New Jobs

So it's my second time around in Chile and I am doing similar but also very different things than last year. Last year, I was teaching Basic English to 20 students in each class at a university. These students hardly knew how to say anything in English so it was definitely a challenge. A lot of them weren't motivated because English was required and they didn't think it was relevant to what they were studying so often times they didn't come to class. Also, they were similar in age to me and my Spanish wasn't that great last year so it was very hard to control them or get them to respect me. However, there were definitely GREAT students who I truly appreciated and who were very motivated. I still keep in touch with a lot of them and have seen some of them since I've been back. 

This year, I am teaching Business Professionals. As of right now I am teaching 3 classes and one private conversation class. One class is for Sanofi, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. I am teaching English to the General Manager and one of the supply managers. This class is GREAT because it is so advanced that I barely do any of the talking. I think of ideas and activities but the 2 students pretty much do all the talking because they want to practice. It is difficult though because I don't have a book and there aren't any written tests so there is not a set curriculum. So I am pretty much doing whatever I want which is good but it can also be difficult. But the students are great becase they know English is important because all of their international meetings are in English and they travel a lot. My second class is for Jacobs, an engineering company. They are less advanced but they still want to talk and participate. This class is more structured with a book. I am sharing this class with another teacher and he is teaching all the grammar and vocabulary while I help them practice speaking. So I don't necessarily use the book but I think of activities that relate to the book. The students are really nice and they have brought me alfajores (cookies with manjar/dulce de leche) almost every class. My third class is for Pfizer, another pharmaceutical company. They are very basic and they are very busy so they will cancel class a lot of time. But I have a specific book that even tells the teacher what to do so that is nice but it is hard because I have to do a lot of speaking very slowly and a lot of repeating. Finally, I am doing a private conversation class to a business man who runs a Food company that provides food for low-income families and children. He has a very basic level but he definitely likes to talk. So overall, my classes are extremely different from last year in that I have a VARIETY of levels and I don't have to talk as much and I'm not only set to a specific book/curriculum. I am liking it a lot and it is great to work with such huge international companies and important people! I also really like working in the business sector of Santiago. I feel super professional and like being around a lot of offices, restaurants, stores, etc. But the BAD part is the metro in the morning because it is SUPER congested. Here are photos of where I work:

What is even more different than last year is that I am not only teaching, but I am also working in an office. I am the Program Coordinator at a company called Integra Limitada. The company

offers work/travel/internships in the US for high school, university, and older students. The students register if they are interested and then have to take a Written/Oral english test (which I will administer
and grade) and then a psychological test. Then I will help them with their resume, cover letter and application to the Sponsor in the United States. The Sponsor is the company that helps the student come
to the US. The Sponsor then talks to the employers to find the student a job placement. Then the student interviews with the employer via skype (the jobs are pretty basic, like housekeeper and waiter but there are some jobs such as assistant manager but those are very competitive). There are jobs available in every state.  Then they have to go to the U.S. embassy which I will also help them with to get their J-1 visa which is a lot of work. Then they have a meeting which I think I can also go to (either in Santiago or Concepcion which is south of Santiago). Then they go to the States on a 3 month visa from December-March to work and then they have a 1 month visa to travel.

So I will be focusing on the Marketing (Facebook, Internet, going to the schools to recruit), communication with the students and among Integra (in Santiago and Concepcion) and the Sponsors in the US. I will be the Program Coordinator which will be a lot of work but very interesting and useful. Right now is the slow season so that will be nice to slowly get accustomed and adapt to the job. Students can apply at anytime until October. Then, come October it will be very busy dealing with visas and the Embassy. I will be speaking BOTH English and Spanish, but the day to day stuff in the office will be in Spanish with my other coworkers which will help me TREMENDOUSLY. My Spanish should be and BETTER be exquisite at the end of this year haha.

It is going to be very challenging but a very rewarding job. I am very excited and glad I have the opportunity but I know I will be very busy (pretty much the opposite of last year). But I like being busy and kept on my toes :) 

My new Integra office building (office is on the 11th floor)