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allisfaith
Joined: 02 Jan 2005
Posts: 15
Location: Colorado
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 Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 6:06 pm Post subject: Newbie, green as can be |
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Helllo~
I have loved reading the disscusions on mexico and central america, I have learned a lot! thank you. I feel compelled to ask for advice though...I am new, so green I haven't even gotten TEFL or CELTA certified yet but I really love Mexico and cnetral America and I would like to have a go at living and working there. My motivations are to travel and I am inspired to teach. I have been volunteering as an ESL tutor with no training, simply having comversations with my students and going through the workbook with them. I wonder if anyone els started this way? What were some of your inspirations to get certified and teach abroad in Mexico or cent. America? Its seems very touch and go to find a job and there seems to be a lot of stress...what makes it worth it to you? THank you thank you,
All is faith
(aka Alli's faith)  |
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Twisting in the Wind
Joined: 20 Oct 2003
Posts: 571
Location: Purgatory
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| Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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Hello!!!
Yes! I got started the way you are getting started now!
Both my parents were professors and I vowed I would never become a teacher, but when I started tutoring students, I found I just LOVED it!
I started off in 1983 by tutoring a Hmong woman, going through the text with her that she used in her class (at that time Everyday English. From that I moved on to tutoring Central Americans.
I parlayed my unpaid tutoring experience into paid employment a few years later with a large school district. So, yes, it can be done. People do it. Don't feel that your unpaid experience is a waste of time or whatever. It isn't. You are getting valuable experience working with students, familiarizing you with textbooks, time-planning, etc.
Make sure you make the most of your tutoring experience on your resume. I have a separate catagory for "VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE" right under "EXPERIENCE" And I list my tutoring jobs, both formal and informal. I've found employers are interested in the fact that you've given back something to the community and weren't just a money-grubbing cuss your whole career. Mention your tutoring in interviews.
Are you going to get a degree in ESL or certificate? Your tutoring experience will help you out there, too, because you won't be going in cold.
I hope some other posters on this forum will be able to help direct you to some short term or longer term opportunities south of the border. Sorry, I am not. I'm in Los Angeles and right now not teaching in the ESL field, but I may go back, if the opportunity is right some day.
Good luck and stick in there! 
Twisting in the WInd |
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Twisting in the Wind
Joined: 20 Oct 2003
Posts: 571
Location: Purgatory
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| Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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| I forgot to say, feel free to PM me! |
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thelmadatter
Joined: 31 Mar 2003
Posts: 1212
Location: in el Distrito Federal x fin!
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| Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 7:54 pm Post subject: parents |
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Twistie
Doncha hate how despite all our vows to the contrary, we become more like our parents than we care to admit???? |
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Twisting in the Wind
Joined: 20 Oct 2003
Posts: 571
Location: Purgatory
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| Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, ain't it the TRUTH! Even now I sometimes look at my handwriting and think, "Da**!! That looks like my MOM's handwriting!" And I don't wanna be ANYTHING like my MOM, believe you me!!!!  |
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Tamara
Joined: 24 Jul 2004
Posts: 108
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| Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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| What were some of your inspirations to get certified and teach abroad in Mexico or cent. America? Its seems very touch and go to find a job and there seems to be a lot of stress...what makes it worth it to you? |
Well, my dreams started young. I was 5 when I knew I wanted to live an international life. My grandmother died and at her funeral, I met all her siblings, many of whom were missionaries and had outrageous stories and missing fingers from snake bites. Enough to convince any 5 year old, right?
When I entered college, the school had just set up a new program called English and Intercultural Studies. It was supposed to prepare me for exactly what I want to do. However, for various reasons, I switched majors and graduated with a BA in Secondary English Education. It wasn't until later that I got back to wanting to teach English as a second language. I started working part time at the local community college (where I am still), and when the little one came, I quit my full time job at the high school. Since then, I've worked my way up to the most number of hours permitted to part time employees in our program. But I've always been aware that my training never really prepared me for what I'm doing.
When I started looking into what it would take to teach overseas, I realized that a TEFL certification or CELTA might be a good idea, but it's a temporary fix for my ambitions. Next week, I start my first class on my way to getting an MA in TESOL. After that, I'll begin my search for jobs overseas.
I want to teach in Latin or South America simply because somewhere along the way, I picked up Spanish. If I'm going to move my family to a completely new place with new customs, it will be helpful to go somewhere that at least one (or two, if you count the little one, who is bilingual) of us speaks the language. I've also spent some time in El Salvador on short term trips, so I've got a feel for that location at least, and a few friends who I'll call on for advice when the time comes.
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Ben Round de Bloc
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1946
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| Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 12:43 pm Post subject: Re: Newbie, green as can be |
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| allisfaith wrote: |
| I wonder if anyone els started this way? What were some of your inspirations to get certified and teach abroad in Mexico or cent. America? Its seems very touch and go to find a job and there seems to be a lot of stress...what makes it worth it to you? |
I was a "regular" English / language arts teacher in the USA for nearly 20 years before I decided to make the change to EFL. I guess it was sort of the idea of an old dream becoming reality. For years I'd had the desire to live and work in Latin America. I've never had a problem finding teaching jobs in the city where I now live. As for stress, my current job of nearly 10 years is a walk in the park compared to teaching in U.S. high schools and middle schools. |
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magpie
Joined: 27 Mar 2004
Posts: 54
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| Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 1:54 pm Post subject: Teaching |
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I taught English and Speech in the States many years ago then parlayed that into a successful business career. Once my daughter was out of college and on her own I wanted to teach again and tried that in the Dallas School System. But, things hadn't changed at all in the years I had been gone: lack of respect for teachers, no parental support, no administrative support, etc. had only gotten worse.
