!

My Spanish is also pretty good so it would be great to meet some original Portenos too!

Besos xxx

 

[HenryNisental]

Hi, I am an old timer in this forum.
I am 68 (too old to be friends), but I have three nephews 18, 19, and 20 y.o. that are gooooood looking, and good boys too.
The elder is actually American (born in beautiful California. Myself I have been to London once, where I have English relatives.
Good luck anyway Henry 4687-1604

 

[PhilinBSAS]

HI ALL!

... out to BA for 4 months to start my Gap Year! I am currently doing a month long course to train to become an English teacher, called CELTA.

Besos xxx

Good luck Laura. Doing CELTA is the best way and you must be getting on ok if you have any time out as it's intensive. Presumably you are getting all your TP with the language centre? If not let me know. The only CELTA recognised centre I know and I've just checked on the Cambridge EFL site is IH but I see Cactus are apparently offering which is interesting if not curious.

 

[Laura Deering]

HI Henry! Thanks for your reply!
Haha - no one is ever too old to be friends! I bet I could benefit from your wisdom I am sure! Do you think your nephews would be interested in getting in contact sometime soon, and just taking me around some of the younger places of BA?!
Regards!
x

 

[Laura Deering]

And PhilinBSAS (sorry I could not work out what your real name is?!)
Yes, it is very intensive - but I thought it could never hurt to start trying to get contacts now seeing as I will be here for so long! Yes, all my TP for CELTA is done during the course - but if you have any advice for jobs afterwards that would be great! And, yep, I am at IH - its a great place!

 

[HenryNisental]

I think so. In any case, the middle one has a birthday party on the 22nd of this month, and you are invited already.
Regards Henry

 

[FerLiu]

Hey Laura, my name is Fernando and I was born and raised here in Buenos Aires!

If you wanna chat or just hang out let me know!

I'm sure it would be more than interesting to make at least a cultural exchange, right? I love the british accent, but can't seem to pick it up! LOL maybe you have some tips I could try out?

See you around and enjoy your stay at BA! Add me on facebook if you have one.

 

[PhilinBSAS]

And PhilinBSAS (sorry I could not work out what your real name is?!)
Yes, it is very intensive - but I thought it could never hurt to start trying to get contacts now seeing as I will be here for so long! Yes, all my TP for CELTA is done during the course - but if you have any advice for jobs afterwards that would be great! And, yep, I am at IH - its a great place!

My advice is to use the contacts you are making at IH and especially your tutor to route you through to pack in as much teaching experience as possible in the next three months or so of your visit to Buenos Aires even if this turns out to be mostly pro-bono / voluntary.

Sometimes short notice positions for English teachers come up on here. But remember you aren't on a working visa entry - many operate "in the black" here anyway and that is your only option should anything remunerative come along. There is a huge amount of bureaucracy in Argentina and working practices which Anglos find to be rather strange/perverse/anachronistic etc as anyone who looks on here will be reminded fairly often! Another point you should know is that many EFL contracts are for a full year and these tend to crop up around February time.

Be aware of some sensitivities from local Argentine teachers of English who have spent a long time working hard to get through university to get their English qualifications against us native speakers who are also qualified in EFL. Easy enough to get teaching assistant type work (its not well paid) where you will be asked just to take pronunciation practice and not rock the status quo. Having some Castillano will be a bonus.

As a general point most EFL teachers go onto specialise quite quickly after qualifying - often when a opportunity arises - but that may not always be best as then don't get a chance to sample other levels/specialisms.

From what I gather you are going onto Uni probably next year? Is this to do languages/linguistics or a totally different field? You may find it difficult to keep the EFL teaching going at the same time at least in term time (in UK?) but definitely IH have a great network, an excellent reputation and many postings around the world including language schools in London etc so its a good idea to keep in with them and also to keep in contact with the others on your course. The EFL teaching world is a small one!

!Suerte!

Philip

 

[PhilinBSAS]

How not to teach English or anything else for that matter

Russian bully english teacher receives practical instruction to reinforce his learning a new composite noun ... "come-uppance"

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-groin-by-humiliated-little-girl-8117392.html

 

[stx250]

Laura!!! hi im sebastian and i want to learn english!!! so i can help yoy with your spanish if you can help me with my english!!! what do you think about that??? sorry for my english is very bad!!!

Saludos!!!

Sebastian

HI ALL!

I am 18 years old and have moved out to BA for 4 months to start my Gap Year! I am currently doing a month long course to train to become an English teacher, called CELTA. But I would love to get to know some more people from outside my course. I am up for any ideas so please get in touch!

My Spanish is also pretty good so it would be great to meet some original Portenos too!

Besos xxx