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vieux canaille
Joined: 21 Feb 2006
Posts: 14
Location: Lat: 48.777165 48:46:37.794N; Lon: -114.912593 114:54:45.335W
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 Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 7:43 pm Post subject: jobs in rural Mexico |
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| Hola todos! This is my first post on Dave's ESL Cafe. I've really enjoyed reading the job discussion forums in the past and have a few questions now that coming to Mexico will soon be a reality. I lived and taught English in rural France for four years without formal training in EFL. For years I've wanted to make Mexico my next home away from home and finally my partner and I have decided to go to Guadalajara in October to do a TEFL cert course. We will be looking for jobs as close to the middle of "BFE" as possible and were wondering if anyone out there would have advice on schools to teach at in such locations. A couple of geographic criteria: in or near mountains and a within a few hours of either coast. Any info would be greatly appreciated; thanks in advance. |
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cwc
Joined: 16 Nov 2005
Posts: 372
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| Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 8:46 pm Post subject: not asking too much |
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| Just the mountains and the beach? Any other criteria? How much money would you like to earn? |
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vieux canaille
Joined: 21 Feb 2006
Posts: 14
Location: Lat: 48.777165 48:46:37.794N; Lon: -114.912593 114:54:45.335W
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| Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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cwc,
How many places in Mexico are in or near the mountains and within a few hours of either coast? I don't think I am being too picky with these criteria. As for money, well I want to make enough to buy a fully developed finca with all the modern amenities while working part-time--kidding, kidding!!
If I could make enough moolah with the combined salary of my partner to rent a small apartment, eat okay and have a tiny budget for some local travel--for a first job in Mexico being recently certified I think we could be quite happy. Any info on out-of-the-way places you would recommend living and working? Thanks. |
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cwc
Joined: 16 Nov 2005
Posts: 372
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| Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 10:43 pm Post subject: beach |
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| Can't help with the mountains, but the beach is easy in Mexico. Would you like the Gulf of Mexico, Caribe, or Pacific? |
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vieux canaille
Joined: 21 Feb 2006
Posts: 14
Location: Lat: 48.777165 48:46:37.794N; Lon: -114.912593 114:54:45.335W
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| Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 11:17 pm Post subject: |
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cwc,
We would prefer the Pacific, but again we don't have to be on the beach. Anywhere south of Mazatlan, Jalisco, Michoacan, Guerrero, Colima, Oaxaca.
Otherwise anywhere south of the Tropic of Cancer and away from large metropoli would be desirable. Anybody else out there in the campo to recommend their area/a decent school for a couple of teachers with a few years' experience and freshly TEFLed? Thanks to all. |
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MELEE
Joined: 22 Jan 2003
Posts: 2583
Location: The Mexican Hinterland
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| Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 2:18 pm Post subject: Re: jobs in rural Mexico |
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| vieux canaille wrote: |
| . We will be looking for jobs as close to the middle of "BFE" as possible and were wondering if anyone out there would have advice on schools to teach at in such locations. A couple of geographic criteria: in or near mountains and a within a few hours of either coast. Any info would be greatly appreciated; thanks in advance. |
What I think my friend cwc was trying to say (he's kind of oblique sometimes) is that the mountains in Mexico tend to make most places in them very far from the beach. For example, if you look at a map, my town looks to be within 3 or 4 hours of the beach, the mountians and the state of the roads, make it a 9 hour journey. But this is not true all over the country, and I heard a politian say he would build a super highway from Tehuacan, Puebla to Pinotepa National, Oaxaca.  WHHOOOO HOOO! I'm voting for him, that is if I could vote  But in other places they already have super highways. Like Morelia, Michoacan, mountains, city, quaint villages all around, job possiblities, and a short bus ride to the coast on the new superhighway for a long weekend. And in many parts of Mexico, the mountains come right down to the sea, like on the Costa Chica de Oaxaca. I know some good jobs, but you're not the most qualified, but if you want to give it a shot anyways (if someone backs out at the last minute they might take you), pm me and I'll send you the contacts. Otherwise, why not try a city like Morelia for your first year, or six months, and then you can move on. There are also a couple of other places in Michoacan I've heard of that aren't great jobs, but probably okay for first jobs. The are Culturalingua in Zamora and New York English in La Piedad. |
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Ben Round de Bloc
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1946
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| Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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| vieux canaille wrote: |
| Otherwise anywhere south of the Tropic of Cancer and away from large metropoli would be desirable. |
I'm not sure what you consider "large metropoli." Personally, I don't consider any of the cities in this part of the country as being really big cities.
If you're thinking rural atmosphere, around here there aren't many language schools outside of the cities. If a person can find a private language school in one of the towns, it's usually not a large enough school to be in a position to hire more than maybe one very part-time teacher at most.
English instruction in the rural public schools in this state is covered by SEP (Secratar�a de Educaci�n P�blica) and COBAY (Colegio de Bachilleres de Yucat�n.) Most of those jobs teaching English are very part-time, and you couldn't get by on what you'd earn, even if you could get hired, which would be unlikely.
An additional thought. If you are fluent in French, you could use that to your advantage. A number of private language schools offer classes in more than just English. If you can teach French as well as English, it could give you a hiring edge at some private language schools.
Last edited by Ben Round de Bloc on Mon May 29, 2006 5:34 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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vieux canaille
Joined: 21 Feb 2006
Posts: 14
Location: Lat: 48.777165 48:46:37.794N; Lon: -114.912593 114:54:45.335W
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| Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 4:14 pm Post subject: |
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I really appreciate the input everybody! It makes the dream seem a little more like a reality to hear from experienced folks out there. I am considering all of your information and again, mil gracias.
I'm taking steps also to improve my Spanish, whatever I can get ahold of before taking the big plunge. What was your most helpful Spanish language resourse before or during immersion?
Thanks |
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MELEE
Joined: 22 Jan 2003
Posts: 2583
Location: The Mexican Hinterland
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| Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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There is a thread on this topic over in the General Latin America forum, check it out.
I have a hard time remembering my early Spanish learning days, they were nearly 20 years ago! There are some good resources on-line, but if you really want to learn quickly, ditch your partner and hold conversation classed in the bedroom! |
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Ben Round de Bloc
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1946
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| Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 5:25 pm Post subject: Immersion |
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| vieux canaille wrote: |
| What was your most helpful Spanish language resourse before or during immersion? |
I still consider myself in immersion after living here for ten years. My most helpful resource? Mainly people who speak Spanish but not English. I'm not trying to sound glib here. If you hang out most of the time with native English speakers and/or locals whose main motive is to practice their English with you, then you aren't really immersing yourself in the language. (Not saying that you personally plan to do that, but lots of people seem to put themselves in that situation.) |
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ls650
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 3484
Location: British Columbia
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| Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 7:41 pm Post subject: Re: Immersion |
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| Ben Round de Bloc wrote: |
| My most helpful resource? Mainly people who speak Spanish but not English. |
Very true for me as well. If you try to learn with someone who knows English, it's too easy to fall back on English when you don't understand something. Practicing with a person who knows little / no English will force you to keep trying until you get it right. |
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