Job Discussion Forums

[RoscoeTX]

Hello everyone,

So, I have a bachelor's of Arts degree, four years experience teaching ESL, and a CELTA certificate. I will be teaching subjects (math, history, science) at a private school in Mexico City to pre-teens. I imagine I may continue to live in the D.F for several years or longer if all goes well. I know as far as Mexico City goes, it's important who you know and holding a MA would be greatly beneficial.

So excluding the possibility of getting a MA (for lack of money and time), what would be the next best course/certificate to get which would potentially up my salary not only in Mexico but globally in the field of ESL?

I am considering doing the DELTA but I've read here its not given much weight in Mexico. And I've heard the ICELT could be a good course to bridge the gap between CELTA and DELTA.

Again, I'm conflicted and not sure what to do next...Any suggestions would be extremely appreciated.

[Guy Courchesne]

If you plan on staying in Mexico for some time, and after you've gained some more classroom experience, you could look into working at schools a little higher up the chain when professional development opportunities are better. For example, Peterson, The American School foundation, and Greengates all offer subsidized master's courses through American affiliate universities and colleges in education, interdisciplinary studies, education administration, etc. The ASF and Greegates are difficult to land employment at, but Peterson is easier.

[BadBeagleBad]

You might also want to look into getting a SEP recognized teaching credential, which, even though it is roughly equivilent to a CELTA, can be a firm requirement at some schools.

[RoscoeTX]

BadBeagle, Could you tell me a bit more about how and where to get a SEP teaching credential or provide me with a link to more information? Does it have anything to do with "School Experience Programme"?

[BadBeagleBad]

There are a number of them, the best one being the CELE at UNAM, which I think is a year long program, the second best is at Universidad Panamericana, takes 6 months, and used a lot of the same materials as the CELE (the director of the language center also works at UNAM). The advantage to the second program is that it is done on the open system, where you are given all your assignments at the beginning of the course, and have a LOT of work and reading to do on your own, but only meet once a week for a 3 hour session. There are lots of other Teacher Diploma programs, but if you want to actually get something out of it, I would recommend doing one of those two. One big difference is that while the CELE is directed at teachers of any foreign language and is taught, I believe, in Spanish, the program at Universidad Panamericana is targeted only at teachers of English, and is taught mostly in English.

http://www.cele.unam.mx/convocatorias.html

http://www.up.edu.mx/document.aspx?doc=5616

[RoscoeTX]

BadBeagle, Thanks so much for the information on the two courses. I think I will most likely do the second course.

But one slight issue could arise, you mentioned the second course is taught "mostly in English". I am far from fluent and can speak and understand in mostly broken Spanish, so do you know how much of the course is taught in Spanish?

[BadBeagleBad]

[tideout]

Thanks for the posts on this. I think this may have been covered in a previous post but I'm asking again as I can't locate it.

I have about 3 1/2 years of teaching. Most recently a year in Korean public school elementary and a year ago in a Korean public high school. I taught in a small school in southern Mexico before needing to leave to make up money I lost there.

I have a B.A. and a TESOL from SIT (School for International Training).

Is there any point, in terms of getting work, in my taking the CELE or SEP programs you're mentioning?

I expect to come back to Mexico mid-October. Trying the Guanajuato, Leon, Querratero "zone of safety"....sorry I'm missing the get-together!