Job Discussion Forums

aisha · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 5:31 am Post subject:

Do you have a TESOL certificate?

PlayadelSoul · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 346 Location: Playa del Carmen

Most ESL teachers live in affordable housing away from the tourist area. If you are paying "vacation" rent (2 blocks from the beach) and eating out downtown, then you really have no grounds to complain. Salaries for ESL teachers are sufficient to live on. However, I have seen many a teacher come to Playa and try to live like they are on vacation. None of them last.

There are many ex-pats in Playa, but it is more like the UN than the US. There are more Italians, Argentinians, French and Canadians here than there are Americans. In a school of 15 teachers (half of which are native speakers), I am the only American. There are, at last count, 16 countries represented in our student body.

Of course, Playa is not like Puebla or other inland parts of Mexico, as tourism is the economic force that created the town in the first place.
Signs are in English because most Europeans speak English. It is the language that allows Dutch, French, German and Italian tourists, as well as the Mexican workforce, to communicate. If you are looking for the "real" Mexico, Playa is not, nor does it claim to be, it.

Guerachida · Joined: 24 Jan 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Playa Del Carmen

i do NOT live 2 blocks from the beach nor did i claim to. i was 2 blocks away from the beach during Miss Emily because i was staying at the school where i teach, for safety. the structures around my place are made of palm and palapa, which tend to dangerously go everywhere during a hurricane.
i do not live like im on vacation, except maybe in my mind when some good tunes are on the radio, or im swimming in the sea. i do like to live alone, however, and that is usually more expensive.my one room dwelling on the other side of town lacks glass in the windows, hot water, a sink, a toilet seat, etc, etc. and tends to flood. i cook all my meals on a gas stove outside with the iguanas and scorpions. this is also where i wash the dishes and my laundry in a bucket with a hose. i dont eat on the tourist strip except the occasional beer on the beach or Dr Taco. And i mean OCCASIONAL! It is cheaper, obviously to veer away from the beach to get better prices, but they still tend to be more expensive than the other 16 Mexican states in which i have spent time in, including the beach resort towns of Puerto Pe�asco, Mazatlan, Manzanillo, Acupulco and Veracruz. i mentioned the signs being in English to illustrate an unusual aspect of the personality of Playa Del Carmen . its obvious WHY they are in English. Rolling Eyes

people have asked about Playa Del Carmen and I have spoken the truth. whether you find what i have said to be positive or negative is a personal thing. there were no complaints. Some people want to come to a beach town with more of a mexican feel, and this one isnt it. many people like to go out and have some fun in a large social place with good music and an ESOL teacher may be a bit more strapped here to maintain that lifestyle than they would be in, say, Mexico City (DF). (where i have also lived)
Also, most of the other resort towns have industries other than tourism to propel the economy, such as fruit, salt, ceramics, shipping, etc.
Playa Del Carmen has not had any other means of money for over 20 years, and that changes the social dynamics of a town.
i have nothing to gain by stating these facts. im not trying to sell you a celta, or a tefl. in fact, i have been teaching and living okay with neither. i could have more, but my choice is to save. to do both i think (and have heard from at least 4 ESOL teachers here)is a not- so -easy thing . is that bad for you? making a choice about where to live and work is a huge thing, and i feel that getting good feedback of all sorts is a wise thing to do. GOOD LUCK!

agi_orosz · Joined: 18 Jan 2005 Posts: 5 Location: Ecuador

Do you know anyone who works at International House Riviera Maya ?
Any thoughts on working there?

Guerachida · Joined: 24 Jan 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Playa Del Carmen

i know a few people at IH, and the director of English teachers, whom i like very much.

the school is new, and therefore a bit disorganized in some ways, but the pay is 120 and hour, and they help with your FM3. they may even pay for it, im not sure.also free internet, and a really nice staff from what i can tell. you probably will need a celta, since they are a cambridge affiliated school. but i knew some folks back in DF that had a cheap tefl with experience that got hired.
the person you want to talk with is Tere' .
good luck!