Where to live/teach English?

rob01

New member
Dec 23, 2008
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Hey all, firstly thanks in advance for any advice!

Im a regular over at the Cuba thorntree- and have vast experience of that country, and have lived there before for long periods, ive been told there are some similarities between Cuba and DR-I am curious to see to what extent they are similar? If anyone has been to both, how and why do they compare? Now im considering working and living in the DR, I have read countless forums, blogs and articles about the country, and now really need some specific questions answered, so any and all advice is much much appreciated!

I am an English language teacher in madrid, and have a couple of years experience of teaching (one year in Cuba, one in Madrid). I hold a BA Degree, and am TEFL certified. I speak good enough Spanish.

Having spent awhile researching the DR, I am assuming that Santo Domingo would probably hold the most opportunities work wise-being the capital etc. But, I am currently working in Madrid, and am honestly abit tired of the huge metropolis city experience. Ive also read that Santo Domingo is dirty and dangerous in parts. Now, I am a experienced traveller and having lived in Havana, and used to hustlers etc.. but I am looking for a place to live for a year or maybe longer and am really looking for a more chilled out (and safer- probably smaller) city than where I have lived before (Madrid and Havana).

I have been looking into Santiago. Does anybody know what the english teaching market is like there? I have no dillusions about making much money, and am only looking for enough to live on basically. I heard that Santiago offers much of the entertainment and excitement of Santo Domingo, minus much of the pollution and urban problems such as crime, scams and rip offs. Is this true? Can anyone offer a further comparison between Santiago and SD?

Can anyone recommend any other places in DR where living/teaching is possible? Im looking for a place with enough to do in terms of nightlife and socialising, but without the problems of high crime and too much pollution. Maybe I am searching for an impossible uptopia? Well, if anyone has any preferences in terms of cities I would love to hear about it.

Also if anybody knows of any good english schools/academies either by reputation or experience, It would be great to hear about them.

Thanks for all!
 

sracrissy

New member
May 26, 2008
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Santiago is a great city!! I would definitely agree with the fact that it is comparable to SD in entertainment, etc. However it's a lot safer, less pollution, etc...

As far as schools...Colegio bilingue New Horizons and Santiago Christian School are a couple options in Santiago!!! Pm me for more info!!