| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
adelonline
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Posts: 2
|
 Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 6:54 pm Post subject: Thinking about mexico |
 |
|
I'm interested in coming to Mexico, I want to stay from January till May, I don't have any TESL certificate, initially i was thinking about Argentina, but I'm checking other options, So I wanted to know if
1-Is it possible for me to find a job or give private lessons without a TESL certificate
2-Which place is the best to go in Mexico where the cost if living is cheap (rent food etc....)? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 7:06 pm Post subject: |
|
|
You've already heard my opinion, so I won't rehash it here..better leave room for others to chime in.
On this however...
| Quote: |
| give private lessons without a TESL certificate |
You would need to network a bit, or drop an ad in a local paper. Just be careful that it isn't immigration calling you to give a demo class 
The bigger the city, the better for giving privates. A lot of people look for native-speaking tutors to help with homework or simply to improve their conversational skills. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ben Round de Bloc
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1946
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:56 am Post subject: Re: Thinking about mexico |
|
|
| adelonline wrote: |
I'm interested in coming to Mexico, I want to stay from January till May, I don't have any TESL certificate, initially i was thinking about Argentina, but I'm checking other options, So I wanted to know if
1-Is it possible for me to find a job or give private lessons without a TESL certificate
2-Which place is the best to go in Mexico where the cost if living is cheap (rent food etc....)? |
1. It would be difficult but not impossible to find a short-term job. However, what you could earn in only 5 months probably wouldn't justify the cost of a work visa. It costs the same whether it's for 3 months, 6 months, or a year. As for private lessons, you'd be in the same situation regarding a work visa. You could risk it and work illegally, but I wouldn't recommend it.
2. If you plan on supporting yourself on your teaching income, it really doesn't matter whether the cost of living in a particular area of the country is lower or higher. What you'd earn would be in proportion to local cost of living. In general, if the cost of living in an area is lower, so are the wages and vice versa.
In the city where I'm located, if you could find a short-term teaching job, it would be difficult to break even financially at the end of only 5 months. As I mentioned before, there's the cost of a work visa. You'd need to find accommodation to share with someone who already had a lease, because the cost of short-term, no-lease rental would be too expensive on a teacher's wages. There are usually extra settling-in expenses to consider at first, too: things you need for teaching, clothing for the particular climate, extra expenses for food and transportation until you figure out less expensive ways of eating and getting around the city, etc.
I know this sounds really discouraging, but as I see it, it's the reality of the situation in Mexico. If you had the qualifications and connections, it could be done. If not, it would be extremely difficult. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cdaniels
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 663
Location: Dunwich, Massachusetts
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 3:02 am Post subject: Ottowa! |
|
|
| According to the 2005 Mercer Human Resource Cost of Living Survey- Ottawa, Canada has the lowest cost of living of cities in North America (including Mexico.) You might want to seriously think about this. Asuncion in Paraguay is cheapest city in the world to live in, according to the same report. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 4:43 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| According to the 2005 Mercer Human Resource Cost of Living Survey- Ottawa, Canada has the lowest cost of living of cities in North America (including Mexico.) |
I read that when it came out and was surprised. Guess it depends on what you're doing in Ottawa. Try talking to any new student at Ottawa or Carleton U about what they pay in rent off-campus...if they are one of the lucky ones to find anything. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
hlamb
Joined: 09 Dec 2003
Posts: 431
Location: Canada
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 5:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Coming from northern BC I found Ottawa expensive as a student. And that was a while ago! Housing off campus was not easy to find, either. I really wonder what they're basing that report on. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
gringanic
Joined: 28 Sep 2005
Posts: 9
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| So...along the same vein, how do you suppose you'd rate the difficulty level of two people showing up in mexico together in early november, both with CELTA/TEFL certifications, planning to stay for a year, and wanting to be somewhere like veracruz (near the beach!). we'd be sharing living expenses, obviously, so that will help, but is it going to be insanely difficult to get started ? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
delacosta
Joined: 14 Apr 2004
Posts: 325
Location: zipolte beach
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| The gods will have to be on your side. Probably wouldn't be too hard to find work of somesort in DF, but as has been mentioned it's not a cheap place to live and untill one is establishe one has to work a lot, usually spread over a big, polluted and difficult to get around city. Don't get me wrong, I love the place (to visit) but you couldn't pay me enough to live there. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
lozwich
Joined: 25 May 2003
Posts: 1536
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| There's an International House in Veracruz, and they were hiring not long ago, so maybe they've still got something? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
gringanic
Joined: 28 Sep 2005
Posts: 9
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 11:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| The gods would have to be on our side...wow, that's a pretty big negative. is it easier to find work once january rolls around? is it just a bad idea in general to head to mexico right now? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
miss_betty
Joined: 05 May 2005
Posts: 41
Location: Hermosillo, Mexico
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 2:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
Gringa.......
Well, since most of the school year is complete.......you would most likely not find anything at this moment in time. It may be a great time to go to start in January though. If you had enough money saved (at least 3 or 4k US dollars) come on down, stay awhile in that city, find the neighborhood you like at your leisure as you find a job...........
Good luck to you!
jahnine |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cdaniels
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 663
Location: Dunwich, Massachusetts
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 2:29 am Post subject: Certifiable! |
|
|
Gringanic sounds a little too close to Titanic! 
I'm guessing that its worthwhile to get a TEFL certificate. In fact I'm betting a good chunk of money that it will be worthwhile!
Wish me luck! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
