Job Discussion Forums

[MO39]

Until my ship comes in (meaning a decent-paying full-time job), I'm starting to look for private students in the D.F. What's the best way to do this? I remember quite a few years ago in Barcelona finding some really nice adults to tutor through putting ads in newspapers. Is that the way to do it in Mexico City? Also, how much can I charge without chasing away potential students by pricing myself out of the market?

Mil gracias,

MO

[Gringo Greg]

I will try to help, but my info is hopelessly outdated so use it as a rough guide, others will probably offer better advice. I was last in the df back in 2001.

You have to price your classes for the local market which means, it depends on who you want your students to be. Back in 2001, my going rate was between 100 to 140 pesos an hour. You can probably get by with charging 120 pesos an hour if you know how to put on a great class, but if you are lacking good experience, you might need to start charging less.

My suggestions is to aim for professionals. Business cards are important in Mexico. Get a cheap cellphone when you arrive and print up business cards with the number on it to hand out. Network all the time! Make sure everyone knows that you are a teacher and you are looking for work. Placing an ad in El Universal might lead to some good first leads, but in the long run, it won't really help you out that much. I got my best private classes because a friend of a friend knew someone looking for an English teacher.

A really savvy or maybe stupid teacher might print up some business cards and spend lunchtime in the Zona Rosa handing out business cards to office workers on their lunch break. If done right and in a professional way, you might get some good leads.

I hope this helps.

[MELEE]

MO,

I've never lived in Mexico City, so I don't know if this will work there.

If I wanted to do privates here, I'd just start telling people. Get a business card made up with info how to contact you and tell everyone you meet or see on a regular basis. You know, the guy in your corner shop, tell him, I'm an English teacher and I'm looking to give private classes (saying this in Spanish would probably be more effective ) and give him one of your cards. When your neighbor says buenas tardes in the street introduce yourself and offer your services as an English teacher.

This is how things get done in the part of Mexico where I live. Once when I was looking for a new appartment, I asked everyone I talked to, and almost always got good information in return.

[richtx1]

If you have some usuable backgroung -- native speaker with a university degree -- you shouldn't have too much trouble finding some kind of employment -- even the best schools will hire "illegal immigrants". This said, the market for English teachers is declining slowly (very slowly... I've estimated about 20 years before the need for "native speakers" completely disappears). Highly-qualifed private tutors (meaning training in ESL, a masters in English and/or an aggressive business sensibility) do earn up to 200 pesos an hour, but the work is spotty -- and frustrating.

I turn down private tutuorial requests -- even at 200/hr -- because I've discovered there's really no way to enforce a contract against an individual, tax laws do not favor private tutorials (contracts through a business are tax deductable. Private tutorial expenses are not), and... people suddenly find other priorites for those several hundred pesos per week.

If you know your market (children? Teen-agers? Adults? Potential immigrants? Professionals?) you can target your newspaper advertising accordingly.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

Just curious here. Is immigration really that casual about foreigners teaching/tutoring private students in DF, Oaxaca, and various other parts of the country? Based on personal experience, I'd have to say that immigration isn't completely lax about such things in the city where I am. Handing out business cards and putting ads in newspapers, while not having the job/business listed on one's work visa . . . it all seems a bit risky to me.

I've known some legally employed foreign teachers who gave private classes or did private tutoring outside of what was covered on their work visas. I suppose if one could count on students backing up a story that they weren't being charged for lessons/tutoring, it would be difficult for immigration to prove illegal action . . . no receipts, no agreement in writing, no taxes paid to hacienda, etc. However, handing out business cards or putting ads in newspapers seems like a way of waving a red flag in the face of immigration officials.

Then again, I suppose it could be like most other laws, rules, ordinances, and regulations in this country. Officials whose job it is to enforce such things rarely if ever take the initiative on their own. They may take action (or maybe not) if a complaint is filed, however.

[MixtecaMike]

This was two years ago, but I got all my privates from word-of-mouth recommendations from people in my corporate classes. FOr lower-paying privates, but close to home just talk to your neighbors. Don't tell them you want to give classes, just be friendly and they'll ask you. Like I said, two years ago, but tell whoever is interested to get a few kids or whatever together and you'll charge them $80 and hour. This is cheap for a native speaker, but you won't have any travelling and teaching 4 kids at a time is actually easier than teaching one.

I advertised in "The News" now defunct, for translating work and got a few calls. No problems from migraci�n. As to Ben's point, I think the migra in Mexico City will probably only react to complaints, it's easy to keep a fairly low profile in the DF.

[richtx1]

One reason I moved to Mexico in the first place is that people don't suffer from that paranoia towards outsiders that I found in the United States.

The only foreign teachers I've heard of having immigration problems (besides the child molesters and the alchoholics who get in trouble for other reasons) were those working for the school that put their teachers into uniforms clearly identifying their employer. Geeze, the guys should have been issued neon signs reading "ILLEGAL ALIEN HERE".

A little casual private tutoring, given by a "native speaker" isn't going to bother anyone. Unless you're handing out cards in front of the Immigration Office, I wouldn't sweat it.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[moonraven]

I am stopped on the street and asked to give private classes wherever I go--so we are not invisible nor low-profile in most communities (with the exception of the DF--possibly.) The first couple of years I was in Mexico--before I started working full time--I gave private classes to a couple of friends. They paid me, but it was not a money-making proposition. I think it's only worth doing if you have a lot of extra time available--and I never do. And I would never consider doing it as my principal source of income.

[some waygug-in]

It seems to vary from state to state. When I was there, I heard stories of immigration officals who raided a local language institute and arrested several foreigners.

It wasn't a regular occurance, but it was over a dispute between language institutes. A new institute had been stealing business and "illegal teachers" from a more established place. The latter had a "special arrangement" with immigration so that they were never bothered, but they also felt no remorse in reporting the competition.


It had very little to do with legality, or right and wrong, but a lot to do with who paid more money (bribes) to the immigration officials.



It depends where and who you are, and how visibly you are running your business. (if it is illegal) Usually, they won't bother anyone unless they think there is some money to be made.

[richtx1]