Job Discussion Forums

[redderpesh]

Hi all,

First, thank you very much for your insights. I've lurked for awhile now and I wonder if people could offer some more precise advice for my situation.

I know I want to get to know Mexico, and I'm willing to face those inevitable realities of TESOL as work and not vacation. I've just got my BA. I'm 22. A hard life, but one of learning about people and language is exactly what I need right now (maybe I will be a writer). So, please know that I'm real. Teaching English will not only benefit the students but myself as well.

Some posts I've read point me towards exploring places like:

Morelia (and the nearby Patzcuaro),
Colima,
perhaps Tuxtla Gutierrez
and I'll see DF simply because it must be experienced

My plan is this: To sell my car (read: acquire several thousand USD) and head down from Texas on buses with a 100 hour plus practicum TESOL certification, a suit, and my basic needs for when I find a place I like to stay and teach. Note that I have no experience teaching.

What I'm looking for is isolation from US influence. I have reservations about DF because I live in LA right now and I want to experience a rural and/or less urbanized lifestyle. Of course, I'd like to avoid other ex-pats. Yes, the potential culture shock is huge, but shock is exactly what I think I need. I did live for four months in Madrid (my Spanish is good but too academic; I need more exposure to the real thing), so I think I can survive this change. Total immersion, available Spanish classes, and friendly people to be with are what I need to perfect my Spanish.

So, what I'd ask is firstly, what do you have to say about those places above? I will check them out one by one, talk up language schools, and keep moving until I find what works for me. I've selected these places because forumers have said good things. What more can you say about them? Are there other similar places that I should check out on this trip?

Since I'm a first-timer, are there better places to start? Where is a good first job? What should I really be looking for in a first job, anyway?

I've seen other threads which deal with important topics like what things to bring, to not bring, and innoculations. What other single piece of advice might you give to the newcomer? I'm very open-minded about this question.

Hopefully I haven't come off too much as a wide-eyed backpacker. I'm just seeking the information to make such a drastic lifestyle change into a more smooth transition, based on your past experiences.

Thanks for reading such a long post and your thoughts. Abrazos.

[Samantha]

You quite likely will have no problem finding a job out in the countryside if you do some travelling around. Off the beaten track is a good way to start. BUT you should cross Patzcuaro off your list as a place to live if you want to avoid expats!

[canadiense]

If you are new to teaching in Mexico, be sure to check requirements for Migracion. You usually need to have your certificate apostilled in your country. That's easier to do before you leave.

You might want to ask the employers who advertize on the internet what they require so that you can bring it with you.