Job Discussion Forums

MsMexico · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 6

Does one have to have a certification? Is it possible to teach in Mexico without a certification. I was an English/Spanish major.

If not are there other areas that would take me.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Try this in the Mexico forum. I'm sure you'll get a variety of opinions. You'll find work without a TEFL certificate, but you won't get a work visa without the degree, and many places require both.

If you've never taught before, I'm of the opinion that you should get some kind of training, but I am heavily biased.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 7:03 pm Post subject:

Correct me if I'm wrong, Guy, but as I understand it if the OP has completed a degree, it wouldn't matter too much exactly what degree. Is this right?

But what kind of work you're looking for will determine what, if any, training you need to get. It's true that there are plenty of places, all over LA, that will contract native speakers as teachers without any teacher training or experience.

The thing is, do you wanna work in those places? Personally, I do not. It's hard to do a good job if you're not prepared. School owners usually know this, and if they are willing to take you anyway, it's because they don't care. They know that the market is big enough where they are that they can count on new students to replace unhappy ones who leave.

But what that means, as a teacher, is that you'll constantly deal with dissatisfied students, high student turnover, etc. And a director/owner who feels that "any native speaker will do" is unlikely to have much respect for teachers in general. And really unlikely to treat his or her own teachers with much respect. A person who runs a school on untrained teachers is in it for the money, and won't see you as a professional to be respected, but merely a resource to be exploited.

So is it possible to find work without training? Absolutely. Is it a good idea...well, I wouldn't recommend it.

Just my two cents worth,
Justin

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

I've heard of degree-challenged folks working legally with 'only' a TEFL certificate. Mind you, the only TEFL teachers I've met locally have both degrees and certificates, but that's because it's a requirement of the hiring universities, not immigration - or so I thought.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

You're both right, but I wasn't about to open up that can of worms here. The employer would be the one to make the call I guess since immigration offices vary so.