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Guldlok
Joined: 19 Feb 2012
Posts: 3
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
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 Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:45 am Post subject: Non native English speaker seeking advice |
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I am a teacher from Denmark who is planning to go to Mexico to teach.
I am going to take a 140 hour online TEFL course at ITTO (International Teachers Training Organization)
Due to the fact that I am not a native English speaker I am little concerned about my job opportunities after taking that course because everywhere I look (jobsites etc.) they only want native English speakers.
I would love to hear from non native English speakers working as a teacher in Mexico about their experiences finding a job (Of course native English speakers are welcome to give advice also  )
Thanks for your replies
Last edited by Guldlok on Tue Feb 21, 2012 3:49 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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MotherF
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1450
Location: 17�48'N 97�46'W
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| Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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| I have met some non-natives working in Mexico. Your biggest problem will be a legal one. Native speakers have no problems getting working visas for Mexico because we can justify we have a skill Mexican do not--English as a mother tongue--but non-natives however competent, can not justfy that they are better suited for a job than a Mexican, and therefore, will have a harder time getting a working visa. |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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| Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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| One little piece of advice: advice is an uncountable noun and is never plural. Good luck with your job search! |
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Guldlok
Joined: 19 Feb 2012
Posts: 3
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
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| Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Thank you for the advice |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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| Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:12 pm Post subject: |
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You're most welcome  ! |
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Phil_K
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2041
Location: A World of my Own
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| Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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In language institutes, which is my particular area of experience, I've worked with Swedes, Czechs, Germans and Hungarians, among others. Although in Mexico in general, maybe people don't appreciate the near-native level of continentals Europeans, and especially Scandinavians, in these places they seem to be considered as natives. In fact, in one school, (Georgal Idiomas), they were placed on the starting-pay scale reserved for natives!
In my humble opinion, a Scandinavian that has studied English all his life (and used it) probably has an advantage academically over a native speaker. As long as you are in Mexico looking for jobs, rather than trying to get something from abroad, I don't think you will have too many problems. |
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Enchilada Potosina
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 344
Location: Mexico
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| Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 7:13 pm Post subject: Re: Non native English speaker seeking advice |
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| Guldlok wrote: |
| Due to the fact that I am not a native English speaker I am little concerned about my job opportunities after taking that course because everywhere I look (jobsites etc.) they only want native English speakers. |
I'd take that, 'native' with a pinch of salt. What most places mean is, 'looks native'. Meaning if you have blonde hair and blue eyes you're a shoe-in. I know plenty of schools that wouldn't think twice about hiring you in SLP but whether you'd be equally as thrilled with the pay and working conditions is another matter entirely.
I don't believe you'll have a legal problem as a TEFL cert implies that you CAN teach English, what difference does the nationality of the holder make? |
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MotherF
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1450
Location: 17�48'N 97�46'W
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| Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 10:02 pm Post subject: Re: Non native English speaker seeking advice |
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| Enchilada Potosina wrote: |
I don't believe you'll have a legal problem as a TEFL cert implies that you CAN teach English, what difference does the nationality of the holder make? |
The difference is that there are plenty of Mexicans with TEFL certification as well--so there is no justification for hiring a Danish teacher over a Mexican. |
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Enchilada Potosina
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 344
Location: Mexico
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| Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 1:43 am Post subject: Re: Non native English speaker seeking advice |
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| MotherF wrote: |
| Enchilada Potosina wrote: |
I don't believe you'll have a legal problem as a TEFL cert implies that you CAN teach English, what difference does the nationality of the holder make? |
The difference is that there are plenty of Mexicans with TEFL certification as well--so there is no justification for hiring a Danish teacher over a Mexican. |
True but I just can't see any self-respecting language school owner hiring a fellow countryman over a foreigner. That's just the way most of them they are. I've seen it time and time again. |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 12:07 am Post subject: Re: Non native English speaker seeking advice |
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| Enchilada Potosina wrote: |
| MotherF wrote: |
| Enchilada Potosina wrote: |
I don't believe you'll have a legal problem as a TEFL cert implies that you CAN teach English, what difference does the nationality of the holder make? |
The difference is that there are plenty of Mexicans with TEFL certification as well--so there is no justification for hiring a Danish teacher over a Mexican. |
True but I just can't see any self-respecting language school owner hiring a fellow countryman over a foreigner. That's just the way most of them they are. I've seen it time and time again. |
Let's see... A "teacher" with white skin (and esp. fair hair and blue or green eyes,  ESPECIALLY a female  ) and a foreign passport versus a Mexican with a degree in English, exp. and a TEFL.
The foreigner wins out everytime. |
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Tretyakovskii
Joined: 14 Aug 2009
Posts: 462
Location: Cancun, Mexico
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| Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 1:18 pm Post subject: |
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I tend to agree with those who take a positive view of your prospects, here: if you're willing to accept the pay that is on offer, and you are physically here, apostiled documents in hand, I think you'll be able to find offers of work- perhaps even lots of them, if you go to Mexico City.
A majority of those who post here seem to be in Mexico City and many of them could offer suggestions, job leads, if you will. |
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MotherF
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1450
Location: 17�48'N 97�46'W
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| Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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| I'd like to clarify that I never said a school wouldn't hire a non-native. Immigration might not look kindly on the situation--and many school owners don't care about that and hire teachers under the table. |
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BadBeagleBad
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
Posts: 1186
Location: 24.18105,-103.25185
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| Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Phil_K wrote: |
In my humble opinion, a Scandinavian that has studied English all his life (and used it) probably has an advantage academically over a native speaker. As long as you are in Mexico looking for jobs, rather than trying to get something from abroad, I don't think you will have too many problems. |
That has been my experience as well. I have known many Scandinavians who spoke perfect English, with no accent. For a lot of employers, that would be the bottom line, really. But like Phil said, you really have to be here. |
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Phil_K
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2041
Location: A World of my Own
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| Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 4:15 pm Post subject: |
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| BadBeagleBad wrote: |
| Phil_K wrote: |
In my humble opinion, a Scandinavian that has studied English all his life (and used it) probably has an advantage academically over a native speaker. As long as you are in Mexico looking for jobs, rather than trying to get something from abroad, I don't think you will have too many problems. |
That has been my experience as well. I have known many Scandinavians who spoke perfect English, with no accent. For a lot of employers, that would be the bottom line, really. But like Phil said, you really have to be here. |
The OP's fellow countryman, footballer Jan M�lby, went to play for Liverpool FC in the 1980s, and when I first heard him speak a couple of years later, he had a pure Scouse accent!!! Similarly Peter Schmeichel at Manchester United. (Mancunian, not Scouse of course!)
Jan M�lby here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-MZMeA8EuM |
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FreddyM
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 180
Location: Mexico
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| Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 4:52 pm Post subject: Re: Non native English speaker seeking advice |
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| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
Let's see... A "teacher" with white skin (and esp. fair hair and blue or green eyes, ESPECIALLY a female ) and a foreign passport versus a Mexican with a degree in English, exp. and a TEFL.
The foreigner wins out everytime. |
That's pretty much how it is in Mexico. If the person's white and foreign and speaks English (nativeness not being important), that person has the edge and the advantage is most cases. |
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