Job Discussion Forums

[graciela.a]

Hi
I was wondering how feasible it would be for me to find a job teaching English at a colegio in Mexico. I taught in public bilingual schools in Madrid as an English Language Assistant for two years. One of those years I also worked afternoons at a private language academy teaching my own classes to small groups of children. My last year in Madrid I work titulary (for contractual, legal and visa reasons) as an Assistant Teacher in a nominally bilingual private school. I primarly taught art classes in English to primaria, but I also taught conversation classes to secundaria. I was offered a contract to renew for a second year, but declined. The work conditions were not ideal, because of my position as an �Assistant Teacher� a Spanish teacher (who often spoke no English) would always be present in the classroom. That teacher was not involved in lesson planning, teaching, and most of the time did not even intervene in disciplinary matters (as they were supposed to). In other words another teacher sat in the room grading at the desk, or chatting with students in Spanish during my lessons. I loved teaching and thought myself to be a dedicated and enthusiastic teacher capable of being able to conduct classes on my own. Unfortunately, due to labor laws in Spain positions like those for Americans are impossible to find. So I came back to the US. I am still working in education, albeit in a different way. I work part time as an Assistant Teacher in a progressive preschool with two year olds. In the afternoons I am an administrator/family liaison for an afterschool enrichment program at a public school. I know from my experiences this year that I do not want to work at a public school in the US � the stress and pressure in these schools, the emphasis on standardized testing, and the bureaucratic mindset of the administration does not appeal to me. I had many complaints about schools in Spain: their reliance on textbooks, the stark nearly undecorated classrooms, the lack of creativity and imagination, the laidback attitude of teachers that many times was just laziness. Yet the schools� atmosphere in Spain was also in some ways more familial, compassionate and warm. Spain�s schools were not always rosy though: discipline was lacking and classrooms were noisy. I know from my last year working at a well-heeled private school that such schools care more about appearances and parent satisfaction than they do about the quality of the teaching or learning that occurs in their classrooms. So if Mexican private schools are anything like Spanish private schools I come prepared.

However I wonder if it would be at all possible for me to find a position teaching at a colegio in M�xico since all my previous school positions were technically assistant positions?

I am not certified to teach in the US, but I do have a B.A. I studied Literature if that makes a difference. I am fluent in Spanish and if this adds anything: I�m 26 years old (and would be 27 by the time this would happen).

I�d be looking primarily in M�xico City and would ideally want a position that is fairly well compensated (don�t we all?). What I mean to say is that my positions in Spain despite my official �Assistant� status were all very well compensated. By working about 25 hours at my school and doing an hour or two of private tutoring 4 nights a week I could live very comfortably. It allowed me to share a nice apartment in the center of the city with roommates, go out a fair amount as one does in Spain, eat at restaurants, travel on holidays to other countries in Europe, buy clothes regularly, and even take pricey German courses at the Goethe Institut. I wouldn�t need a position that is as cushy (heaven knows that living in Brooklyn now I certainly don�t have as much), but I wouldn�t want to be struggling.

Sorry for the length of this post, but I�d really like to hear what the possibilities are for someone without a teaching certificate to get a comfortable position at a colegio en M�xico City.

[Guy Courchesne]

I think you'll probably find many Mexican private colegios to be similar to those in Spain, as far as emphasis on testing and administration relations go...and some bratty kids.

That said, I think you'd have a good pick of decent jobs in Mexico City. Only the top international schools will nix your CV for lacking the teaching license (though you should try applying anyway). The second tier schools here pay a decent wage. Emphasize your education experience on your resume.

Right now is the time to be apply for positions for 2012/13 by the way.

[FreddyM]

[Prof.Gringo]