Although I had thought of teaching EFL a lot over the years, I had never had the chance to make the leap and finally did last year. I have a great job in a beautiful area of Mexico in Veracruz state. The students are wonderful, the school is small, but growing, pay excellent compared to what I see posted on the board and the town is charming.
If you have a dream and a desire to teach -- go for it. You are never too old, too young or too broke to make a change. |
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nothing180
Joined: 05 Jan 2005
Posts: 55
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| Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 4:05 pm Post subject: Re: Newbie, green as can be |
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| allisfaith wrote: |
Helllo~
I have loved reading the disscusions on mexico and central america, I have learned a lot! thank you. I feel compelled to ask for advice though...I am new, so green I haven't even gotten TEFL or CELTA certified yet but I really love Mexico and cnetral America and I would like to have a go at living and working there. ) |
You and I are in the same boat! I don't have my certification yet, but I'm thinking of taking it at a school in Mexico City. I know a bit of Spanish, and I'd love to learn more. I lived in Mexico at a resort for awhile while I was working on the entertainment staff there this year. I totally fell in love with everything about Mexico, and I can't wait to go back! Living there is a bit of a culture shock at first but once you get into it, it's amazing. I think the worse culture shock is coming back here hahaha. Anyway, good luck with your search, if you find anything of interest, please let me know! Thanks! |
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Brenda
Joined: 13 Feb 2003
Posts: 48
Location: Montreal, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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I was so homesick I cried for nearly 2 months when I came back to Canada after teaching in Mexico for a year! I ended up going back for 6 months, surviving 6 months of bad luck my second trip around, came back and am still longing to return even a year now after my second trip. Mexico gets into your blood! I'm still in constant contact with my friends back there although I'm now comfortably settled back in the Canadian way of life (for now perhaps...)  |
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moonraven
Joined: 24 Mar 2004
Posts: 3094
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| Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 1:45 am Post subject: |
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| In the 1930s, Anita Brenner wrote: "Once a heart has the dust of Mexico on it, that heart can find no rest in any other land." |
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nothing180
Joined: 05 Jan 2005
Posts: 55
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| Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 9:30 am Post subject: |
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My friends all told me that I'm crazy for wanting to go back because there is no money there... But I have a good job here with good money, and I don't see how that makes a person happy, because it's not working for me. I fell in love with Mexico, and I think about it all the time. That quote that you wrote Moon, I really think it's true. I've seen many people write in these forums about how they can't wait to return. Something to do with the friendly people and the laid back atmosphere I guess. Things are just so stressful here, even the weekends seem stressful to me. I'm always so bored, and so busy. Even when I have time to myself I'm thinking about work or my idiot friends whos lives revolve around their social lives... If only they knew that there are more important things in the world to talk about or worry about. I may have it good here in Canada, but happiness means more to me, and even if I have to take a 75% pay cut to go work in Mexico, I'm really considering doing it. From what I've been hearing from people on here, it seems to be well worth it for the satisfaction you get from teaching people English and from seeing the beautiful country of Mexico.  I think I'll be leaving in October if I have the money saved up by then! |
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Twisting in the Wind
Joined: 20 Oct 2003
Posts: 571
Location: Purgatory
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| Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 3:51 am Post subject: |
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Nothing,
Go to what I wrote in the General Asia forum to the guy who asked about if he was crazy for wanting to drop his job and go overseas (in his case, Asia) to teach. I wrote from my experience that you know, it all depends on what you're looking for in your life. When I reach the end of mine, I'll have so many good memories to look back on: students, foreign food, travel---and so what if I don't have a big fat retirement account. I'll have a lifetime of memories! |
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nothing180
Joined: 05 Jan 2005
Posts: 55
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| Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 8:12 am Post subject: |
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| See, that's what I've been thinking. But I haven't done it so I didn't know if that would be the outcome. I'm hoping to, when I'm older, be able to say that I enjoyed my younger years and I experienced a lot. But right now I'm not enjoying living the life of a 40 year old when I'm only 24. I just eat sleep and work.. I wanna do stuff and go places and meet people and feel like something I'm doing is of use to someone else. I really believe that teaching will give me that. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'll never know if I don't at least try. From what I've seen on here, people seem to enjoy what they've done. A lot of them left jobs to do it as well, so I don't feel as crazy as my friends are making me feel hahaha. Thanks for your input and I'll check out what you wrote in that other forum. |
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Jillian
Joined: 25 Oct 2004
Posts: 7
Location: Puerto Angel, Oaxaca, Mexico
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| Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 5:20 am Post subject: |
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| nothing180 wrote: |
| I'm hoping to, when I'm older, be able to say that I enjoyed my younger years and I experienced a lot. But right now I'm not enjoying living the life of a 40 year old when I'm only 24. I just eat sleep and work.. I wanna do stuff and go places and meet people and feel like something I'm doing is of use to someone else. I really believe that teaching will give me that. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'll never know if I don't at least try. |
Your words echo exactly how I feel. More power to you! |
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