Job Discussion Forums

[cybercutie]

Hola! I aam planning on going to Mexico in September and teach for a year or two. I have been wanting to do this for so long, but I finally sold my place and decided to go for it!

I just have a couple of questions...has anyone taught in Mexico and Costa Rica and if so, which did they prefer and why?

Also, I wanted to know about the TESL certificate. I can get it here in Calgary (Canada) before I go, or I can get it in PV or Guadalajara. I can also get it outside of Costa Rica, but it is twice as much. If I get it in Mexico will I have a better chance of finding work? I have experience teaching ESL, just not the certificate.

If anyone has any advice, I am all ears!!!

Thanks!

Becky:)

[MixtecaMike]

I'd suggest you get your Cert in Canada, it looks so much better to employers if it comes from an English speaking country.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

I agree with Mike that many DOSs seem to give more credence to a certificate earned in an English-speaking country, unless the certificate is from a well known provider with franchised courses offered in various countries. Then it's 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. If you have good, documented EFL teaching experience, that's usually much more important than the type of TEFL certificate you have, by the way.

[seanie]

I've only just seen this thread. I have, in fact, lived/worked in both places (Mexico and Costa Rica). The most obvious difference is, of course, the size. But having said that, I have to tell you that the bus system in Costa Rica isn't as well developed as it is in Mexico. At least, that was the case in 1998/99 when I lived there. The buses aren't as posh and the stations aren't either, but they're adequate and get the job done. And despite the "inferior" system, I think accessing the different eco-systems, national parks, and volcanoes is easier than in Mexico. This is just because of the sheer size of the country. Costa Rica is, in general, cleaner and less polluted than Mexico. But if rainy weather gets you down, the "winter" (as they refer to it) can be depressing. It can rain every day, twice a day for up to 6 months. Culturally, Mexico is more diverse. Costa Rica doesn't have many indigenous people, but there are some "reservations"...and on the Caribbean coast (in Limon) there are the people of Jamaican descent who still speak Creole. There is less crime in Costa Rica, but people in San Jos� were a little uptight I think. And this wasn't just my opinion. One of my students there referred to a study that showed that San Jos� had one of the lowest levels of crime among capital cities in the Americas, but the perception of the level of crime among the residents was greatly exaggerated. People on the street in San Jos� were a lot "jumpier" than people in DF (Mexico City).
In terms of students, I'd say in Costa Rica my students knew more about the world than my Mexican students. (I'm not sure many of my Mexican students know exactly where Costa Rica is...... just last night a 10 year old girl - not my student, but even at 10 I knew better - said that Canada was part of the USA). On the other hand, I would say jobs are more plentiful in Mexico and better paid.
I have omitted loads of information so as not to bore the readers, but if you'd like clarification on any of these points, I'd be happy to elaborate. In Mexico I've lived in Xalapa (capital of Veracruz), small town Oaxaca, and Puebla, Puebla. I also know DF pretty well and have travelled all over the south. In Costa Rica, I lived in Cartago (the old capital) but I know San Jos� really well because I was there almost every day (just about half hour by bus).

[cybercutie]

Thanks for your advice! It's fantastic that you have been to both places and can give me insight!

Did you find there were lots of opportunities in Oaxaca or Puebla? I am leaving in August, whatever I do, but I would love to have some insight into what to look for, as although I have traveled, this will be my first trip alone...

Becky

[seanie]

Hi cybercutie,

Yes, I'd say that there are many work options available. In Puebla there are many universities and work seems to be easy to get. Most positions aren't full-time, though; so you'd be working por horas. But some people prefer that. Check out Universidad de las Am�ricas and the Universidad Aut�noma de Puebla. In Oaxaca, there's UABJO, and the "regional universities" (which offer full-time positions), UTM, UMAR, UNISTMO, UNSIS, UNPA. In Oaxaca you can check out some private schools like Cambridge Academy or Harmon Hall (Harmon Hall has branches all over Mexico). I'm not exactly recommending any of these as places to work (my "legal disclaimer" ), just letting you know the range of options....which is probably even wider than I have set out. Good luck!

[cybercutie]

Thanks so much Seanie!!!