Job Discussion Forums

mtiz · Joined: 18 May 2014 Posts: 41

I also agree that it is very important and smart business to have more than one job, because you never know what can happen out here in TEFL world...I normally work for at least two schools. The major problem is that one school can usually NOT provide the hours you need in the schedule that you have available. Of course, there are exceptions, but as far as language schools go, this is usually true.

Fitzgerald · Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 224

Fitzgerald · Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 224

Fitzgerald · Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 224

Catch this. I interviewed with another school today, because I almost always take interviews; you never know when you might learn something. This school has two positions available, full-time and part-time.

Full-time: 12:00-9:00 M-F, 8:00-3:00 S (52 hours/week)
Part-time: 4:00-9:00 M-F, 8:00-1:00 S (30 hours/week)

The pay for the full-time position is 7,000 pesos/month, and for the part-time position, 4,000 pesos/month. That's about the same rate, 31 pesos/hour. I hope my eyes didn't bug out of my head, but I fear that they did. The school is not a new one in Mexico, although the Queretaro office has only been in existence for three months.

120 pesos/hour suddenly doesn't look so bad! And I'm doing better than that. I'm up to 15 hours per week at 170 pesos/hour, which comes to more than 11,000 pesos/month, and my hours have been going up each week. That doesn't count any supplemental sources of income yet. So I imagine that I will be OK.

The woman who interviewed me seemed a little embarrassed; she must know that she's unlikely to get any native speakers on what the school is paying. She said to me at one point, "The pay's a little low...." Do tell!

Jultime · Joined: 25 Jun 2014 Posts: 113 Location: Mexico

75 pesos an hour in Oaxaca. There's no way I could live on that.

I'm heading elsewhere soon.

BadBeagleBad · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 10:10 pm Post subject:

Fitzgerald · Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 224

Jultime · Joined: 25 Jun 2014 Posts: 113 Location: Mexico

Oh trust me Fitz I know all about wage deflation.

I was working as an LPN. In 2011 I was working in Florida for $18 an hour with no benefits. Had I been a new RN I might have made $22 an hour.

In my last job in Alberta I was supervising, training and scheduling 40 people...for $26 an hour. I hadn't had a raise in 2 years. I've been in the work force for decades.

I'm not asking to be paid a lot. I'd be happy with enough money to rent a room and feed myself, maybe go out occasionally. Then my kids can supplement my income by sending me the money they owe me (ha! how doubtful is that!)

Fitzgerald · Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 224

BadBeagleBad · Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2015 4:32 pm Post subject:

It is more difficult for me to define my peak since I worked in Mexico when I was younger, but without any training, and earning what was considered to be at that time a LOT of money. I then went to college and worked in the US for 5 years, in a Catholic school where I very much enjoyed the work, but not the wages. Then for 4 years in a public school system where I got one small raise the entire time. Then back to Mexico where I worked in a variety of jobs - private schools, language schools and business institutes, private classes and a stint as a news editor and as a tour guide. I loved working as a tour guide but the pay wasn´t great. That seems to have been my luck, jobs I really enjoyed payed crap and the ones that paid the most weren´t really jobs I enjoyed. I have always been able to save a little, travel a little but there have been some tight times, too, which I suppose is typical for a lot of people. In terms of lifestyle, I am probably living the best lifestyle now, but that is partly because the cost of living where we currently live in very low and our house is paid for, we have chickens and a garden and a neighbor who gives us all the fresh milk we can drink. My husband is semi-retired, though we have the income from an apartment he owns in DF and from a business he has, but no longer runs himself. So I don´t think it can always be tied to money earned. If I lived in the US we would just be getting by, I think.

Fitzgerald · Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 224

Jultime · Joined: 25 Jun 2014 Posts: 113 Location: Mexico

I don't even care about having a car anymore. I like not paying for gas and insurance, I think I'm saving around $400 a month by not having a car.

I'm planning on retiring here in Mexico. If I stayed in Alberta the only way I could retire would be if I moved in with my kids. Its not an easy financial life being single.

Fitzgerald · Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 224

BadBeagleBad · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 5:13 pm Post subject:

NorthofAmerica · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 187 Location: Recovering Expat

I just had a Spanish class with a Russian and unsurprisingly afterwards he said he needed to learn English as well as Spanish for his job here, a freelance photographer.

I initially said 150/hr. to myself but not sure what to quote him. I could use some side money and he is a good enough guy that I don't mind spending time with him (let's face it we have all had privates we personally dislike) but I am not a charitable org'n here.

What's reasonable? I have 8+ years exp'n and have taught for 200rmb an hour in China, like 400+ Mexican. Obviously I know that is ridiculous here but I am not just a "I know English and like to talk to people" teacher. This is my first approach for a private, I have been working online here. What do qualified ESL teachers make per hour, seriously I have no idea.

Outlined a lesson plan for him and he was on board, told him I would contact him in a few days for a level check and first lesson.